Search
Better Farming OntarioBetter PorkBetter Farming Prairies

Better Farming Ontario Featured Articles

Better Farming Ontario magazine is published 11 times per year. After each edition is published, we share featured articles online.


Crop Scene Investigation - 49 Solved: Why was Richard's field infected with septoria?

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

It took a while, but we finally received a few correct answers to this puzzle.

Richard's poor tillage job after harvesting his 2010 wheat crop allowed septoria leaf spot to gain a foothold in the farmer's first field and eventually infect his 2013 wheat crop.

Agronomist Paul Sullivan explains that Richard's corn-soy-wheat rotation should have ended the disease cycle and eliminated septoria, but a couple of things conspired against him.

"Poor tillage in that field was the biggest problem. The cultivator they used could not handle all the straw and green weeds in the field after harvest. It just moved the residue around and piled it up. In these situations, you need to eliminate the weeds and spread the residue evenly across the field."

Sullivan explains that the piles of trash and weeds across the first field managed to survive to some degree because the field was minimum-tilled for a corn crop in 2011 and planted to no-till soybeans in 2012.

Weather conditions also contributed to Richard's trouble. "The field was really dry in 2011 and 2012. This slowed the breakdown of the organic matter that had been piled up in areas of the field," explains Sullivan.  And when the weather turned wet after planting in spring 2013, the conditions were just right for the lingering disease to attack the wheat crop.

Sullivan says Richard's story is a perfect example of why good tillage practices and spreading crop residues evenly across fields are so important.

Congratulations to Jorg Eichelberger, Owen Sound, for his correct answer. BF

Current Issue

March 2025

Better Farming Magazine

Farms.com Breaking News

Farmer Planting Decisions for 2025 Taking Shape

Thursday, March 13, 2025

As farmers across Canada prepare for the 2025 crop year, Statistics Canada says their planting decisions reflect a complex mix of factors including moisture conditions, crop rotation considerations, and market prices. Nationally, farmers are expected to plant more wheat, corn for... Read this article online

Grain Growers of Sounding the Alarm Over U.S. Tariffs

Monday, March 10, 2025

Not surprisingly, the Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) is raising concerns over the United States' decision to impose a 25% tariff on Canadian grain and grain products, a move that could jeopardize the livelihoods of family-run grain farms and lead to higher food prices for American... Read this article online

International Women’s Day – Angela Cammaert

Wednesday, March 5, 2025

As International Women’s Day approaches on March 8, Farms.com is asking women in ag about what they’d tell their younger selves about being a farmer, to give a piece of advice to young women entering the ag sector, and to highlight a woman in agriculture they consider a mentor or... Read this article online

BF logo

It's farming. And it's better.

 

a Farms.com Company

Subscriptions

Subscriber inquiries, change of address, or USA and international orders, please email: subscriptions@betterfarming.com or call 888-248-4893 x 281.


Article Ideas & Media Releases

Have a story idea or media release? If you want coverage of an ag issue, trend, or company news, please email us.

Follow us on Social Media

 

Sign up to a Farms.com Newsletter

 

DisclaimerPrivacy Policy2025 ©AgMedia Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Back To Top