August 2016
Holmes Agro-Nomic Newsletter August 2016 Soil Sampling Strategy 101 Hard to believe harvest is on its way with fall wheat in full swing and spring cereals not far away! The time is now to organize what field need to be sampled for this fall. Over the past several years, soil testing has become widely accepted in the ag business. The potential for increased yields and profits has been directly related to the monitoring of soil nutrient levels and crop removal. Some key areas that soil tests have impacted your bottom line include: 1. Managing soil pH and optimizing nutrient uptake by variable rate liming 2. Soil organic matter and noticing the importance of cover crops 3. Balancing soil nutrient levels for improved yield through using base saturation levels and CEC. 4. Monitoring minor elements such as Sulfur and Magnesium for improving Nitrogen and Phosphorus uptake 5. Assisting in making better decisions regarding the right time, right placement, right product and the right application of nutrients to grow the best product. Thousands of dollars are spent every year on fertilizer and limestone in our area. The cost of soil testing is relatively inexpensive in comparison in the cost of the fertilizer. They can include - Bulk soil testing, Zone sampling or Grid sampling (2.5 or 5 acre grids). Bulk sampling is still a great fit for smaller fields with limited variability. Larger fields with more variability should be sampled more strategically, which is where zone and grid sampling can be best utilized. These grids and zones can help identify changes in pH, fertility and soil type. These maps can then be used in combination with yield data, NDVI images, drone images, and grower experience. These tools can then be used to create plans for variable rate lime, fertilizer and even seeding rates. Please make time to sit down soon with your agronomist to make sure soil testing strategy this fall to meet your cropping expectations.
Importance of a Fall Wheat Starter As Harvest 2016 begins we are looking ahead to the next rotation, which for many will include winter wheat. In order to grow a high yielding- high quality wheat crop, starter fertilizer is required. Trials have proven the advantages of starter fertilizer - it is crucial to the establishment of a healthy, vigorous crown and root system, which can affect winter survival and also lead to earlier maturity. In fact, research shows an average of 7.5 bushels more wheat. In low testing soils, results can exceed 20 bushels. Starter fertilizer for wheat is comprised of phosphorous, potash and sulphur. Phosphorous encourages early root growth and vigour, supporting a quick and stable development of the root system. Potash will aid winter hardiness and offer disease suppression. The addition of sulphur will help push phosphorous into the plant, especially in high pH and high calcium/ magnesium soils, where phosphorous might be otherwise unavailable. We recommend a minimum of 40 units of phosphate, applied in a starter band, with the addition of 30-40 units of potash and 8-10lbs. of sulphur. This is a baseline recommendation, and soil tests should always dictate the proper balance.
Considering a Cover Crop? As wheat acres continue to come off, are you considering the use of a cover crop? You should! Cover crops after wheat provide numerous benefits such as erosion prevention, improved soil health and productivity and disease and weed suppression. With an overabundance of options available, determine what you hope to achieve first and continue from there. Soil compaction or poor drainage; consider tillage radish, need additional feed; consider ryegrass or millet, weed suppression and nitrogen credit; consider crimson clover and oats, low cost cover and green manure; consider straight oats. Whichever role or species you decide, here are some tips to include in your thought process to maximize your potential for success: 1. Bale off straw or ensure straw and chaff are evenly spread 2. Removing weeds and volunteer wheat allows the cover crop to get a good start 3. Consider your wheat herbicide program when selecting a cover crop 4. Plant as soon as possible after wheat harvest 5. Drill, broadcast and incorporate cover crop seed to get faster results
2017 – Ready or Not, Here We Come! Even though it feels like 2016 is in full swing with lots still ahead of us, it’s time to start thinking fall wheat for 2017. Generally speaking, the 2016 wheat crop has been a pleasant surprise given the lack of precipitation through the grain fill period in June and early July. Hopefully some extra yield in places will help to offset the lack of marketing opportunities we’ve seen for this year’s crop. Beyond class and variety selection for fall wheat, seed treatments warrant some time and consideration as they have a significant impact on germination, vigour, and early pest management - whether it be insects or diseases. If purchasing certified seed (which is always a good thing), then the decision process is pretty simple as the standard treatment has become the Cruiser Vibrance Quattro package from Syngenta. This product features 4 different fungicide components as well as an insecticide portion and the added value of the “vigor trigger”. The main targets from a disease perspective continue to be Fusarium, Rhizoctonia, Pythium, Dwarf Bunt, Loose Smut, and suppression of Take-All. Adding the insecticide component gives control of European Chafer and Wireworm. Currently wheat is not being targeted by the Ontario government for neonic reduction, so there is no concern regarding pest assessments or seed declaration forms like there is for corn and soybean growers. If you’ve got history of insect damage and/or are planting wheat into a “suspect” rotation then the added insecticide component is cheap insurance against these pests. This product is also available for on-farm treating which is new for 2016. Treating equipment/systems must ensure complete coverage of seed in order for the product to be effective. Quantities are limited so if you are interested in this product as an on farm treatment option then speak with your Holmes Agro Agronomist ASAP. Alternative treatments to this offering include the Dividend XL RTA which contains 2 fungicide components for resistance management but no insecticide component. Growers using Vitaflow as a cost effective alternative should be reminded that it is a single mode of action in terms of disease control and does NOT provide protection against Dwarf Bunt. Speak with your Holmes Agro Agronomist if you have any questions or need help choosing product and figuring out rates.
Potassium Deficiency in Soybeans Behind Nitrogen, Potassium (K) is the nutrient absorbed by soybean plants in the greatest amount. A soybean plant needs to have available/be able to absorb at least 100 lbs actual K to have the potential of producing a 40 bushel crop. Uptake of potassium into the plant is restricted by low K levels on soil tests, compaction, interaction with other nutrients, prolonged drought, stress from insects or disease to name a few. Uptake of potassium into the plant is encouraged with higher OM soils, good soil structure, adequate to above average K levels on soil tests, and average moisture and higher temperatures throughout the season also increases the rate of K diffusion. Plants depend on K to regulate the opening and closing of leaf stomates, which are the pores that allow gases and water vapour to pass through the leaf. Adequate K supplies allow these pores to function properly and conserve moisture helping minimize drought stress. A pre-planned and balanced soil fertility program is key to successful cropping ventures because by the time deficiency symptoms develop in the growing season, yield damage has already occurred. Immediate action can often help rescue some yield but will only provide a band aid solution. Foliar applications with products such as Alpine's K20-S or TMR-F are good options. Worth repeating is that Potassium is said by many to be the 2nd only to Nitrogen in importance to plant growth and hence must be managed properly in soils to achieve maximum yield outcome opportunities. As soybean yields increase and as all crop yields increase in your crop rotation, it is important to consider overall amounts of crop nutrients required. Talk to a Holmes Agro representative about a proactive/aggressive approach to maintaining/building your soil levels with adequate levels of potassium.
CLEANFarms 2016 Holmes Agro is proud to participate in the CleanFarms program as a depot to accept your empty pesticide jugs and seed bags. Just a few guidelines to remember: Seed/chemical bags – all types of EMPTY pesticide bags as well as paper multi-wall and plastic seed bags can be returned in the clear green plastic bags we have available at our locations. Seed bulk bags can be returned neatly bundled into
rolls of 6. Chemical jugs – only clean, triple-rinsed jugs with caps and booklets removed will be accepted for recycling.
OBSOLETE DAY! – We are a location for 2016 collection. Friday September 30, 2016 at our Orangeville location we will be collecting obsolete chemical and livestock medications. Please stay tuned for more details on how to participate in the program.
Jeff
Greg
Paul
Shane
Taylor
Travis
Scott
Gord
John
Importance of a Fall Wheat Starter As Harvest 2016 begins we are looking ahead to the next rotation, which for many will include winter wheat. In order to grow a high yielding- high quality wheat crop, starter fertilizer is required. Trials have proven the advantages of starter fertilizer - it is crucial to the establishment of a healthy, vigorous crown and root system, which can affect winter survival and also lead to earlier maturity. In fact, research shows an average of 7.5 bushels more wheat. In low testing soils, results can exceed 20 bushels. Starter fertilizer for wheat is comprised of phosphorous, potash and sulphur. Phosphorous encourages early root growth and vigour, supporting a quick and stable development of the root system. Potash will aid winter hardiness and offer disease suppression. The addition of sulphur will help push phosphorous into the plant, especially in high pH and high calcium/ magnesium soils, where phosphorous might be otherwise unavailable. We recommend a minimum of 40 units of phosphate, applied in a starter band, with the addition of 30-40 units of potash and 8-10lbs. of sulphur. This is a baseline recommendation, and soil tests should always dictate the proper balance.
Considering a Cover Crop? As wheat acres continue to come off, are you considering the use of a cover crop? You should! Cover crops after wheat provide numerous benefits such as erosion prevention, improved soil health and productivity and disease and weed suppression. With an overabundance of options available, determine what you hope to achieve first and continue from there. Soil compaction or poor drainage; consider tillage radish, need additional feed; consider ryegrass or millet, weed suppression and nitrogen credit; consider crimson clover and oats, low cost cover and green manure; consider straight oats. Whichever role or species you decide, here are some tips to include in your thought process to maximize your potential for success: 1. Bale off straw or ensure straw and chaff are evenly spread 2. Removing weeds and volunteer wheat allows the cover crop to get a good start 3. Consider your wheat herbicide program when selecting a cover crop 4. Plant as soon as possible after wheat harvest 5. Drill, broadcast and incorporate cover crop seed to get faster results
2017 – Ready or Not, Here We Come! Even though it feels like 2016 is in full swing with lots still ahead of us, it’s time to start thinking fall wheat for 2017. Generally speaking, the 2016 wheat crop has been a pleasant surprise given the lack of precipitation through the grain fill period in June and early July. Hopefully some extra yield in places will help to offset the lack of marketing opportunities we’ve seen for this year’s crop. Beyond class and variety selection for fall wheat, seed treatments warrant some time and consideration as they have a significant impact on germination, vigour, and early pest management - whether it be insects or diseases. If purchasing certified seed (which is always a good thing), then the decision process is pretty simple as the standard treatment has become the Cruiser Vibrance Quattro package from Syngenta. This product features 4 different fungicide components as well as an insecticide portion and the added value of the “vigor trigger”. The main targets from a disease perspective continue to be Fusarium, Rhizoctonia, Pythium, Dwarf Bunt, Loose Smut, and suppression of Take-All. Adding the insecticide component gives control of European Chafer and Wireworm. Currently wheat is not being targeted by the Ontario government for neonic reduction, so there is no concern regarding pest assessments or seed declaration forms like there is for corn and soybean growers. If you’ve got history of insect damage and/or are planting wheat into a “suspect” rotation then the added insecticide component is cheap insurance against these pests. This product is also available for on-farm treating which is new for 2016. Treating equipment/systems must ensure complete coverage of seed in order for the product to be effective. Quantities are limited so if you are interested in this product as an on farm treatment option then speak with your Holmes Agro Agronomist ASAP. Alternative treatments to this offering include the Dividend XL RTA which contains 2 fungicide components for resistance management but no insecticide component. Growers using Vitaflow as a cost effective alternative should be reminded that it is a single mode of action in terms of disease control and does NOT provide protection against Dwarf Bunt. Speak with your Holmes Agro Agronomist if you have any questions or need help choosing product and figuring out rates.
Potassium Deficiency in Soybeans Behind Nitrogen, Potassium (K) is the nutrient absorbed by soybean plants in the greatest amount. A soybean plant needs to have available/be able to absorb at least 100 lbs actual K to have the potential of producing a 40 bushel crop. Uptake of potassium into the plant is restricted by low K levels on soil tests, compaction, interaction with other nutrients, prolonged drought, stress from insects or disease to name a few. Uptake of potassium into the plant is encouraged with higher OM soils, good soil structure, adequate to above average K levels on soil tests, and average moisture and higher temperatures throughout the season also increases the rate of K diffusion. Plants depend on K to regulate the opening and closing of leaf stomates, which are the pores that allow gases and water vapour to pass through the leaf. Adequate K supplies allow these pores to function properly and conserve moisture helping minimize drought stress. A pre-planned and balanced soil fertility program is key to successful cropping ventures because by the time deficiency symptoms develop in the growing season, yield damage has already occurred. Immediate action can often help rescue some yield but will only provide a band aid solution. Foliar applications with products such as Alpine's K20-S or TMR-F are good options. Worth repeating is that Potassium is said by many to be the 2nd only to Nitrogen in importance to plant growth and hence must be managed properly in soils to achieve maximum yield outcome opportunities. As soybean yields increase and as all crop yields increase in your crop rotation, it is important to consider overall amounts of crop nutrients required. Talk to a Holmes Agro representative about a proactive/aggressive approach to maintaining/building your soil levels with adequate levels of potassium.
CLEANFarms 2016 Holmes Agro is proud to participate in the CleanFarms program as a depot to accept your empty pesticide jugs and seed bags. Just a few guidelines to remember: Seed/chemical bags – all types of EMPTY pesticide bags as well as paper multi-wall and plastic seed bags can be returned in the clear green plastic bags we have available at our locations. Seed bulk bags can be returned neatly bundled into
rolls of 6. Chemical jugs – only clean, triple-rinsed jugs with caps and booklets removed will be accepted for recycling.
OBSOLETE DAY! – We are a location for 2016 collection. Friday September 30, 2016 at our Orangeville location we will be collecting obsolete chemical and livestock medications. Please stay tuned for more details on how to participate in the program.
Jeff
Greg
Paul
Shane
Taylor
Travis
Scott
Gord
John
