Crop Solutions That Work

AGRIS Biweekly Newsletter

Digital Corner

MiField Plot Demonstrations

Mifield is our plot program where we demonstrate new and novel products with cooperators at field scale. In side by sides strips to see which products have merit. We compare the product to the standard farm practice (SFP).

The hot topic these days is the use of bio-stimulants. Some are biologicals others are inorganic and some organic compounds. All are designed to alleviate abiotic stresses that can occur throughout the growing season.

We appreciate the involvement and cooperation all of participants. The use and integration of digital technology is making it easier to do plots. The use of technology that records where the treatment is positioned in the field often referred to “as applied maps “and followed at harvest with a yield map. This makes it easy to do a yield by product analysis rather quickly and determine the merit of product performance.

We still do some test plots with staff having to be in the field to flag treatment areas and follow up in the fall with a weigh wagon to capture the yield data. We also do a hybrid approach with our ability to work with customers that have yield monitors but no means of digital recording of treatment areas. We can come by and map the treatment area that was flagged and move that into our system to await the yield map in the fall.

Article by Dale Cowan

Agronomy Strategy Manager and Senior Agronomist at AGRIS Co-operative

An Example of Boron applied at Sidedress timing in UAN

The digital tools are removing the challenge of having to be in the field when the activity occurs. It does require advanced planning with the cooperator. A plot layout, check treatments replicated in the field, in season observations, such as imagery, support i.e. tissue testing and a sharing plan for yield data. The final step is a season end report.

We are still looking for cooperators with technology to facilitate more MiField Plots. Reach out to your Crop Sales Specialist to have a conversation on some of the product we wish to test.

- Stay Informed-

Early Wheat, Double-Cropping Soybeans.

Why Not?

Article by Andre Coutinho

Crop Sales Specialist

AGRIS Co-operative

Brigden

As we head into the T3 spray window in most of southwestern Ontario, the possibility of an early harvest offers the chance of double-cropping this summer. Who wouldn't like some extra 30 bushels/acre of soybeans in the same field?

As you prepare to decide whether you should try double-cropping or not, there are some points you must observe. For example, don't give up on a good stand of red clover or plant soybeans if cyst nematode is a problem in your field (cancelling the benefit of the wheat rotation). But don't forget that companies will offer better seed prices at this time of the year, helping you reduce your costs for this project.

As tempting as it seems, double-cropping will require some conditions to succeed. One of them is having enough soil moisture for germination. A long fall will also help harvesting before a killing frost occurs.

Some other points to consider when making this decision are:

Date of harvesting/planting. If you can plant before July 1st, there is a potential 30bu/acre yield. But yield will drop 1bu/acre for each day after that. You can consider using a harvest aid such as Eragon Plus (tank-mixed or not with glyphosate) to helps accelerate harvest;
Don't plant after July 10th;
Choose a glyphosate-resistant variety to help control volunteer wheat;
Leave around 8 in. of wheat stubble to promote soybean stem elongation, and plant no-till to retain moisture, placing the seed between 0.5 and 3 inches in depth. Adopt narrow rows and a high seeding rate (250,000 seeds/acre) to improve canopy closure;
Choose a variety of one maturity group lower than you usually would plant;
Consider applying 50 lbs of N/ acre to increase yield potential.

Leave around 8 in. of wheat stubble to promote soybean stem elongation, and plant no-till to retain moisture, placing the seed between 0.5 and 3 inches in depth. Adopt narrow rows and a high seeding rate (250,000 seeds/acre) to improve canopy closure;

Choose a variety of one maturity group lower than you usually would plant;

Consider applying 50 lbs of N/ acre to increase yield potential.

If you are interested in trying double-cropping this year, always remember you can count on the advice of your crop specialist at AGRIS Cooperative. We are here to support your business

Big Weeds, Big Rates

The warm days we have had this spring have really accelerated growth in everything, wheat is advancing quickly, corn is coming out of the ground in days, not weeks, and many big weeds and dirty fields. Some fields have not received a burn down yet, and will have some hard to control weeds. Especially, winter annuals and perennials. It will be important to use full label rates and adequate water volumes to achieve reasonable control. In some cases, it may be beneficial to add another mode of action to enhance your burn down.

Emerged corn is quickly getting a carpet of weeds with the unusually warm days we have been receiving. Be prepared for post emerge herbicide applications, as fields that were worked a few weeks ago are getting very dirty if a pre emerge herbicide was not applied. Many soybeans were planted, and are emerging before a burn down was applied, due to either wind or rain. Plans for pre emerge products have changed, as we will now be spraying post emerge products on VE beans in some cases. On a positive note, most weed species have emerged and will be available to receive your herbicides being applied, so your burn down should be quite effective.

Higher rates of glyphosate and multiple modes of action will be more effective on the large weeds we are dealing with this spring. Always read the label and adhere to recommended rates. Talk to your crop specialist for a solution that best fits your needs.

Remember smaller weeds are easier to control than large ones.