Crops

by BERNARD TOBIN

The streaks in Arthur’s soybean field were caused by the high levels of straw in the manure that he applied randomly on the field before planting soybeans.

Generally, manure makes a positive contribution to a soybean crop. But the excessive levels of straw in Arthur's manure, and the heavy rate of application, caused a high carbon (C) to nitrogen (N) ratio, which actually starved the soybean plants of N.

by BERNARD TOBIN

During the winter months, crop consultants such as certified crop advisor Mervyn Erb spend much of their time sharing the latest crop management insights with growers in preparation for the coming season.

“It’s great when growers come to a presentation, listen to your advice and act on it,” says Erb. But even the best advice can fall flat if growers are not careful and stray from best practices.

by BERNARD TOBIN

Bill was correct in believing that corn, a monocot crop, can tolerate an application of most cereal herbicides. Unfortunately, corn can’t withstand cereal herbicides that control grassy weeds.

by BERNARD TOBIN

In spring, when growers see nice, even emergence across a soybean field, there’s an immediate sense of relief. But when random streaks of discoloured plants appear throughout the field, that feeling of satisfaction turns to dread as thoughts of vanishing yield overpower spring optimism.

That’s what Pioneer Hi-Bred agronomist Scott Fife encountered when he received a mid-June call from a grower seeking his advice.

by BERNARD TOBIN

The pests feeding on Jim’s corn crop were millipedes. “In this case it’s important to remember that millipedes are classified as pests, not insects,” explains Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs entomologist Tracey Baute.

by BERNARD TOBIN

Herbicides are great tools for growers to use in defending crops against yield-robbing weeds. But when crop injury occurs after spraying, the herbicide and seed technology is often at the top of the suspect list.

In some cases, however, the evidence just doesn’t add up and that’s when Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs’ Weed Management Lead, Mike Cowbrough, gets a call.

Oliver Haan and his wife Renate are finding that underseeding barley with single cut red clover is proving a useful source of feed and saving him $200-$250 an acre

by MARY BAXTER

Oliver Haan has big plans for red clover and he thinks the crop could benefit traditional cash croppers, too.

by BERNARD TOBIN

Corn seed treatments have become an important management tool for farmers, helping protect against insects that feast on fledgling plants.

by DEAN SHANTZ

There were definitely a few issues with this corn field. You’re right if you guessed that nitrogen deficiency, soil compaction and/or slug feeding contributed to Matthew’s problem.

It made sense that the outside 12 rows looked better than the rest of the field when I learned that Matthew had opened up the outer part of the field last fall for early corn silage harvest. This meant very little trash was left on the soil surface in this area.

by DEAN SHANTZ

When a field is doing poorly, a quick investigation may uncover a problem, but you need to be thorough in your assessment. Your diligence may reveal that several things are teaming up to take the sting out of your crop’s yield punch.