www.ontariograinfarmer.ca Publ ished by APPLIED RESEARCH FEBRUARY 2022 Increasing wheat yields GREAT LAKES YIELD ENHANCEMENT NETWORK
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6 ON THE COVER Increasing wheat yields Laura Ferrier GREAT LAKES YIELD ENHANCEMENT NETWORK From the CEO’s desk PRIORITY INVESTMENTS 4 Winter wheat benefits Lois Harris 10 The cover crop difference Jeanine Moyer 12 Business side Conversations with business experts 9 GrainTALK newsletter An update on Grain Farmers of Ontario news and events 16 Cover Crops in Ontario 14 Crop side Agronomic information from crop specialists 23 Sudden Death Syndrome Matt McIntosh 18 Seed development: wheat Laura Ferrier 20 Winterkill in winter wheat Owen Roberts 22 Soil health and phosphorus efficiency Treena Hein 24 Improved corn establishment Melanie Epp 26 Good in Every Grain Updates on our public trust campaign 30 A DIY crop tour Rebecca Hannam 28 FEBRUARY 2022 volume 13, number 05 ONTARIO GRAIN FARMERis published 9 times a year (December/January, February, March, April/May, June/July, August, September, October, and November) through Grain Farmers of Ontario. Distribution is to all Ontario barley, corn, oat, soybean, and wheat farmer-members. Associate Membership Subscription available upon request. Views and opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the policies of Grain Farmers of Ontario. Seek professional advice before undertaking any recommendations or suggestions presented in this magazine. PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40065283. Return undeliverable items to Grain Farmers of Ontario, 679 Southgate Drive, Guelph, ON N1G 4S2. © Grain Farmers of Ontario all rights reserved. Publisher: Grain Farmers of Ontario, Phone: 1-800-265-0550, Website: www.gfo.ca; Managing Editor: Rachel Telford; Production Co-ordinator: Kim Ratz; Advertising Sales: Joanne Tichborne Look for these symbols for bonus content in our digital edition. Cover photo courtesy of Joanna Follings
to strengthen public investment in research both at the federal and provincial levels. Research has broader benefits to all Canadians — it benefits the environment, has a multiplier effect on the economy, provides access to competitive breeds and hybrids, and positions Ontario as a global leader in innovation. The value of research is realized when it results in farmers making more profitable agronomic decisions or using a new product or tool on their farm that improves efficiencies. But this takes time. In fact, results from field and lab research often take years. As the COVID-19 pandemic has shown us, it is vital that we continue to invest in projects that may help your farm adapt to changing consumer needs, environmental demands, and global supply chain issues for today and the challenges of tomorrow. l Priority investments GRAIN FARMERS OF ONTARIO is investing close to $2 million of your check-off fees into research during the 2022 fiscal year. That money is being leveraged through funding partners at a ratio of more than 3:1. We are currently invested in more than 70 multi-year research projects with a total value of more than $32 million. I point this out because research investment, and the research partnerships we are involved in, are critical to the future success of grain farming in Ontario. Our focus on agronomy, breeding and genetics, insects and diseases, and crop quality and utilization means this research investment is an investment in the future of your farm. Improved agronomic practices to increase yields, better genetics suited for Ontario’s diverse climate, and grain that meets specific needs of the end-user can all benefit the bottom line of your business. Some of these research projects are highlighted in this issue of Ontario Grain Farmer. Research partnerships have been the key to the success of several major projects that were undertaken in the past year, such as the Great Lakes Yield Enhancement Network (YEN). Partnerships not only allow us to leverage additional funding sources, but knowledge resources as well. The YEN brings together Ontario researchers and farmers with their counterparts in neighbouring U.S. states. They face similar agronomic challenges and have similar production methods, which makes them ideal partners for a project looking to determine how to best manage your wheat crop for the highest results. We are also involved in broader research partnerships at the national level, such as the Canadian Field Crop Research Alliance (CFCRA) which allows us to draw on the specialized ability of researchers working on advanced crop genetics. The CFCRA also allows us to tap into additional levels of research funding and grant programs that we would not qualify for as a provincial organization on our own. Some of our research dollars also supports the continued work of field crop specialists at the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, researchers at universities across the province, and long-term rotation trials for field crops. Outside of the research project funding, we have also established a Professorship in Wheat Breeding at the University of Guelph. Over the years, government funding cuts have eroded some of the public research work being conducted and left vacancies unfilled. Our support of key programs ensures important work continues to get done and valuable expertise remains in place to the benefit of our farmer-members. There is an urgent need Crosby Devitt, CEO, Grain Farmers of Ontario From the CEO’s desk 4
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Cover story 6 THE GREAT LAKESYield Enhancement Network (YEN) is focused on improving wheat yields for Ontario farmers. The research program recently completed its inaugural season with the 2021 pilot project. The project is a collaborative effort between Grain Farmers of Ontario, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), Michigan Wheat Program, Michigan State University, the University of Guelph, the Certified Crop Advisor Association, and 40 wheat farmers, from Ontario and neighbouring U.S. states. The goal of the Great Lakes YEN is to help farmers and industry build insights and knowledge about the practices and factors impacting wheat yields and close the gap between potential and actual yield. Many variables were measured in the fields that were entered into the program (including soil characteristics, weather, plant characteristics including total biomass), grains per head, heads per square metre, kernel size, protein, and final yield. Awards were handed out to the top three farmers with the highest yield, and the top three farmers who achieved the highest percentage of potential yield. HIGHEST YIELD GOLD: Kevin Van Netten, Simcoe, Ontario Van Netten achieved a grain yield of 152.8 bushels/acre. His key areas of success within the program included a high total biomass and number of heads per meter squared. He also achieved 61 per cent of his potential yield at 248.9 bu/ac. Although the field was seeded in October in a minimum till system, utilizing higher rates of nitrogen (N), a fungicide, and a Plant Growth Regulator (PGR) maximized yield potential. “We had some really great rain in June which allowed grain fill to extend to almost 45 days, compared to a much shorter window in prior years,” says Van Netten. SILVER: Ken Smith, Wyoming, Ontario Smith achieved 151.3 bu/ac and a high total biomass, split applied his N and had a high number of heads per meter squared. He was also able to achieve 66.2 per cent of his potential yield. Smith seeded his field in September utilizing minimum till. A PGR and fungicide were also applied during the growing season. “I was able to get my wheat planted early, and it came through winter with good survival and green up,” says Smith. And although the season was dry, “my soil was able to hold moisture and the wheat really came through.” BRONZE: Jeff Cook, London, Ontario Cook achieved 148.6 bu/ac and 61.3 per cent of his potential yield of 242.5 bu/ac. A high total biomass was also seen, along with total available water, and number of heads per square metre. An early seeding date, along with a fungicide and PGR helped to achieve this yield. HIGHEST PER CENT OF POTENTIAL YIELD GOLD: Jeff Krohn, Owendale, Michigan Krohn achieved 73.7 per cent of his potential yield. He had considerably less water than other regions, and his site was considered water limited. At the beginning of grain fill, after flowering, there was a significant drought for a few weeks. Krohn utilizes minimum till, with his wheat being planted Increasing wheat yields GREAT LAKES YIELD ENHANCEMENT NETWORK Laura Ferrier continued on page 8 • The Great Lakes Yield Enhancement Network (YEN) is one of a global series of YENs that help local farmers better understand their yield potential and learn what is limiting that potential. • The Great Lakes Yield Enhancement Network was a pilot project focused on winter wheat in 2021 and will continue as a full research program in 2022. • To estimate the yield potential of a wheat field, the development of a given crop, the basic resources (light, energy, and water) available to that crop, and then its success in capturing these and using them to formgrain is considered. • The Great Lakes YEN is a way to connect farmers and help them understand more about their crops and the yields they are achieving. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW WINNER OF HIGHEST YIELD, KEVIN VAN NETTEN (LEFT) OF SIMCOE, ONTARIO, RECEIVES HIS AWARD FROM MARTY VERMEY, GRAIN FARMERSOF ONTARIO'S SENIORAGRONOMIST.
ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER 7 FEBRUARY 2022
8 and a higher thousand-gram weight. It was also found that farmers who achieved higher yields tended to split apply their nitrogen compared to farmers with lower yields. Those with a slightly higher N rate were also above average in yield. Weather did not significantly correlate with yield. However, this could be because only one year of data has been acquired. In general, though, water use was higher in the above average plots then below average. Overall, as a pilot, there was very positive feedback from the farmers and agronomists who were involved in the program. Many farmers noted that they were able to learn from specialists and their peers in order to grow a better crop. The program exposed areas that were deficient in their operations and will allow them to manage strategies moving forward. This program has truly put research into action. The 2022 Great Lakes YEN program is now underway with farmers from Ontario and the U.S. who grow wheat, all hoping to learn vital information to increase yields while increasing the sustainability in their operations moving forward. For more information on the Great Lakes YEN program visit https://greatlakesyen.com/. Laura Ferrier is Grain Farmers of Ontario’s agronomist. l COLLECTING WHEAT SAMPLES FOR ANALYSIS. PHOTO COURTESY OF JOANNA FOLLINGS. continued from page 6 This research project received funding from Grain Farmers of Ontario. after edible beans in mid-September. A lower seeding rate was used, and a PGR and two fungicide passes were applied during the growing season. SILVER: Gordon Briggs, Scottville, Michigan Briggs achieved 67 per cent of his potential yield. His field was limited by rainfall. He used higher N rates than average and had higher heads per square meter than many other farmers in the project. Briggs’ operation utilizes conventional tillage, with his wheat being planted after snap beans, at 1.8 million seeds per acre. He utilized split N applications, with fungicides applied throughout the growing season. BRONZE: Adam Pfeffer, St. Thomas, Ontario Pfeffer achieved 66.6 per cent of potential yield. He had slightly higher biomass amounts than the top two contestants in this category. This is another site that was somewhat water limited, but the crop did a nice job in responding to management. Pfeffer’s operation uses minimum tillage, aims for early planting, and utilizes a single nitrogen application. OBSERVATIONS In general terms, there were some similarities in the high yielding crops. The higher yielding crops all had an earlier planting date, with many being seeded before the optimum planting date for their region. As many know, an earlier planting date allows the wheat crop to have good root establishment and tillering before heading into the winter. With respect to the seeding rate, it was shown to not be highly correlated with yield. It is important to note that the high yielding fields were early planted. In Europe, farmers are aiming for lower seeding rates as well. Going forward, adjusting seeding rate based on soil type and productivity is something to consider as more results to support this management are available. When looking at the yield components, the higher yielding fields also saw a higher number of grains per head, heads per metre squared, grains per metre squared,
9 (J.M.) WHAT DOES THE CURRENT LABOUR MARKET LOOK LIKE? (I.M.) The current labour market is tightening and employees have more choices. BeforeCOVID-19, the agriculture industrywas competing with all employers. The competition for that talent is even tougher now as individuals have even more choices. Some of these new choices include the option to collect government support, “stay at home” to reflect on their career and life, withdraw from working altogether, work part-time, return to school, and self-employment. This means agriculture employers need to re-look how they approach the labour shortage dilemma. Just as products enjoy a competitive advantage, what is your employment value proposition competitive advantage? As farm employers, ask why would people with increasing options choose to join your business? What do you offer that is attractive and different from other employers? Once you’re able to attract people to consider working on your farm, what can you introduce in the selection process to seal the deal? Implementing a successful onboarding process is a keyway that helps ensure you don’t lose the candidates after hiring, supports employees to achieve productivity quickly, and builds employee engagement. HOW CAN I ATTRACT EMPLOYEES? While most managers believe money is a top driver of employee satisfaction, it is not. The good news is there has been a lot of research conducted on what is important to achieving employee satisfaction. A successful farmbusiness should have a Customer Value Proposition (CVP) to drive product adoption, customer satisfaction, and customer loyalty. What often gets missed is this as a concept for your employees. Employers should have an Employee Value Proposition (EVP) to attract (employee adoption), retain (employee satisfaction) and engage (employee loyalty and performance). These two value propositions go hand in hand, and the best performing businesses can connect and align these value propositions. When it comes to determining an EVP to attract new hires, identify your unique business offerings that would appeal to an employee’s experience. How is your farm’s work different than others? Considerations could be the ability to work outdoors, work nontraditional hours, the opportunity to learn new skills (equipment, technology, land use, environmental sustainability, etc.) or the opportunity to feed families. Many of these EVP elements are attractive to new hires and aren’t offered outside of a farming environment. Some creative messaging can easily create a compelling EVP. Beyond wages, farm employers should also consider using other compensation and recognition elements to attract and retain employees. These could be as simple as a coffee card if the team navigates today’s weather, a cash bonus if we achieve Y yield by X date, or a special lunch or evening celebration to let employees know they are achieving extraordinary results. This may require your employees to work extra hours, work smarter or work in a collaborative team to achieve better, faster, or cheaper outcomes. This isn’t simply about being a positive, caring employer, it’s also about being smart about energizing, recognizing and celebrating achievements to drive farm performance. WHAT DOES THE MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE MEAN FOR FARM EMPLOYERS? As of January 1, 2021, Ontario’s minimum wage increased to $15 an hour from the previous $14.35. But, while wages remain an important attraction driver, it’s not the only one. To start with, wages and how they are determined must be understood, for example, “if all farmers pay between X and Y, we pay Y because…” Help your employees understand the wage rate when you make an employment offer and clearly explain how and when increases are determined. Wages also need to be fair, and are often a function of the employee’s perspective. Clearly communicate how performance, contributions, skills and experience factor into employee wages. For example, an employee with three years’ experience, who has taken on responsibilities and learned extra tasks should earn more than a first-year employee still learning the ropes. Wages can be key to aligning and driving employee performance. Not all employees perform at the same level and employees who bring more value to your farm should earn more. Ideally, wage increases should be self-funded through higher employee productivity, less downtime and lower costs. As employees gain experience and relevant skills for your farm, they should also be able to problem solve, improve processes, teach others and encourage co-workers. Your wage strategy is one key element toward employee performance that can ultimately lead to your overall farm success. l Jeanine Moyer Ian McGinty, owner, Ian McGinty and Associates Today’s labour market BUSINESS SIDE WITH... Business side ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER 9 FEBRUARY 2022
10 RESEARCHERS HAVE PROVEN that adding winter wheat to a corn-soybean rotation not only increases yields, it also builds resilience against drought, helps reduce the need for nitrogen fertilizer, and improves soil health. Scientists are looking at data from longterm rotation trials at University of Guelph research facilities in Elora and Ridgetown and demonstrating the significant advantages of growing wheat in rotation with corn and soybeans. Dr. David Hooker, an associate professor in the Department of Plant Agriculture at the University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus, worked on the project with now-retired Dr. Bill Deen, who ran the research trials in Elora. BY THE NUMBERS The results were impressive. Corn yields were up more than 15 per cent and soybeans were up 13 per cent when wheat was added to the rotation. Depending on the tillage system used, corn yields during dry years were up two to three per cent and soybeans up an astounding 20 to 30 per cent. Over a 26-year period, the researchers found that using wheat in the rotation reduced the need for, and costs of, nitrogen fertilizer. Combining this rotation with reduced tillage also resulted in better soil health, by increasing nitrogen and organic carbon levels and benefiting soil microbes. The long-term rotation plots are a gold mine of information for researchers and farmers because they have produced results for decades — in Elora for more than 40 years, and in Ridgetown for more than 25 years. The length of time in the same locations is important, Hooker says, because it takes at least 10 years of data to figure out if changing a management practice actually works, once the “system” has stabilized with the new change. “These are applied results — growers can directly use data for deciding the best tillage system for their farm or the most appropriate crop location,” Hooker says. “We can also investigate trends around soil characteristics and crop productivity.” “The effects of changes are sometimes not apparent in the short-term,” he says, adding that variable weather is a big factor, but so are changes in the soil. For example, in switching from plowing to no-till, it takes several years for the system to stabilize from soil characteristics associated with a full-width tilled system to soil that’s aerated with worms and macropores, has a residue layer and contains more organic matter, especially close to the surface. While the soil types are different in Elora and Ridgetown, the encouraging results were the same across rotations, he says. ANECDOTES BACKED BY SCIENCE “Farmers knew that corn and soybeans do better with wheat in the rotation compared to continuous corn, continuous soybeans or a corn-soybean rotation,” Hooker says. “These trials quantify this effect — we now have hard numbers to back it up.” Since the research was published, there have been many farmers who have provided reallife testimonials to back up the science, as well. “When we combine the anecdotal evidence with the science, it makes the story very strong,” he says. Hooker notes that the corn-soybean rotation, which is most popular in the U.S. Midwest, produces the worst soil quality of all the rotations. “I actually call it a crop alternation, not a rotation,” he says. MORE UPSIDES Another interesting benefit to putting winter wheat into the rotation is that it spreads the workload. “On the farm level, instead of planting 100 per cent of crops in the spring, one-third of Winter wheat benefits LONG-TERM RESEARCH Lois Harris Research
ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER 11 FEBRUARY 2022 This research project received funding from Grain Farmers of Ontario. the planting can be done in the fall,” he says. He says that, beyond all the benefits to corn and soybean yields, soil health, drought resilience and nitrogen availability, the wheat crop itself can be lucrative, especially in the fall of 2021. “Wheat prices are relatively high, along with corn and soybeans at record levels,” he says, adding a cautionary note that wheat prices are subject to the vagaries of global markets and the wheat itself can be susceptible to winter kill and drought. Hooker says farmers sometimes wait until spring to see what the stand is like before forward-contracting for the crop. “Another factor is that, because so few wheat acres have been planted so far in Ontario, the price of wheat straw is expected to be at record levels in 2022,” he says. Including wheat in the rotation also enables the use of cover crops. “Because winter wheat is harvested in late July and August, you have four months to grow cover crops and produce biomass — and in the case of red clover, or the inclusion of other legumes, fix nitrogen in the soil so it will be available for the following corn crop,” he says. BRINGING WHEAT OUT OF THE SHADOWS With the data derived from this project, Hooker feels that wheat should be elevated to the status of soybeans and corn as a main crop, especially in the Great Lakes region where the environment allows it to flourish. “Since we’ve quantified the effect of wheat — in terms of an enterprise on its own, and its effect on corn and soybean yields — it’s one of the most important crops, and highly competitive with corn and soybeans.” This project is funded by the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a five-year investment by Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial governments. l
12 WE KNOW THEbenefits of planting cover crops, but what exactly are those benefits and how are they measured? Results of a five-year Ontario-based cover crop research project are rolling in and are presenting some definitive information about how cover crops relate to crop productivity and nitrogen availability, carbon inputs and carbon sequestration and the overall economics of planting cover crops. “We’re trying to understand what’s actually happening in the soil as a result of growing a cover crop,” says Dr. Inderjot Chahal, project lead and a post-doc research fellow with the School of Environmental Sciences at the University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus. “If we can provide information that growers can relate to, maybe we can increase the adoption and acreage of cover crops across Ontario.” Despite substantial research across Canada and the U.S., there is room to improve cover crop adoption by farmers. According to data released by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) in 2020, roughly 30 per cent of farmers in southwestern Ontario regularly grow cover crops. Previous research suggests cover crops are a positive influence on soil and crop attributes, including increasing soil organic matter and aggregate stability and decreasing soil erosion and nutrient losses (including nitrogen). The question Chahal and her team are looking to answer is just how they provide these benefits to soil health and crop yield. “Continued studies at the same site have demonstrated that cover crops increased soil microbial activity, crop yield and nitrogen availability to the next crop in the rotation,” says Chahal. “Using this knowledge, we conducted this research to answer questions related to cover crop-induced effects on soil, and potentially understand the associated mechanism, or how they achieve these benefits.” ANALYSIS The research built off of previous cover crop projects conducted at the Ridgetown Campus, The cover crop difference RESEARCHING THE BENEFITS Jeanine Moyer COVER CROP - SOYBEANS IN CORN. including cover crop and crop yield data from as far back as 2007. Two long-term trials were conducted, planting four species of cover crops over the project timeline — oats, cereal rye, oilseed radish, and a mix of cereal rye and oilseed radish. All cover crops were planted in late summer or fall, depending on the crop rotation, where they were given a chance to grow and mature. Soil and crop samples were collected each fall before frost and twice in the following spring for evaluation. “So far, we have found cover crop species had 11 — 22 per cent greater soil organic carbon storage when compared to the no cover crop control,” says Chahal. “Relative to no cover crop control, cover crops increased soil health parameters including active carbon, wet aggregate stability, microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen. And overall crop yield with cover crops was either equal to or greater than the no cover crop control.” To measure for carbon input and carbon sequestration, soil samples were taken at depths between zero to 15 centimetres and analyzed for total carbon. Soil inorganic carbon was measured, and soil organic carbon was calculated by subtracting inorganic carbon from total carbon. To assess economic returns from cover crops, the project calculated profit margins (differences between revenues and costs associated with cover crops) and profit margin ratios for each crop grown in the rotation. Ratios were used to indicate any differences (none, an increase, or loss) in profit margins as a result of the cover crop. Results from the 2021 trial saw the first positive grain corn yield response to cover cropping. The corn trial was grown after a radish cover crop and the 60 bu/ac increase in dry grain corn yield was compared to no cover crop and oat cover crop controls. The trial fields are part of a long-term experiment at Ridgetown Campus where annual cover crops were planted 10 times over the 13 years since 2007. Research
Crop productivity and nitrogen dynamics were evaluated using biomass samples taken from the cover crops in fall and spring. Soil mineral nitrogen content was also quantified. The results of 2019 and 2020 trials showed all cover crop treatments had statistically or numerically greater yields than the no cover treatment. This was also consistent with previous research. “The positive effects of long-term cover cropping were attributed to better soil health and greater soil organic matter. With greater soil organic matter, it’s expected plants will have more available nitrogen and water in a dry growing season,” explains Chahal. Additional benefits were observed in crop responses to stress when, in 2020, which was dry until mid-July, trial grain corn yield was up to 59 bu/ac greater with long-term cover cropping (10 times in 13 years) than the no cover crop control. This research demonstrates the resiliency to weather stress with the improved soil health generated by cover crops. RESEARCH APPLICATION The results of the study confirmed the positive influences of cover crops on soil health and crop yield. The research was able to measure and quantify the benefits cover crops provide, including increased nitrogen, carbon storage and economic payoffs. “The trial is well designed and has demonstrated that cover crop-induced improvements in soil health can occur in the medium-term (planting cover crops six times in eight years),” says Chahal, who reminds farmers that the research is showing longterm benefits of cover crops are proving to pay off faster than they may think. “The adoption of cover crops does pay off, and we’re working hard to find relatable information to increase more acres.” Ontario farmers can directly benefit from the availability of research results like this study that demonstrates and quantifies the benefits of cover crops on yield, soil health and economics. Chahal says the next step is to determine just how cover crops are able to achieve these benefits, exploring just what happens in the soil to improve or retain nitrogen, soil health and crop yield. These questions will be part of future study, building on the results of this project in an effort to provide relatable results and information to Ontario growers, and ultimately increase the adoption of cover crops. Dr. Laura Van Eerd is the principal research lead on this project. This project is funded by the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a five-year investment by Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial governments. l ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER 13 FEBRUARY 2022 continued on page xx This research project received funding from Grain Farmers of Ontario. WHY MAKE CFFO YOUR FBR CHOICE? KEEPING FAITH IN FARMING Listening to your concerns since 1954 Access to expert advice A Christian voice on Ontario farm policy Great exclusive CFFO Member benefits Over $10,000 in scholarships Property tax reductions Farm license plates Eligibility for government compensation programs Visit Agricorp.com/FBR to register, and choose CFFO for your Accredited Farm Organization. Farmland Preservation Water Stewardship Soil Health Farmer Mental Health www.christianfarmers.org CHRISTIAN FARMERS Federation Of Ontario CFFO Agri-food Sector Success
14 THE ONTARIO COVER Crop Steering Committee recently set out to learn more about how and why Ontario farmers are using cover crops in their fields. The 2020 Ontario Cover Crop Feedback Report was developed with assistance from Callum Morrison and Dr. Yvonne Lawley of the University of Manitoba. Farmers were asked to answer questions relating to the benefits and challenges they have experienced and their needs for research and knowledge transfer. Farmers were also asked to provide input on best management practices (BMPs) to inform policy makers wanting information to design conservation programs to meet environmental targets. For this project, it was important to hear from farmers that currently grow cover crops along with those who do not. More than 700 farmers participated in the request for feedback from across Ontario. Of those who grew cover crops (520 farmers), it was reported that 107,900 acres of cover crops were grown across almost every county in Ontario. 211 farmers did not grow a cover crop in 2020. BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES Morrison says the feedback report indicates farmers who grow cover crops see a positive impact on their fields — 91 per cent have observed at least one benefit: • improved soil health (68%) • less erosion (59%) • increased soil organic matter (57%) “More than three quarters of farms that responded observed benefits within three years of adopting cover crops,” notes Morrison. Common challenges to adopting cover crops included: • poor establishment (30%) • late grain harvest preventing cover crop planting (27%) • additional cost (25%) Cover Crops in Ontario FARMERS’ EXPERIENCES COVER CROP, RADISH IN WHEAT. “Despite these challenges, only four per cent of respondents who grew cover crops reported that cover crops resulted in a drop in their farm net profit. Another 31 per cent of farms identified that they saw an increase in farm profit, and 37 per cent identified that cover crops resulted in no change to their profit. A substantial proportion (28 per cent) of respondents were not able to identify the affect of cover crops on farm net profit.” BARRIERS What would it take to increase the usage of cover crops on farms that do not currently grow them? Of the farmer respondents that did not grow cover crops in 2020, Morrison highlights that, “farmers identified financial incentives as a potential method for enabling continued use of cover crops on their farm.” Incentives recommended by farmers included: • tax credits for planting cover crops (53%) • payments for storing carbon (43%) • payments fromconservation programs (36%) Research COVER CROP RESOURCES Midwest Cover Crop Tool: Ontario specific information from regional research that allows users to search out ideal cover crops for their area https://mccc.msu.edu/covercroptool/. Ontario Soil Network: Farmer to farmer networking across the province through virtual and inperson events https://ontariosoil.net/ . Certified Crop Advisors and agronomists: These professionals can provide suggestions on where to start and what to consider when adding cover crops to your fields.
“Technical assistance (40 per cent), greater access to information on cover crop agronomy (29 per cent), more research specific to local areas (26 per cent) and to soil types (20 per cent), as well as local farm tours (16 per cent) and the creation of local networks of cover croppers (11 per cent) were identified as common methods to enable cover crop adoption among farmers that did not grow a cover crop in 2020,” says Morrison. When looking at farmers who did not grow cover crops in 2020, the report indicates that 52 per cent had not grown a cover crop before but wanted to try in the future, nine per cent had never grown and did not want to try, and 39 per cent had grown a cover crop in a previous year but not in 2020. These farms identified additional costs (41 per cent), lack of equipment (36 percent), late grain harvest preventing cover crop planting (29 per cent), not knowing where to start (24 per cent), and the shortness of the growing season (23 per cent) as being the most common challenges limiting cover crop adoption in Ontario. The members of the Ontario Cover Crop Steering Committee will share the information compiled in the 2020 Ontario Cover Crop Feedback Report to farmers, agronomists, researchers, policy makers, and government organizations that will play an important role in the future of cover crop usage in Ontario. For more information on the Ontario Cover Crop Action Plan and to read the full 2020 Ontario Cover Crop Feedback Report, go to https://gfo.ca/agronomy/soil-leadership/. A recorded webinar with Morrison and his advisor Dr. Yvonne Lawley is also available. Ontario Cover Crop Steering Committee Members: Certified Crop Advisor Association, Conservation Ontario, Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario, Grain Farmers of Ontario (committee chair), Innovative Farmers Association of Ontario, Ontario Agri-Business Association, Ontario Federation of Agriculture, Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association, Soils @ Guelph Committee Resource; Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. l ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER 15 FEBRUARY 2022 This research project received funding from Grain Farmers of Ontario. AirMix Liquid Fluidizer Flat Floor Stainless Tanks Stainless Hopper Bins Powder Coated Multi-Purpose SmoothWall Bins Meridian is the leader in fertilizer storage systems. Take advantage of low prices, bulk savings and avoid lineups when you’re time matters most by storing fertilizer on your farm. Meridian has a full range of customizable Stainless Tanks and SmoothWall Bins sure to fit your needs. ® © 2021 Meridian Manufacturing Inc. Registered Trademarks Used Under License. (11/2021)
16 An update on Grain Farmers of Ontario news and events Sowing the Seeds Registration is now open for the 2022 March Classic! Go to www.gfo.ca/marchclassic. The March Classic remains a premier event for the grain industry in Canada. Each year the event brings together hundreds of grain farmers, agriculture industry supporters, and government representatives. This year, Grain Farmers of Ontario plans to host an in-person event with live streaming of speakers for farmer-members and others who wish to attend online. The 2022 March Classic is celebrating the future, by sowing the seeds of opportunity, innovation, and tomorrow. Farming is about tomorrow — feeding the people of tomorrow and ensuring our farms are sustainable for the future. Every day, we sow the seeds that prepare the world, and our farms, for tomorrow. From new opportunities to new innovations that keep our food system secure for tomorrow. Pre-register for the 2022 March Classic by February 28 to be entered into our early bird draw! Grain Farmers of Ontario places the health and safety of all participants and staff as apriority. The current COVID-19 environmentmeans that GrainFarmersof Ontario will have to be very flexible and may need to adhere to changing requirements with little notice. We will be constantly monitoring requirements and restrictions for changes andact accordingly. Thoseattending in-personmust be fullyvaccinated and will be required to show proof of full vaccination before entering the event premise. Safe physical distancing and masks indoors may be required for those who attend. Please visit our website for up-to-date information. Get ready to hear from our world-renowned speakers: • First Canadian live taping of The U.S. Farm Report with host Tyne Morgan • Sonny Perdue, the 31st United States Secretary of Agriculture (2017-2021). • Jody Wilson-Raybould, also known by her Kwak’wala name Puglaas. • Stewart “Brittlestar” Reynolds, comedian, evening banquet entertainment. To register, go to www.gfo.ca/MarchClassic or contact Grain Farmers of Ontario at bcurtis@gfo.ca. 2022 March Classic March 22, 2022 Grain Farmers of Ontario Sowing the Seeds OPPORTUNITY • INNOVATION • TOMORROW
MAGAZINE UPDATE Over the past few months, we have encountered supply chain issues with the paper used to print the Ontario Grain Farmer. You will have noticed a different paper was used for the printing of the December/January magazine. We have been able to source our traditional paper for this issue, but uncertainties still exist with continued supply. Grain Farmers of Ontario is committed to providing the Ontario Grain Farmer for our farmermembers and we are working with our production partners to ensure a quality product is delivered on time. NEW MANAGER, MEMBER RELATIONS Grain Farmers of Ontario has hired Rachel Telford as the new manager, Member Relations. Telford took on this role at the end of November 2021 and helped to facilitate the January District Meetings. Farmer-members who wish to raise any issues or concerns may contact her at rtelford@gfo.ca or 289-979-5581. Telford was previously the managing editor of the Ontario Grain Farmer magazine and editorial specialist within the Communications department at Grain Farmers of Ontario. She is continuing to support the production of the magazine until a new managing editor is in place. SUBSCRIPTION CHANGES Farmer-members and industry associates who have changes to their mailing address or wish to cancel their subscription to the Ontario Grain Farmer magazine can contact Phaedra McIntosh, Grain Farmers of Ontario database coordinator, at pmcintosh@gfo.ca or 519-767-4130. MARKET COMMENTARY by Philip Shaw On December 9, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) had no monthly changes in their report. The focus now from USDA will change with the release of “final” numbers on the 2021 crop year released January 12, after the time of this writing. Traders will be looking for changes in U.S. final yields for corn and soybeans as well as ending stocks. Any changes along with the weather market from South America will influence crop prices through January. In Ontario, corn and soybean prices have improved through the holiday season partly through futures price appreciation but also improved basis levels. This is partly due to a Canadian dollar which has shown weakness trading in the 77 - 78 cents U.S. range. 17 ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER FEBRUARY 2022 Win! Enter the monthly online contest for 2022 at www.ontariograinfarmer.ca. In February - enter to win 4 Mt of YaraVera AMIDAS courtesy of Yara Canada (valued at $5,000). The contest is open to all farmer-members and is online only. FROM THE CHAIR A Q&A with Brendan Byrne, chair of Grain Farmers of Ontario. How are you going to deal with increased input costs on your farm as you plan for 2022? Rising input costs, and rising costs across the board, are a concern for all of us. Personally, I am going to connect with my trusted dealers, take a look at my nutrient and integrated pest management plans and understand where I can be more efficient. Prices for fall delivery in 2022 are good, so I’ll look at our cost of production and see what makes sense for this year. It could be a year where we forgo corn for more soybeans and see how this all plays out. On the Grain Farmers of Ontario Board side, we need to show the government what is going on in our industry with input costs growing astronomically, and equipment, trucking, and wage costs increasing too, so that they understand that we need their support when it comes to reducing other costs like the carbon tax. We continue to voice these concerns in meetings with the government since I became chair. • Do you have a question for our chair? Email GrainTALK@gfo.ca.
18 SUDDEN DEATH SYNDROME (SDS) is set to follow the progress of Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN), becoming a severe and consistent problem for Ontario soybean farmers in the coming decade. Researchers at the University of Guelph and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) are trying to get ahead of the problem by adding more SDS-resistant genes to the province’s pool of soybean germplasm. GENETIC RESISTANCE LACKING SDS is considered the second most devastating soybean pathogen in southwestern Ontario. The yield-robbing disease also continues to spread across the province, with the most effective means of control coming from SDS-resistant cultivars. Selection for varieties with SDS resistance is the best strategy to minimize field infection and yield losses. Variety selection can be enhanced with the use of seed treatments currently available to reduce early season infection and boost plant health. As happened with SCN, however, the few genes responsible for resistance can lose effectiveness over time. This puts breeders, seed companies, and farmers in a precarious position. “We now realize SDS is what soybean cyst nematode was 10 years ago. It will be a problem in new zones,” says Dr. Milad Eskandari, an associate professor and plant breeder with the university. To date, Eskandari says breeding programs for food grade soybeans have not focused on SDS resistance, largely because it was not considered a looming problem. Now, he Sudden Death Syndrome EXPANDING VARIETY OPTIONS Matt McIntosh SUDDEN DEATH SYNDROME (SDS) IN SOYBEANS. PHOTO COURTESY OF ALBERT TENUTA. and fellow plant agriculture professor Dr. Istvan Rajcan are working with OMAFRA and AAFC colleagues to find other resistance genes within varieties suited for Ontario. Those genes will subsequently be introducing into the province’s germplasm bank and existing SCN-resistant varieties. SDS SYMPTOMS AND IDENTIFICATION As described in a Field Crop News article by Albert Tenuta, OMAFRA field crops plant pathologist, SDS is a root rot disease caused by an aggressive strain of the common soil-borne fungal pathogen Fusarium solani. Infection frequently occurs during the first six weeks after emergence, with symptoms generally developing at the mid-pod reproductive stage. The presence of soybean cyst nematode can make SDS worse, since the Research
nematodes create wounds by which the fungus can infect the plant more easily. “SDS is most visible when the soybean crop enters the reproductive stages of development, because most of the resources of the plant begin to shift from vegetative growth to producing and filling pods,” says Tenuta. “When this shift in resources occurs, the plant’s natural defense mechanisms are reduced, especially under stressed conditions, allowing the disease-causing organism an opportunity to begin the infection process.” SDS is characterized by yellow speckling or spotting between leaf veins, both of which become larger as the disease progresses. In severe cases, the entire area between the veins becomes brown and dry, eventually falling out. Veins are all that remain, having stayed green the entire time. Premature defoliation and death are subsequent characteristics Cutting the root and the stem, says Tenuta, will expose a light brown or gray discolouration of the cortex tissue in the tap root and the stem. This will extend from the roots up through the stem. “Although the leaf symptoms may resemble brown stem rot, in SDS infected plants the pith of the stem remains white whereas brown stem rot infected plants have a brown and disintegrated pith.” RAPID, INEXPENSIVE GENE IDENTIFICATION 2021 was the inaugural year of the SDS resistance project. Thus far, a variety of genes were identified and incorporated into plant populations for indoor testing. These test populations — currently relocated to Costa Rica to avoid the difficulties of growing in the Canadian winter — will be field-tested in Ontario in 2022 to ensure their suitability for local conditions. “If we can do something that reduces the threat eight or more years from now, it’s worth it,” says Eskandari. “We don’t do any variety selection before the fifth generation…The data is great for discriminating tolerant genes, but we need to evaluate the errors while making sure it makes a good yielding, high quality crop.” Alongside introducing SDS resistance genes into new Ontario-adapted food-grade cultivars and germplasm, a second aim involves the development of molecular genetic-based toolkits. Intended for future breeding programs, such toolkits will speed up the process of developing new varieties by giving researchers a starting place — a sort of best-management-practice suite of genetic options — rather than forcing them to begin searching anew. This method will also make the process considerably cheaper. “The development of Ontario-adapted commercial soybean cultivars that are resistant to SDS and SCN will provide Ontario’s soybean growers with new tools to fight against the most yieldlimiting soybean pests in the region, and increase production,” says Eskandari. The project was funded in part by the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance, a collaboration between the government of Ontario and the University of Guelph. l ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER 19 FEBRUARY 2022 This research project received funding from Grain Farmers of Ontario. As a long-time farmer, Bradley knows stuff happens when he's juggling work sunup to sundown everyday. Good news is, he also understands his insurance coverage thanks to The Commonwell and our local, insurance-savvy brokers. Knowing you're covered and understanding that coverage creates confidence. It's our job to ensure that happens - so no matter what else happens, you come out on the right side every time. Take the surprises out of your farm insurance by visiting thecommonwell.ca/farm to find a Commonwell broker. @#&*! HAPPENS
20 BREEDERS TAKE SEVERAL factors into consideration when developing a new wheat variety, such as yield, quality, standability, and disease tolerance. Each class of wheat grown has its own characteristics andmanagement requirements. Approximately 85 per cent of wheat planted in Ontario is fall planted while roughly 15 per cent is spring planted. Dr. Ljiljana Tamburic-Ilincic is a recognized wheat breeder by the Canadian Seed Growers Association (CSGA), she is the Ontario Cereal Crop Committee (OCCC) disease coordinator, and is a research scientist based at the University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus. She has a focus on creating new soft red wheat varieties for Ontario. When Tamburic-Ilincic embarks on the journey of breeding a new wheat variety it can take up to 10 years; however she hopes for it to be a bit shorter using double haploid technology to get homozygous (where an individual inherits the same alleles for a particular gene from both parents) lines sooner in perhaps six to seven years. “Choosing the right parents before the cross is probably the most important decision,” says Tamburic-Illinic. Yield, fusarium head blight (FHB) resistance, and quality are all important for the cross to have good potential, along with lodging and winter survival. When Tamburic-Illinic is thinking of parents she usually looks for a good adaptive yield for North America, wheat from other regions is also useful but usually the quality is not there — and then the cross would need to overcome this hinderance. In terms of breeding, a first cross will be created, and a progeny developed. For the first cross, one plant will be the female, and another the male. The pollen is taken from one plant to fertilize the other, and a paper bag is placed around the fertilized plant. The seed is then harvested. This is the F1 generation. The target is to have 100 lines from one cross as this gives a good opportunity to select promising looking plants. TamburicIllinic outlines that they don’t want plants that are too tall. They look for plants that have heading dates that work for Ontario, and good winter survival. All plants are planted outside, in small single rows. LATER STAGES In the later stages of testing, yield and 1,000 kernel weight come into play, usually in the fifth or sixth generation — or in the case of double haploid technology use, four years after the line has been developed. It is important to compare the new lines with what is currently available. The new potential line needs higher yields than the check and needs to be supported by the OCCC. Lines are evaluated for resistance to Powdery mildew, Septoria, and Rust (leaf, stem, and stripe). Tamburic-Illinic shared that usually Seed development: wheat BREEDING THE RIGHT CHARACTERISTICS Laura Ferrier leaf diseases can be controlled with a fungicide application but in being a breeder she needs to bring in resistance. Once there is a good package for leaf disease resistance, then the team can be more specific and look for quality and select progeny. They aim to roughly have 25 lines advance from the single cross which they will investigate further. In general, the aim is for a shorter straw plant with a high yield, however some farmers want straw so it is important to keep in mind if it checks all the other boxes and still is taller than it may advance. Tamburic-Illinic manages the FHB nursery in Ridgetown, where they inoculate wheat and screen for symptoms along with DON content in the grain. “Even if the line has a good yield, but is susceptible it will not be supported by the OCCC,” says TambuircIllinic. Through looking at more agronomics and quality, the aim is to get down to about 10 lines, which have advanced from a single cross. Selected lines will be tested in areas 1 (Ridgetown/Tupperville), 2 (Palmerston/ Elora), and 3 (Winchester/Ottawa). Once this process finishes, the wheat lines enter further testing and will then be planted from Ottawa to Harrow in 10 different locations. “At the end of the day, when we select lines, we don’t know where they might do the best. We are so lucky to have University of Guelph locations across the province where we can usually have trials in multiple locations to see how lines perform in different areas,” says Tambuirc-Illinic. TRIALS The wheat will then be placed in the OCCC performance trials. Once the variety has been approved by the OCCC and registered with the Canadian Food Research FIGURE 1. DEVELOPMENT OF DH WHEAT LINES. PHOTO COURTESY OF HTTPS://COLORADO WHEAT.ORG.
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