ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER 12 TECHNOLOGY continued from page 11 ™ Looking for more reliable ergot management and yield performance? KWS Hybrid Rye with PollenPLUS™ ensures stronger pollen shedding and robust results. www.kws.com/ca KWS Hybrid Rye with PollenPLUS™ of intended nitrogen. Franklin says this brought an unexpected revelation, however, as those same acres still appeared to perform well. Even in places where zero nitrogen was applied, yields were still above 200 bushels per acre. “Last year, even though we had inopportune placement and problematic timing, we were still able to prove with multiple split applications across the season we could still significantly cut nitrogen rates without harming yield,” Franklin says. She adds some research has linked lower nitrogen application rates with healthier and more active soil biology, and that this might be the reason good yields are still possible with much lower rates of nitrogen. “Nitrogen is not the limiting factor … But that can only be achieved with multiple applications. Sometimes the limiting factor is the equipment itself.” HIGHER PROFITABILITY While data from Grubb’s profit warranty project will not be available until after harvest this year, Lorraine Vandermyden, resource and demonstration co-ordinator with the Ontario Soil Network, says the data gathered from the seven farmers participating in 2025 was encouraging. Two of the seven participants experienced significant drought in 2025, which contributed to yield reductions in low-nitrogen test plots of about five bu./ac., and $10 to $12 lower profit per acre. A third participant had already been driving down their nitrogen rates, and experienced significant bushel and profit losses in a further reduced plot. The other four participants, however, saw yield losses of just one or two bushels per acre and corresponding profit increases of $13, $15, $22, and $23 per acre. “The story is there might be more nitrogen coming from the soil than originally thought,” says Vandermyden. For Grubb’s 2026 crop, she thinks his historical use of biosolids will be a factor to watch. “Looking at all the stories that come from the (2025) data, you have to do this on your own farm, taking into account the weather, your soil type, your cover crop stand from last year, and all those things in order to draw conclusions from the data.” Corn growers interested in participating in the Profit Warranty program can apply through the Farmers for Climate Solutions website. “Looking at all the stories that come from the (2025) data, you have to do this on your own farm, taking into account the weather, and your soil type, and your cover crop stand from last year, and all those things in order to draw conclusions from the data.” Corn growers interested in participating in the profit warranty program can apply through the Farmers for Climate Solutions website. •
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