A new grow season means the continuance of ongoing research trials, and the start to new research projects, at the Westman Agricultural Diversification Organization near Melita (WADO).
Applied Research Crop Analyst with Manitoba Agriculture, Scott Chalmers, says they're starting a new project to test how barley grows at different temperatures in the soil.
"WADO is seeding Ultra Early Barley as a new project to seed at different soil temperatures"
One week ago, on April 17th, the WADO team seeded Ultra Early Barley as a new project to seed at different soil temperatures. It was only about two weeks ago when the soil temperatures in the Westman Region started to rise above 0 degrees Celsius. The trial treatments are to take place between zero and 12°C, says Chalmers. "We're kind of in that zone right now."
"Doctor, Brian Beers, who is a crop scientist in Lethbridge, has been doing this kind of work with Durham and has found that Durham yields the best when seeded between zero and two degrees," he explains.
The project is a collaborative effort with Dr. Brian Beres at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Research Farm (AAFC) in Lethbridge, and with Dr. Ana Badea at AAFC Research Farm in Brandon.
"The idea is to get the crop in early and maybe get around some of the hurdles during mid-season, whether it's a drought or fusarium, and kind of beat these things before they happen. And so, we'll have an early harvest. Maybe fusarium won't take its hold as it has in like late June, for example."
"We'll see if we can do this trick with barley," he adds. "And maybe it's seeding rate dependent or variety dependent depending on how successful it could be. Or maybe it just won't work at all. But we won't know if we don't try."
Chalmers says that's part of being a crop research specialist. "I'd rather find the mistake first, before the farmer does."
This year's test plots continue to include a suite of variety trials for their regular crops including corn and sunflowers.
"... new to this year they'll be looking at hybrid hemp under different fertilizer rates for nitrogen."
They'll also be continuing to look at hybrid hemp as a variety trial. But new to this year they'll be looking at hybrid hemp under different fertilizer rates for nitrogen.
"There's a potential that we can grow a significant amount more of hemp with hybrid hemp as compared to conventional hemp, and we could also change our seeding rates, which could save us a bit of money as well," explains Chalmers. "And this is because hybrid hemp has way fewer male plants than conventional hemp. So, we're talking 2-5% male plants compared to 50% in conventional hemp. So more open pollinated hemp."
With flax test plots the WADO team is looking at using nitrification inhibitors. "These are things that keep the greenhouse gases down, away from gassing off from your fertilizer, looking at eNtrench nitrification inhibitors again and looking at the greenhouse gas emissions there."
eNtrench is a nitrification inhibitor for use with nitrogen-based fertilizers to reduce the bacterial conversion of ammonium nitrogen to nitrate nitrogen.
Also, in the flax test plots they'll be looking at the critical week three period when farmers apply herbicides, "when it's best to put on herbicide and keep that crop clean from weeds so the weeds don't bring your yields down. And we're doing that with corn as well," he adds.
The WADO team will also be looking at bio stimulants in soybeans, this in collaboration with Assiniboine College.
Bio stimulants are naturally occurring substances (such as extracts) or microorganisms (usually bacteria) that can stimulate different growth processes in plants. These naturally occurring substances are used to create products that can be applied to seed, growing plants, or the soil to help with healthy plant growth.
Bio stimulants work in a number of ways to help a plant thrive in various growing conditions including facilitating nutrient uptake and improving the plants' ability to manage stress in conditions of drought, soil salinity or extreme temperatures. They can enhance the development of soil microorganisms, and they can stimulate root growth to increase water use efficiency, again helping the plant to be healthier in dry conditions.
Chalmers says this year they'll be looking at seed treatments for pea weevils.
"These are these little weevils or bugs that feed on your pea leaves early in the spring of the emerge, and then they lay eggs inside the nodules. And then the larvae in those nodules eat the nodule as if it was like a juicy steak. So, then it could potentially reduce your yield because you're not fixing the nitrogen as you could have with a healthy nodule in those pea plants," he explains.
As spring seeding is about to start, Chalmers says farmers should be cautious on a number of levels, including the lack of snow over winter and the need for more moisture in the ground. This, in addition to what's taking place south of us.
“We maybe have to rehash the numbers, consider what's going on with tariff markets,” he says. “Our weather situation that could be emerging here. And you know, really, pencil out some of these inputs. If I was to cut back on something it would be maybe seed treatments or phosphorus fertilizers, and maybe fungicides, if the conditions weren't there for fungus growth."
“Other things, you’ve got to maintain the insects. Make sure they're not getting out of hand,” he adds. “So, it's kind of a watch and see kind of year. You’ve got to have to adapt to things.”
"Don't make big decisions financially and pay attention to the weather forecast. That's always my advice," adds Chalmers.
Photos submitted by WADO, Scott Chalmers:
-Winter camelina near Melita which survived the winter.
-A soil temperature station measuring the depths of the winter cold which helps WADO team understand the limits to winter survivability in their winter crops, data can be access online at https://wheatworkers.ca/wcsm.php
-The WADO crew out seeding barley April 17th for their Ultra Early Barley project, headed by Dr. Brian Beres at AAFC in Lethbridge and Dr. Ana Badea at AAFC in Brandon.
-The soil temperature at seeding April 17th in the afternoon near Melita, about 4C. WADO officially measures soil temperatures between 10 and 11 AM.