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Top 10: Planning For Next Season

 
In preparation for next season, here are a few field, office and farm show jobs and WHEN to start them.
 
1. Manage weeds. Fall is an excellent time to control perennials and winter annuals ahead of next season. As part of the program, you may want to consider options for “herbicide layering” as well as tank mixing to manage resistance and tough weeds like cleavers more effectively. This involves the use of a soil-active herbicide in the late fall or spring to add incremental control and protect valuable herbicides from resistance. Read “When to spray weeds in the fall”. WHEN: Starting now.
 
2. Plan herbicide tank mixes to manage tough weeds and prevent resistance. This can go hand in hand with crop rotation. Find more tips here.  WHEN: Now and all fall and winter.
 
3. Review crop performance challenges and determine how genetics can help. Harvest, disease and weed management are each assisted significantly through genetics. Review results from 2015. Was yield the most important selling feature of your canola? How was your weed control? How did it stand? How easy was it to thrash/swath? Canola Performance Trial results from 2016 are not yet available but results from 2011 to 2015 are posted here: canolaperformancetrials.ca WHEN: Start now.
 
4. Review nitrogen rates and logistics. Do you need to apply more nitrogen? Putting some down in the fall can improve logistics at seeding. Check in here for results from our Ultimate Canola Challenge 2016. WHEN: Late fall or next spring.
 
5. Examine the phosphorus situation. Are you mining soil phosphorus? Read more to help answer that question. If yes, fall phosphate prices may make it advantageous to add some to your fall nitrogen blend. WHEN: Late fall or next spring
 
6. Soil test. For results as close as possible to the situation next spring, take fall samples when soil temperatures drop below 10°C. Read more. WHEN: Late fall just before freeze up.
 
7. Deal with ruts to prepare your seedbed for next spring. Read more for tips on how to do this. WHEN: Earlier is better. You want soils loose but also somewhat dry.
 
8. Asses residue, manage if necessary. Ideally the combine will have taken care of this for you. If necessary, choose harrows to spread residue around. Note that harrows will not do much to move a dense chaff layer, and the first pass through stubble is usually the easiest. Excess harrowing could dislodging anchored stubble, increasing the residue problem next spring. WHEN: Early fall on a hot day.
 
9. Assess (or review) the disease situation. If a lot of blackleg, for example, start planning for next year. Longer rotations, different varieties and possibly an early fungicide application may be required if the farm has a recent history of more severe blackleg. Read more on disease scouting at harvest. WHEN: As close to cutting — before or after — as possible is the best time to check disease levels.
 
10. Count stems per square foot. Any canola crop with fewer than 5 plants per square foot is less likely to reach its yield potential. A fall count of stems provides an end-of-season assessment of this year’s stand. Here’s how. WHEN: Any time.
 
Source : Albertacanola

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The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

Video: The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

In the vast prairies of Alberta, Olds College’s Field Crop Development Centre (FCDC) stands as a beacon of innovation and research in the agricultural world. The institution has become a key player in advancing agricultural technologies and practices. The FCDC’s commitment to applied research has driven them to seek effective means of disseminating their findings and creating a positive impact on the farming community.

One such avenue that aligns with their mission is AgSmart, an event dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge agricultural technologies. The coming together of the FCDC’s annual Field Day and Ag Smart has proved to be a natural fit, fostering a synergy that benefits both parties and propels the agriculture industry forward. The FCDC Field Day took part in conjunction with AgSmart for the first time this week on Aug. 1-2 in Olds, Alta. FCDC Program Director Kofi Agblor and Olds College VP of Development Todd Ormann sat down for an interview with Marc Zienkiewicz to discuss the significance of the two events taking part together and what the future holds.

The Intersection of Research and Technology The essence of the FCDC lies in its dedication to plant breeding and new seed varieties, particularly barley and triticale. While conducting research is essential, it becomes meaningful when its benefits are shared with the wider community. This is where AgSmart steps in, providing a key venue for the FCDC to showcase their research. This union between research and technology creates a holistic and enriching experience for farmers, ranchers, and industry professionals, the pair said.

Seeds as Technology For the FCDC, the partnership with AgSmart goes beyond mere event collaboration. It is about creating an environment that bridges the gap between seeds and smart technology, Ormann said. The college believes that for technology to truly revolutionize agriculture, it must begin with a strong foundation — high-quality seeds. As the saying goes, “it all starts with a seed.” To demonstrate this critical aspect, the collaboration aims to showcase the seed value chain as an integral part of the smartphone.

The Birth of a Powerful Alliance The idea of joining forces emerged when staff realized the potential synergy between AgSmart and the FCDC Field Day. With just a few days separating the two events, a proposal was put forward to merge them. The marketing and communications teams from both sides worked seamlessly to ensure the essence of both events remained intact, creating a powerful alliance that leverages the strengths of each, Agblor said.

Driving Advancements in Breeding For Agblor, the partnership with AgSmart has tremendous potential to drive advancements in breeding and other technology. With technologies like drones and imaging becoming integral to phenotyping, breeding is no longer confined to vast fields to assess thousands of plants manually. Instead, it benefits from the data-rich insights brought about by smart technologies. These advancements make breeding more efficient, precise, and instrumental in shaping the future of agriculture.

Overcoming Challenges Together While the partnership between Olds College and Ag Smart has been a resounding success, there are challenges on the horizon. Securing stable funding for long-term breeding initiatives is crucial to sustain progress. The college is committed to navigating these challenges and investing in agriculture’s future sustainably, Agblor said.