Considering cutting corners on canola costs? Weigh the decision carefully, say agronomists.
A series of dry seasons, an early winter with a lost crop and rising input and insurance costs are conspiring to convince many growers to reduce what they put into the ground this season.
Derwyn Hammond, an agronomist with Canola Council of Canada, suggests that reducing inputs should be done only in areas that are now dry and where yields may be less than ideal.
“In those cases you can always go back in and add the fertilizer later if it starts to rain. But you can’t do that with all of your products, so choose carefully,” he said.
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David Blais farms at North Battleford, Sask., and is also a canola council agronomist.
“In some years you might be able to use just a fungicide on your seed coating and save the insecticide for later. But this year we already are seeing flea beetles on the volunteer canola that is out there. We are hearing from Alberta to Manitoba that the bugs are out already so I wouldn’t short that part of the program,” he said.
Added Hammond: “After what we saw around Yorkton last year with the flea beetles wiping out entire crops, that problem can happen pretty fast and you have to be prepared,” he said.
Agronomists say if producers are going to eliminate the application of insecticides from the seed, then they need to scout fields constantly to look for infestations.
“And be ready to go spraying on a moment’s notice. But there again it is another application, another cost and you haven’t really saved any money,” said Hammond.
In 2002, many producers had to spray for flea beetles as insecticide coatings wore off, “but it gives a guy time to prepare to spray versus having to just hit the field now,” said Hammond.
Growers may also opt for lower cost versions of the insecticide coatings, but in areas where flea beetles have been present in significant numbers in previous years, this may have its drawbacks.
“A Gaucho Platinum or a Helix Extra will give a producer three or maybe four weeks of protection versus two. It depends on each grower’s own conditions how he feels about that,” Hammond said.
With nitrogen fertilizer costing more than 45 cents per pound, the temptation to reduce that expense is overwhelming for many growers.
Blais said that growers could reduce their nitrogen and sulfur if they have dry conditions at seeding.
“Here, too, you have to be spending more time monitoring your crop. At the first sign of stress you may need to go to the field to spend that money you saved only a month earlier.”
Hammond said reducing the fertility package can be done safely provided producers are prepared to do foliar testing if plants are showing stress or when rain does arrive.
“Then you need to establish where you are short and of what and then get it into the field. You still need to hope for more rain to carry the fertilizer to the root zone. So again you are in for the expense and more time, but it does reduce your up-front costs and it can be effective,” he said.
Rigas Karamanos of Westco Fertilizer in Calgary said producers should rely on their soil tests to provide a measure for the amount of sulfur they should apply this spring.
He said producers may be able to save money on their sulfur by applying it based only on the soil test requirements rather than by the traditional 5:1 or 7:1 ratio with nitrogen.
He said the trick is ensuring there is enough sulfur in the soil to support the crop at all stages of development.
“It is critical to the functions of the plant. And it is immobile once it is in the plant. So if it isn’t available to the roots when the plant needs it, a deficiency will occur and yield will be lost,” Karamanos said.
Seed choice remains limited this year due to tight supplies, but if the latest varieties are available, growers shouldn’t avoid them because of price.
Agronomists suggest that some of the hybrid varieties may be more cost effective than lower priced alternatives, especially under dry conditions where hybrids can better scavenge moisture and have more seedling vigor when the young plants are under stress.
Stewart Brandt of Agriculture Canada’s research farm in Scott, Sask., said the newer varieties take advantage of more of the soil’s profile and for that reason alone they are “a better bet if you think it is going to be a stressful growing season.”
