Reduced tillage can be an effective way to save time and money when growing creeping red fescue.
Also known as creeper, it is a popular special crop in Alberta’s Peace region, said Nick Underwood, an agronomist with Reduced Tillage Linkages in Grande Prairie, Alta.
“Creeper is one of those grasses that is hard to remove through tillage. It can be killed by glyphosate but not easily, nor in all conditions.”
Traditionally, creeping red fescue producers would have a year with low-seed production, followed by one or two full production years. Then the grass becomes sod-bound and stops producing seed.
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“At this point our traditional grower has to get out the mouldboard plow to do one of two things,” Underwood said.
“He can either inverse the sod, followed by rolling and levelling operations. This will lead to one or two more production years of fescue seed. Or he can inverse the sod, followed by multiple passes with the disc, roller, cultivator and harrows.
“These latter operations enable the grower to grow a different crop, but often only after a full year of fallow with no revenue.”
Ideal conditions
However, some producers are growing creeping red fescue without using a plow. They are finding that glyphosate can remove it when conditions are right in the fall:
- Between 150 and 200 millimetres of leaf re-growth after harvest.
- Enough soil moisture that the fescue is actively growing.
- No recent frost.
“These conditions usually exist in late August or the first half of September,” Underwood said.
“Creeper has a waxy cuticle and fine leaves, so I recommend spraying with two litres per acre of Roundup Transorb. That product has an effective surfactant so don’t cut the rate.”
Statistics from one direct seeder’s farm in the Peace region in 2002-03 emphasize the time and savings when sod-seeding creeping red fescue.
“Eighty hours were spent on plowing, disking, heavy harrowing and rolling 140 acres of creeping fescue while only two hours were spent spraying 140 acres of a creeping red fescue sod area,” he said. “As well as being faster to work, the sod area was about $34 per acre cheaper.”
Although the cultivated area yielded four bushels per acre more than the sod area, the increased yield didn’t make up for the extra cultivation costs.
“At the end of the day, the gain from spraying versus cultivation worked out to $1.60 per acre, and it took about 78 hours less to sod seed than cultivate.”
A Flexi-coil seeder with Barton disc openers was used to seed into the sprayed-out sod, which the Roundup Transorb had effectively killed. Underwood says it comes down to time.
“One can argue about the costs of plowing and disking until the cows come home. Arguing about the time it takes only takes more time. Time is money and we all need more of both. But I think that a little more margin in fescue production wouldn’t hurt, and there’s a lot of time to be saved.”
Irrigation pivot
Lindsay Manufacturing’s Zimmatic FieldPlus articulated pivot system is designed for use in fields with obstructions.
The system’s pivoting joint allows the outer spans to continue to irrigate around obstructions while the inner spans remain stationary.
The pivot joint allows the outer spans to irrigate up to 165 degrees in either direction. The joint pivots on two nylon bearings for smooth movement.
The joints can be retrofitted to most Zimmatic centre pivot irrigation systems.
For more information, contact a Zimmatic retailer or write to Lindsay Manufacturing at Box 156, Lindsay, Nebraska, U.S.A. 68644, or phone 800-829-5300.
Milk delivery for piglets
Jumpstart from Coyston is a milk delivery system for piglets.
The electric pump and pressure control system run on 110 volt power and eliminate spills due to pressure imbalance.
The automatic built-in mixing system has a variable speed direct current motor and controls and a stainless steel mixer blade. The automatic refill system ensures the pump never runs dry.
The feeder bowl design virtually eliminates waste.
An omni directional activator acc-ommodates piglets one day old to weaning.
The feeder bowl automatically replaces milk consumed by the piglets because they do not have to learn to fill the bowl.
Coyston also produces the milk re-placer, containing 100 percent milk protein, mono di- and tri-glycerides, antibodies, electrolytes lactobacillus, amino acids, chelated vitamins and minerals balanced to produce optimum growth.
It is formulated to coagulate inside the piglet’s stomach to maximize nutrient uptake.
For more information, contact Coyston Pre-Mix at 2810 Lido Plage Rd., Cartier, Man., R4K 1A5 or phone 866-851-2228.
Post-emergent herbicide
Arvesta Canada and Bayer CropScience Inc. have introduced Centurion, a post-emergent herbicide.
It is another brand of Arvesta’s active ingredient clethodim and the same product as Select herbicide. Centurion will be sold exclusively by Bayer CropScience Canada and InterAg in the prairie provinces, including the Peace River region of British Columbia, while Select will be available through Arvesta Canada.
Centurion and Select control 16 grassy weeds, including quackgrass, in canola, flax, peas, lentils, linola, mustard, beans, chickpeas, sunflowers, alfalfa and potatoes.
Bayer CropScience will continue to sell Select in Eastern Canada and horticultural markets in British Columbia.
Rainfast herbicide
Monsanto has introduced Roundup WeatherMax with Transorb 2.
The new Transorb technology causes the herbicide to penetrate the leaf within minutes and drives the active ingredient down to the shoots and roots.
It is the first product in its category to offer a 30-minute rainfast guarantee. It also comes in a concentrated formula that allows growers to handle one-third less product.
It is safe on all Roundup Ready products.
For more information, contact a Monsanto product retailer or visit www.monsanto.ca.
