19 Sep Agronomy Update – Sept 19th

A short agronomy update today, as I’m headed to the field to start digging trial samples.  Bethany and I got our first one completed on Monday, and we’ll be working pretty steady the next few weeks to ensure that we get complete data from this year’s trials.

A few notes to share:

• Both Spornado and Airspore programs were negative for Late Blight again this week.  No late blight has been confirmed in the Maritimes, and the dry air of the last week reduces the risk of development.  Next week will be the final week for Spornado for 2024.
• A lot of fields are now dead or close to it.  We’re expecting below average yields on a lot of acres.  Generally, quality looks to be good, with less off-type, less scab and good gravity.  Especially when the crop is lighter than hoped, let’s focus on keeping quality above average by minimizing bruise, skinning, and storage rot.
• It’s been hot this week, finally starting to cool down a bit today.  Pay attention to pulp temperatures when harvesting.  If harvesting into long-term storage, keep pulp temperatures below 17 C to minimize bruising and risk of soft rot.  The cooler the better, as it will require less cool air to cool your pile…which will also minimize shrink.
• Aphid Alert finished last week.  Even this late in the season, aphid numbers are very high, and green peach aphids are widespread.  Any seed acres that are still alive will need continued management for aphids until they are killed.
• We are likely at the end of the window for planting brassica (radish, mustard) cover crops.  Cereals (oats, barley, wheat) will establish a lot better from now on.  There are a lot of soybeans being harvested this week earlier than normal, so an opportunity to get a cover crop on those acres for those growing beans.  Lots of corn silage also getting harvested this week.  If you are broadcasting cover crops without any tillage, you will likely need to up your seeding rate and hope for some rain to improve seed to soil contact.  Even a light scuffle of the soil surface will dramatically improve cover crop catch…doesn’t require a full tillage pass necessarily.  A great time to get winter wheat in after silage corn or early harvested potatoes right now.

I know a lot of producers are hoping to start digging next week.  I hope that you are able to do so safely and efficiently.  I’ll be largely in the field the next couple of weeks, but I’m always reachable by text/phone if you have immediate needs.

Cheers

Ryan