WHAT’S NEW WITH BAYER PRODUCTS
Seed-borne disease is only half the story
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cross the Prairies in the 2017 growing season, farmers saw dry weather resulting in low disease pressure, and as a result many seed tests are coming back with low pathogen presence, providing a strong foundation for the 2018 growing season. However, seed-borne disease is only part of the story. Many of the most threatening seed and seedling diseases are soil-borne, meaning that heading into the next growing season, crops may still be at risk. Fusarium spp., C. sativus, and pythium in cereals and rhizoctonia, pythium and fusarium in pulses can overwinter in the soil and pose a threat to healthy seed. To manage seedling diseases, it is important to scout your crop to know what diseases are likely to be present in future seasons, but it is also good to know which pathogens your geography favours. Soil-borne diseases can vary significantly across Prairie provinces, but no province is exempt from the threat of disease. Manitoba, with its warmer soil conditions at seeding time, can provide ideal conditions for C. sativus in cereals and rhizoctonia in pulses, while cooler conditions in Saskatchewan and Alberta are more conducive to pythium. Fusarium has traditionally been more of a threat in the east, but it is seen further west every year. In addition to soil temperatures impacting the disease spectrum, moisture levels will also impact the presence of disease. Dry conditions will foster C. sativus while pythium and rhizoctonia thrive in wet conditions. This means that regardless of geography or moisture conditions, your crop can still be impacted by seedling disease. One of the most concerning diseases for cereal growers is fusarium. Fusarium head blight (FHB) becomes an issue in
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FA R M FO R U M .CA / JANUARY 2018
2016 FUSARIUM INCIDENCE ACROSS THE PRAIRIES
THE PAS
EDMONTON
SASKATOON
CALGARY WINNIPEG
REGINA
PERCENT OF GRAIN SAMPLES CONTAINING FDK Canadian Grains Commission Harvest Sample Program
100 – 90
89 – 80
79 – 70
69 – 60
59 – 50
high moisture years reducing both yield and quality in cereal crops. The disease overwinters in soil and crop stubble, so even if you did not see FHB last year, fusarium can still impact your seedlings and emergence this year. While moist conditions at heading give rise to FHB, Fusarium spp. including Fusarium graminearum is likely to be present in a wide range of soil temperatures and moisture conditions, moving further west each year. If fusarium is present in your soil, it can impede seedling emergence, reducing the yield potential of your crop from day one. Managing both seed- and soil-borne fusarium is essential to ensure that your crop gets off to a healthy start with strong emergence and seedling vigour, as well as protecting your crop against fusarium head blight in the future.
49 – 40
39 – 30
29 – 20
19 – 10
The good news is that protecting your seed from disease, be it seed-borne or soil-borne, is a simple decision with seed treatments like Raxil® PRO for cereals and Trilex® EverGol® for pulse crops. Raxil PRO seed treatment contains three different actives for both contact and systemic activity so the plant is protected from diseases like Fusarium graminearum, and true loose smut while also ensuring stronger, faster emergence, for a healthier, higher yielding crop. Trilex EverGol seed treatment for pulse crops protects against the threats associated with early season seeding including defense against rhizoctonia, fusarium, botrytis, pythium and ascochyta. The result is healthier plants and greater plant stand to provide increased yields.
WHAT’S NEW WITH BAYER PRODUCTS
Stay on top of pest management
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n recent years, the threat from wireworms, pea leaf weevils and other insects has been increasing across the Prairies. While the reasons aren’t always entirely clear, changes in tillage practices and tighter rotations are thought to be contributing to their spread. To protect your crop this year, you need to know what happened last year and then make a meaningful seed treatment decision.
2017 SASKATCHEWAN PEA LEAF WEEVIL SURVEY RESULTS* Average notches per plant 0–1 > 1 – 3
Meadow Lake
> 3 – 10 > 10 – 27 > 27 Lloydminster
Wireworms, a problematic pest Having been a longstanding threat for cereal growers, wireworm pressure is on the rise. There are now 35 species identified across the Prairies, and these hardy pests can overwinter in virtually any weather condition. They burrow deep in the soil and farrow out seeds before germination, feeding at the base of seedlings, resulting in patchy establishment. Once wireworms have entered a field, they can’t be eliminated. Larvae can live three to seven years and don’t require feeding (remain dormant) for up to two years. While tillage can help distribute the eggs and seeding into firm, well-drained soil can help prevent movement – a seed treatment is the only way to limit wireworm damage from feeding. You can scout for wireworms by looking for missing or stunted plants, feeding holes across leaves or misshaped seed. Using a bait ball in the spring or fall is a definitive way to determine if you have wireworms in your field. Just one capture is the threshold to treat. Once you have confirmed wireworms, there is no way to treat or repair damage that season. Pea leaf weevils moving east For pulse growers, pea leaf weevils have become one of the most economically damaging pests in your crop. Long a problem in southern Alberta, they have been moving east into Saskatchewan, and have started their march north in both provinces. Surveys have shown presence of the pest as far north as North Battleford in SK. Pea leaf weevils overwinter well – if you had them last year you are likely to have
Not Surveyed
Prince Albert
Melfort
North Battleford
Tisdale
Humboldt
Saskatoon
Watrous Kindersley
Outlook Yorkton Melville
Swift Current
Moose Jaw
Regina
Weyburn
Estevan
* This is not a forecast for Pea Leaf Weevil in 2018. It displays the results found in 2017. Credit: Government of Saskatchewan
them this year. At harvest, you may have noticed pea leaf weevils hopping around the combine header. With no way to trap them, seed treatments are a crucial pest management tool and an insecticide seed treatment is the only way to protect against this pest. To scout for pea leaf weevils, look for injury at the two to five node stage. The damage appears in the form of notches on the plant. By feeding on nodules, pea leaf weevils prevent the plant from fixing nitrogen, thereby limiting growth. The presence of greater than nine notches is considered a high risk field for infestation in following years.
Treat your seed to reduce your risk For cereal growers, Raxil PRO SHIELD supplies the same early season protection against seed- and soil-borne disease, with the addition of pest control from Stress Shield®. While there are currently no products that can kill wireworms, when the larvae nibble on seed treated with Stress Shield they are put into a trance-like state that prevents them from damaging the seedling at its most vulnerable stage. For pulse growers battling pea leaf weevils, a seed treatment like Trilex EverGol SHIELD, which includes Stress Shield, can help manage the pest, while at the same time managing diseases.
FARMFORUM.CA / JANUARY 201 8
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Maximize your seed performance — even when it’s cold
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ne of the most predictable aspects of spring seeding in Canada is the unpredictability of the weather. In some years, cold mornings give way to sunny afternoons, while in other years the snow has barely melted before you are getting into the field. However recent studies have shown that early seeding – when soil temperature is still well below 10 degrees – can offer some season-long benefits. But only if that seed is protected. Right after seeding is when the seed is most vulnerable to seed- and soil-borne pathogens. While some growers are choosing to extend their growing season by seeding as early as possible, cold soil will
mean that seed will have to work harder to germinate, and is less able to fight off any stresses. Studies have also shown that seed treatments are even more beneficial when they are applied to seed that is planted into cold soil, when the seed can be slower to develop. Protecting the seed with a seed treatment like Raxil PRO can give the crop a staging advantage against mid-season yield-robbing disease. To be ready to seed early – be prepared to treat your cereal seed with Raxil PRO. Raxil PRO is versatile and flexible – you can choose which cereal to seed when the time is right for you as it is effective on wheat,
barley and oats. Even in cold soils, Raxil PRO will aid in root development to help grow higher quality, higher yielding plants. Raxil PRO has first class seed- and soilborne disease control of all major cereal diseases. It’s easy to apply micro-dispersion formula is safe under a variety of seasonal conditions and is not impacted by cool weather, in fact its viscosity doesn’t change until it reaches -16°C. Protect your seed to protect your crop. Cold to warm soil temperature, it’s important to safeguard your seed and maximize seed performance to get your growing season off to a productive start.
New Sencor STZ takes control of weeds in potatoes
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2015 research studies in Ontario showed fields with an application of Sencor STZ had a 20 percent weed control improvement over Sencor plus linuron 43 days after application, and a 15 percent improvement 62 days after application.
Sencor STZ is applied by ground before the potatoes have emerged for enhanced broad-spectrum broadleaf and grass weed control. In addition, it has activity on weeds already emerged and provides residual control for weeds yet to germinate.
To learn more about the complete package for weed control in potatoes in Sencor STZ, visit GrowerVacations.ca or talk to your local retail.
PHOTO: CAM DUECK
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ook for new Sencor® STZ herbicide at your retail in Eastern Canada this spring. This pre-emergent herbicide for potatoes will protect your crop from all major weeds. With the trusted power of Sencor (metribuzin) as the base, the addition of STZ (sulfentrazone) will help target triazine-resistant weeds such as lamb’s-quarters and pigweed. Any time you add in another chemical Group you are helping to battle emerging resistance. Sencor STZ contains Group 5 and Group 14 chemistries that can also tackle glyphosate and linuron resistant weeds.
WHAT’S NEW WITH BAYER PRODUCTS
Prairie growers can save up to 25% with the 2018 BayerValue program Bayer offers you a full suite of seed and crop protection products that will take you from seed to harvest. Growers in Western Canada can save more by mixing and matching your purchases of participating Bayer products. When you choose products from the Cereal and Pulse segments you can combine that purchase with your InVigor® Purchase Bonus for maximum savings. With the InVigor Purchase Bonus, when you buy 30 bags or more of InVigor hybrid canola you qualify for purchase savings on your crop protection products. Participating products vary from Eastern to Western Canada, so visit the Grower Program page on cropscience.bayer.ca to determine the participating products in your area. Depending on what you choose -- you can save anywhere from 5-25 percent on your crop protection purchase. Growers who spend over $250,000 qualify for an additional one percent rebate. You can save even more with the Incredible Bayer Offer. Book a minimum of 1,000 acres of cereal
herbicide crop protection by March 16, 2018 with your retail and receive up to $2.00 off per acre. While the minimum is 1,000 acres, the potential savings is only limited by your herbicide needs. If you signed up for the 2017 BayerValue Program, you are already registered for 2018. If not, there are several ways to register. • Online at cropcience.bayer.ca • Contact the Bayer Fulfillment centre at 1 888-283-6847 • Talk to your local retail This year, maximize savings from seeding to harvest with the BayerValue program and the Incredible Bayer Offer.
Pick the hybrid that is right for you at InVigorResults.ca
PHOTO: LUKAS, PEXELS
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rowing canola is becoming increasingly custom tailored, with hybrids chosen not only on a farm-by-farm basis, but also field-byfield. With so many options available, how do you choose which canola hybrids are the best fit for your operation? You can start by visiting InVigorResults.ca to view localized year-over-year trial results, see how InVigor® hybrid canola performed in your area, and compare InVigor hybrids to the competition. With over 15 years of grower-cooperated field trial results, the newly revamped InVigorResults.ca site is now optimized for mobile use so you can find the information you want, wherever you happen to be. The easy-to-use, interactive
map provides meaningful side-by-side trial results specific to your growing area, and is designed to help simplify your canola purchase decision. Search for comparisons of dates-to-maturity, harvestability and yield performance, then download your results or have them sent directly to your inbox for easy reference. If you’re thinking of switching to straight cutting your canola, you can gain valuable insight into the performance of leading InVigor patented Pod Shatter Reduction hybrids in the specifically-designed straight cut harvest management trials. Full 2017 InVigor trial results are now available at InVigorResults.ca, including 2017 results for the newest Evolution™ hybrid, InVigor L255PC. This hybrid
features the dual trait combination of the patented Pod Shatter Reduction technology together with clubroot resistance*. Trial results show outstanding yield protection, excellent standability and exceptional harvest flexibility.
*To predominant clubroot pathotypes identified in Canada at the time of their registration. FARMFORUM.CA / JANUARY 201 8
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The best just got better with NEW Prosaro XTR
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hroughout the growing season – there’s a lot of pressure on your cereal crop to perform. Variable weather and disease can put stress on your crop and have a big impact on its performance. The formulation in Prosaro® XTR fungicide helps plants tolerate those stresses, providing better protection and a higher yielding, higher quality crop at harvest. When compared to other fungicides, Prosaro XTR is the clear high performer. Spring wheat treated with Prosaro XTR had a 14 percent yield bump over the untreated check, while winter wheat saw a 10.6 percent yield increase. Apply Prosaro XTR at head timing for optimal yield and quality protection. While the message in the past has been to protect the flag leaf to protect your yield, recent studies show that waiting until the
first flowers are visible and the head is extended up from the flag leaf can offer greater disease and yield benefits while still protecting the flag leaf.
For both preventive and curative protection, first-class control of fusarium, an increase in yield and better plant health, choose Prosaro XTR. 2017 barley competitive results – 5 trials
2017 wheat competitive results – 10 trials
+8.7 bu. versus untreated
+7.2 bu. versus untreated Prosaro XTR
Caramba®
10
30
40
50
60
95.2
untreated
66.6
20
100.1
Caramba®
72.8
untreated
0
Prosaro XTR
73.8
70
80
0
10
20
91.4
30
40
50
60
70
80
yield (bu./ac.)
Source: 10 Bayer grower-cooperated replicated Wheat DSTs (2017). Your results may vary according to agronomic, environmental and pest pressure variables.
Source: Five Bayer grower-cooperated replicated Barley DSTs (2017). Your results may vary according to agronomic, environmental and pest pressure variables.
Prosaro head timing trials
+6.7
+8.7
EARLY HEAD Head is completely exposed, but just emerged from the flag leaf.
OPTIMAL HEAD Head extended up from the flag leaf, first flowers visible.
bu./ac.
bu./ac.
+7.2
bu./ac.
LATE HEAD Head fully flowered/flowers falling off.
A head timing fungicide application isn’t just about protecting your cereal crop against FHB — it simply provides a better yield and quality benefit. Source: 11 Bayer grower-cooperated replicated Wheat DSTs (2012–2013 and 2016). Numbers expressed as gain in yield versus the untreated check. Your results may vary according to agronomic, environmental and pest pressure variables.
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FA R M FO R U M .CA / JANUARY 2018
90 100
yield (bu./ac.)