GET AHEAD OF FUNGICIDE RESISTANCE | farmforum.ca
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THE FUTURE OF
FARMING IS
DIGITAL Technology
Business
Production
Farm Life
Make the switch to safer, more efficient fuel storage
Doing one thing well keeps this greenhouse sprouting
Stacked seed traits take on problem weeds in soybeans
Big ideas breathe new life into small towns
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farm forum / january 2017
CONTENTS COVER STORY
The future of farming is digital /6
photo: thinkstock
features
TECHNOLOGY
business
Editor's Note / 4 Weather monitoring means less guessing and more knowing / 22 Get ahead of fungicide resistance / 28
Make the switch to safer, more efficient fuel storage / 12
production
Save big on Bayer crop protection products / 34
Stacked seed traits take on problem weeds in soybeans / 24
Doing one thing well keeps this greenhouse sprouting / 16
FARM LIFE
Big ideas breathe new life into small towns / 30
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EDITOR’S NOTE
T
here is no denying that digital technology — from smart phones, tablets and satellites to software and social media — is having a profound influence on the way businesses operate and relate to their employees. And farming is no exception. The adoption, by farmers, of various digital technologies to improve their bottom line and better communicate with workers, is the biggest change in the industry in recent years. In our cover story, The future of farming is digital, we introduce you to Bayer’s Digital Farming Team, whose members are tasked with developing new products using digital technologies to help farmers make the most of their operations. Turn to page 6 to find out more. Switching to safer, more efficient fuel storage makes sense so in our story on page 12, we give you some good reasons to give up those old gravity-fed systems and invest in new high-tech double-walled tanks. We’ll also give you some tips on choosing the right size tank for your farm. In this issue’s Outstanding Young Farmer profile, meet Jodi and Adrian Roelands, who operate a 12-acre vegetable propagation greenhouse in Southwestern Ontario. The Roelands’ farm incorporates state-of-the-art technologies including ebb-and-flood floor irrigation, grow lights, energy shade curtains and integrated biological controls. They also use a modern approach to meeting their staffing requirements including advertising job opportunities through social media and adapting their management structure to include designated team leaders who look after their own groups and provide feedback on the how the company is doing. In our regular weather story, Andrew Nadler, agricultural meteorologist, talks about the benefits of weather monitoring — knowledge-based decision support and higher returns — and gives you some things to consider to help you better understand how to use weather monitoring on your farm. For soybean growers in Ontario, resistant weeds, especially glyphosate resistant fleabane, are causing huge production issues. Unfortunately there are no quick solutions. But new multi-trait seed systems are showing promise. And, when combined with good weed management practices — such as destruction of seeds at harvest and rotation into crops like edible beans or wheat with different weed profiles — tackling resistant weeds becomes a lot easier. Not only is herbicide resistance a problem, farmers need to understand the potential for fungicide resistance on their farms. In our story on page 28, we talk about how to recognize fungicide resistance and share a decision-making matrix tool, developed by the Fungicide Resistance Action Committee, that quantifies the risk of fungicide resistance based on agronomic, pathological and fungicide factors. Small town Canada supports 28 per cent of the nation’s jobs and produces 30 per cent of Canada’s GDP, so it’s important to find ways to make rural Canada more sustainable. Our final story looks at how several rural towns in western Canada are using unconventional ways to breathe new life into their communities. — Sherry Warner
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Publisher Bayer CropScience Inc. Editor Sherry Warner Contributors Jennifer Barber Dianne Finstad Joy Gregory Andrew Nadler Gerald Pilger Design/Production Farm Business Communications Farm Forum is published seasonally by Bayer CropScience Inc. Contact Farm Forum at: Bayer CropScience Inc. Suite 130 160 Quarry Park Blvd. SE Calgary, AB T2C 3G3 T. 1 888-283-6847 F. 1 888-570-9378 E. farmforum@bayer.com www.cropscience.bayer.ca Contents of this publication are copyrighted and may be reproduced only with written permission of the publisher, Bayer CropScience Inc. The views expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher. Publications Mail Agreement Number 40743517 Registered in Canada Copyright 2017 Website www.farmforum.ca Return undeliverable copies to: Bayer CropScience Inc. Suite 130 160 Quarry Park Blvd. SE Calgary, AB T2C 3G3
On the cover Two years ago Bayer launched its Digital Farming Team. Its purpose is to develop new products using digital technologies to help farmers make the most of their operations.
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technology
The Future of
B y G e ra l d P i lg e r
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FA R M FO R U M .C A / JANUARY 2017
PHOTO: THINKSTOCK
FARMING is digital
L
ast November, more than 150 agronomists from across Canada travelled to Banff, AB, to attend Bayer’s Agronomy Summit. Speakers gave the audience a preview of the science and innovations Bayer is planning to introduce to farmers in the next few years, including the exciting field of digital farming.
The adoption, by farmers, of a variety of digital technologies to better manage their operations, is one of the biggest changes in the industry in recent years. In less than a generation, progressive farmers have evolved from using tools such as GPS guidance, auto steer and precision farming to digital tech such as satellite monitoring, aerial drones, robotics, ag-based software and big data. Digital technology has become the biggest driver of modern agricultural practices, and its adoption will continue to spread exponentially as farmers do everything they can to grow more and grow better. In the opening address of the Summit, Al Driver, president and CEO of the Crop Science Division in Canada, told the audience how data will open windows for new innovations, integrated solutions, sustainable intensification and allow Bayer to better engage with farmers. Âť
FARMFORUM.CA / JANAURY 201 7
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technology
Bayer Canada created its digital farming team two years ago and tasked it with designing concepts, using digital technology, to augment both Bayer’s and its customers’ businesses. From these concepts, the team develops marketable products. Team leader Chris Paterson says that the team has already identified more than 30 potential opportunities. He explained that even though there are more than 100 companies currently involved in precision agriculture and ag-tech industries, Bayer is unique because it is a seed and crop protection company first and can therefore focus its digital farming efforts on optimizing this core business. “We are finding new uses for digital technology in seed and crop protection,” says Paterson. “The potential list is very long.” Planet Labs There are six people on Bayer’s Canadian digital farming team and they collaborate with a number of industry partners. For example, Bayer has teamed up with Planet Labs in California to gather geospatial and remote sensing data. Planet Labs is a small company with big plans. Until now, remote sensing data has been generated primarily from relatively large, very 8
FA R M FO R U M .C A / january 2017
expensive, high-altitude satellites. Data costs were high and opportunities to gather data from a specific location throughout the growing season was limited by the small number of these satellites. Planet Labs is working on a more cost effective remote sensing system, which consists of 180 small, inexpensive, disposable satellites that can image the whole world every day. Such an array could provide multiple images of an individual field throughout the growing season at a much lower cost. Planet Labs already has 60 satellites orbiting the Earth every 90 minutes, and the data coming back is providing Bayer with valuable information for planning, soil preparation, seeding, crop management and harvesting at research trial sites. This collaboration has already provided benefits in product development, predictive analysis and crop growth monitoring, says Paterson. Alex Melnitchouck, Bayer’s digital farming technology lead, based in Calgary, explained how the company uses this satellite data, along with Zoner — precision agriculture web-based software — to manage variability in research trials. Every farmer who has watched a combine yield monitor knows there’s significant yield variability within most fields. Just as yield »
PHOTOS: bayer cropscience
Bayer’s Digital Farming Team L to R: David Waldner, Craig Stevenson, Chris Paterson, Alex Melnitchouck, Warren Bills and Doug Mackay.
Warren Bills from Bayer’s Digital Farming Team tests a new zone spray application technology for Proline in canola. Bills demonstrates the results of zone spray application technology below: thumbs up for the side sprayed with proline and thumbs down for the unsprayed side.
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technology Today, with larger farm operations, increased rental acreage and hired labour operating the equipment, farmers simply do not know their fields as well as their fathers and grandfathers. Digital tools that can assist with crop planning, production and scouting are becoming more and more important to maximizing yields and profits. Adding value Farmer acceptance is key to the success of Bayer’s venture into digital farming. “Return on investment is usually number one,” says Paterson. “If a farmer can see the value, they will support it.” And there are other potential benefits, too, he says, such as saving time, reducing hassles and reducing risks for farmers. Plus, said Paterson, beyond the benefits at the production level, farmers have a great story to tell. There’s improved transparency for consumers to see how their food was grown, the food industry can provide more accurate and faster traceability, and by producing more from less, the environmental footprint can be measurably lowered. “And that’s just the right thing to do.” For example, he noted that Bayer is in the final analysis of a new zone spray application technology for Proline in canola that could reduce fungicide costs and improve environmental stewardship.
This new technology could be available to farmers by 2018. At the same time Paterson recognizes that farmers have some concerns about the use of big data. Some are worried about who has access to their data and information generated on their farms and how it may be used. It’s a concern Bayer takes seriously and is working to address. Paterson said it really comes down to transparency and trust. “Bayer needs to be open with how we use the data collected and provide real value back to the farmer.” Where does the Digital Farming team go next? Given new technologies, sensor types, data sources, efficient data transferring, and providing action to actually use this growing data — the possibilities to produce more from less are truly endless. FF Digital Farming: Bit by Bit www.farmforum.ca/ digitalfarmingbitbybit Bayer digital farming tools www.farmforum.ca/ digitalfarmingtools Planet Labs Inc. www.farmforum.ca/planetlabs
PHOTO: istock
mapping enables variable rate applications, Zoner can analyze remote data to predict both productivity and variability. Melnitchouck illustrated this geospatial technology using two satellite photos of fields with yield variability of 507.4 per cent and 1,164.9 per cent respectively. With this much variability, he explained, research trials can end up skewed. However, predictive analysis now enables Bayer to locate its trials on the most uniform areas of a field, thereby minimizing soil and environmental factors. “Planet Labs is just one of many vendors we are exploring new frontiers with,” said Paterson. Bayer has also announced working relationships with Planetary Resources, best known for its intent to mine asteroids, and other ag-related companies including John Deere and Trimble, which is best known for its GPS technology. “The initial goal (of the digital farming team) is to augment the performance and user experience of Bayer products,” says Paterson. “The longer term goal is to work with farmers to define precise and accurate yield goals for each field (and eventually field zones), improve the probability of reaching that yield goal, and, over time, understand how to increase those yields toward their true potential.”
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FA R M FO R U M .C A / january 2017
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TECHNOLOGY
Make the switch to safer, more efficient fuel storage
W
hen growers consider a new piece of high-tech equipment, fuel storage tanks may not be the first thing that comes to mind. But modern fuel storage and delivery is more efficient, environmentally friendly and, most of all, a lot safer. “Whenever I see a fuel tank on a stand in a farm yard, my first thought is that it is simply not safe,” says Ken Pierson, sales product manager with Meridian Manufacturing in Lethbridge, AB. “It’s not safe for the owner, for the person filling up
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FA R M FO R U M .C A / JANUARY 2017
his equipment or for the fuel agent. These systems are almost always single walled tanks with no venting and a drain plug in the bottom. There are so many better options available that will turn what can be a liability, into an asset.” While there are regulations around fuel storage and delivery, it can sometimes seem more of a hassle than a benefit to change out fuel tanks. Some provinces, like Manitoba, have strict environmental regulations on new systems, which can sometimes deter
PHOTO: Meridian Manufacturing
By Jennifer Barber
“Today’s new double walled tanks fully contain any leak that may occur in the primary tank by the secondary tank, and the automatic nozzles help prevent any unnecessary spills from overfilling” Ken Pierson sales product manager Meridian MANUFACTURING
growers. Other provinces, like Alberta, have programs in place that help defray some of the costs of a new system as long as it meets environmental farm plan guidelines. “Since Alberta has had the Growing Forward program in place, more growers are replacing their old gravity-fed systems with double walled fuel tanks,” says Pierson. “We now have environmentally friendly systems that have auto nozzles for more efficient delivery, drip pots for any potential overflow, and hose retractors to
keep hoses tidy and prevent them from becoming a safety hazard.” Gravity-fed systems deliver fuel so slowly that growers will often walk away and inevitably there is some overflow. “Today’s new double walled tanks fully contain any leak that may occur in the primary tank by the secondary tank, and the automatic nozzles help prevent any unnecessary spills from overfilling,” he says. “Regardless, a farmer should never leave the unit when filling is in progress.” Dan Brewin, director, equipment,
fuel and lubricants with Crop Protection Services Canada, says that his team helps growers design their fuel systems to meet various provincial regulatory guidelines. “We work with growers to design a site that meets their needs, meets regulatory standards and also makes the fuel easy to deliver,” he says. “For the safety of our personnel we wouldn’t knowingly deliver to an unsafe unit. Most of the time if we see an issue, we work with growers to bring everything up to current standards.” Brewin says that most growers who choose to upgrade their fuel storage system are being proactive, as full containment will likely be the norm in the near future. But he says there are still many older, gravityfed systems on prairie farms. “We still see a lot of fuel structures in metal stands, and many of them are getting to be 30 to 40 years old,” says Alan Vantol, business coordinator for the petroleum tank program with UFA. “In the past, a fuel tank has not been a high priority for small operators — they changed out their tank only when they’ve had to. But they are getting to be a bigger priority as older tanks break down and environmental considerations are taken into account.” Is bigger always better? “Choosing your fuel storage system is similar to buying a pair of shoes,” says Vantol. You don’t want them too big or too small. Too big and your fuel won’t be seasonally adjusted properly, which can lead to condensation and moisture in the fuel. Too small and you will be paying high delivery costs for too many top-ups during the season.” »
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“If growers have a good relationship with their fuel dealer they can usually get what they need, when they need it, rather than storing unnecessary fuel out of season” Dan Brewin
Currently, most growers choose to upgrade their fuel storage because of the size of their farm, and the increased capacity of modern farm equipment. For farms in the 2,000- to 5,000-acre range, a 15,000- to 25,000-litre tank will usually suffice. If your farm is in the 5,000-plus acre range, a 50,000- to 75,000-litre tank will speed up efficiency and allow you to take advantage of bulk delivery pricing. Also, electronic pumps will allow for a 40 gallon per minute pump rate, which is significantly faster than gravity-fed systems. “It really does depend on the operation and when and how they consume fuel,” says Pierson. “If a grower uses 20,000 litres of fuel in a year, then they likely will need two turns of fuel to get the right mix. So 14
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a 10,000 or even 7,500-litre tank would be fine. Most growers would need two or three turns of fuel to get the right seasonal mix.” “The way that growers fuel their machinery is becoming more sophisticated, right alongside their bigger and better equipment,” adds Brewin. “Growers will want to have a big enough tank that they can take advantage of pricing opportunities, and have enough storage to get them through critical times. But they don’t want to be holding fuel that is not the right mix for the season or it could degrade due to temperature fluctuations.” Brewin says that growers should also consider the proximity to their fuel distributor when considering the size of their tank. “Depending on where your
farm is located, it might be more difficult to get fuel delivery during high usage times like harvest,” he says. “If growers have a good relationship with their fuel dealer they can usually get what they need, when they need it, rather than storing unnecessary fuel out of season. Often when tanks get bigger, the price will justify pulling fuel from a further location.” Properly sized, modern fuel storage and delivery can be an overall asset to a farm. “In every industry other than agriculture, a double walled system with secondary containment is the norm,” says Vantol. “It’s only a matter of time until it is the norm across all industries.” Besides their safety and environmental benefits, modern, efficient fuel storage helps add value to the farm. FF
PHOTO: UFA
Director, Equipment, Fuel and Lubricants Crop Protection Services Canada
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business
Jodi and Adrian Roelands with their children L to R: Eva (4), Ila (17 months), Theo (3), Arie (6), and Mia (8).
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Doing one thing well keeps this greenhouse sprouting By Dianne Finstad
photo: jodi's photography
A
strong start is crucial to any healthy plant — whether it’s a canola stem or a cucumber seedling. And focusing on that one crucial step in the production process is proving to be a vigorous growth strategy for Ontario’s 2016 Outstanding Young Farmers’ Program award winners. In fact, since starting their four-acre propagation greenhouse, Roelands Plant Farms Inc., a mere three years ago, Adrian and Jodi Roelands have already expanded to 12 acres. Now that’s good stand establishment! Southwestern Ontario is a hotbed for Canada’s greenhouse growers, so when this young couple decided to venture out on their own, they chose an ag business where they both had some experience, and where they saw big opportunities for growth. Early farm life for Jodi and Adrian, both university graduates, included livestock. Jodi’s parents had a poultry farm before adding on a pepper greenhouse. Adrian grew up on a hog farm, and also worked at a greenhouse before he and Jodi were married. They built their greenhouse near Lambton Shores, ON — a little off the beaten path for a propagation enterprise, but that was the idea. “We wanted a location that was fairly isolated from other greenhouses… so there’s no crop contamination with pests or diseases,” explains Adrian. “We were also looking for good sunlight levels in the winter, and we wanted to have as cool a summer as possible,” he adds. Building close to Lake Huron means cooler summers because of the north and west winds that come off the lake. In addition to a great location, the Roelands saw a need for more propagation space in the greenhouse sector. In propagation, vegetable seeds are planted and grown to about a foot in height, then sold to greenhouse growers — a process that allows them to pick three to six weeks sooner than when starting from scratch. »
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business
Regardless of the industry you are in, starting new means you have the opportunity to do things right, right from the start, says Adrian. He travelled to B.C., Europe and Scandinavia to look at different greenhouse operations. These trips helped him develop networks where new innovations were being sprouted. “We didn’t want to build something outdated so we went right to the top and made sure everything was state-of-the-art. We know that our sales are all driven by plant quality, so we built the facility to make the highest quality plants.” The Roelands greenhouse incorporates technology like ebb-and-flood floor irrigation that improves efficiency and lowers labour costs; grow lights and energy shade curtains for a more cost-effective growing environment; and integrated biological controls to help control pests and diseases. Another key decision was to limit production to vegetables only as part of an overall emphasis on quality (many operators propagate flowers to fill in the off-season). Indeed, their marketing slogan is: “where vegetables are royalty.” The Roelands also had to think big while 18
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starting small. For example, a large, one-acre warehouse was part of the first construction phase and, as Jodi explains, they built with their capacity goals in mind. “Four acres of growing space was all we could afford then, so we were paying for 12 acres-worth of warehouse off of only four acres of income,” she says. “We needed to get up to the 12 acres as quickly as possible to make the entire business more efficient and viable.” And fortunately, that happened more quickly than expected. Adrian attributes that rapid growth to quality control, which includes extra water sterilization treatments to ensure strong root development. And, he says, their management team is another key factor. “We’ve got a lot of really great people here. While we’re new to the propagation industry, we’ve got two people who each have over 20 years of experience, and a lot of newer people who have picked up on it incredibly fast,” he says. All management and staff are on board with the company motto “premium plant propagation” and this has had a huge impact on quality control, adds Adrian. The Roelands also keep a close eye on
expenses, managing costs like natural gas and looking to automate where possible to offset labour costs. And because they serve clients in Canada and the U.S., they purchased their own trucks to minimize transportation costs. Inclusive customer service is also key to the Roelands’ success. “During the growing process, we try and stay in really close contact with our customers,” says Jodi. “Twice a week, we send them an update on how their plants are growing, and if there’s a problem that arises, we call them right away to discuss how best they’d like us to deal with it. We try and include them in every step.” As the Roelands finished the final phase of production last fall, their greenhouse was already fully booked for a busy winter growing season of peppers, cucumbers and grafted tomatoes. The challenge was filling the space for the rest of the year, which led them to develop a new product called “living lettuce.” They use their propagation medium for a lettuce head that consumers can take home, water and have fresh lettuce right in their kitchens. In general, people think the greenhouse industry is similar to growing crops, says Adrian. “I would say that a greenhouse is actually, in a lot of ways, more similar to
photo: roelands plant farms inc.
The Roelands' state-of-the-art greenhouse uses ebb-and-flood floor irrigation to maximize efficiency and keep labour costs in check.
Adapting the workplace to appeal to Millennials Always having enough staff for a labour-intensive operation is key to its success and the Roelands spend a lot of time looking for the right people to fit into their greenhouse operation. And in the current economy, many people seeking those jobs are Millennials or Generation Y — born between 1977 and 1995 and considered the fastest growing generation of employees. Getting their hands dirty with manual labour could be perceived as a stretch for many Millennials, often labelled as entitled and tethered to their phones. “We actually fall right at the beginning of Millennial generation,” laughs Jodi, “so we’re speaking from a biased position. We’ve realized Millennials get a bad rap, and it’s really not necessarily deserved.”
During the peak season from November to February, the Roelands have as many as 160 employees. The rest of the year sees a core of about 40 staff
Jason Dorsey, a highly sought-after researcher and speaker on Millennials and Gen Z, says that Millennials are the fastest growing generation of customers, influencers and employees. Applying insights from Dorsey, the Roelands have adapted their management structure and have designated team leaders who look after their own groups. Regular surveys help them find out which team staffers would like to be on and gather feedback on both team leaders and the company. The Roelands have found that having a say and some authority in the workplace is important to Millennials. “They really feel like they’re contributing to the workplace,” says Adrian. “Whether you want to hear it or not, they want to give their input. For us, doing these monthly surveys really allows us to hear their voice,” he explains. “It allows us to let them know if you want something changed, we’ll see what we can do to fix it.” — Dianne Finstad
photo: thinkstock
livestock than to crops. You have more control over all of your systems and your elements,” he explains. A greenhouse requires constant attention. “If the power goes off, then your irrigation goes off, or your boiler shuts down. It’s not like crops, which don’t require quite as much babysitting. With livestock or with a greenhouse operation, it’s really 24/7.” Thanks to technology, that attention can be given remotely. An app on Adrian’s phone allows him to monitor the greenhouses, operate irrigation and troubleshoot, even when he’s away from the premises. But plants aren’t the only things growing at the Roelands’ farm. Jodi and Adrian have five children, (from under two to eight years old) who are shooting up too! Raising them takes a lot of teamwork, as the couple alternates time with the business and the kids. “They all take turns out with Adrian,” says Jodi. “Whoever wakes up earliest in the morning gets sent to the greenhouse with Adrian when he’s doing his chores. They are pretty passionate about that, and have already decided they want to be greenhouse farmers.” FF
The Roelands advertise job opportunities on their website and through Facebook, where they showcase the company culture to Millennial job seekers. “We know that there’s a large segment of that Millennial generation looking for jobs,” says Jodi. “Ag might not be the first industry they would look at, so we’re trying to bring it to their attention that there are good jobs in their area. We’ve hired people straight from social media.”
members, including a human resources manager. The Roelands like to hire local whenever possible, and their seasonal requirements fit well for students, or even summer landscapers looking for winter work. Being near Grand Bend, ON, a summer tourist town, means offseason employment opportunities for those workers as well.
FARMFORUM.CA / january 201 7
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production
Weather monitoring means less guessing and more knowing
A
lmost every decision on the farm is influenced by weather — a factor that is extremely variable and hard to predict. Weather can also vary across a single farm, particularly one that covers a large area. Weather monitoring can help farmers allocate resources and make key decisions. And while more producers are realizing the benefits of on-farm weather monitoring, many do not know where to begin. Here are some things to consider to help you get a better handle on weather monitoring:
What to measure Almost anything can be measured — whether the information is useful or not is another story. Most consumer weather stations record, at minimum, air temperature, relative humidity, rainfall, wind speed and wind direction. These measurements will meet most growers needs as crops are mainly influenced by temperature and moisture and tasks like spraying rely on wind, temperature, humidity and rain. For irrigated farms, additional sensors can be useful. For example, solar radiation, wind speed, air temperature 22
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and humidity can be used to calculate crop water demand, which can be used to help estimate watering needs. Soil moisture content can be measured directly in the field using buried sensors and feedback from these sensors provide a real-time indication of when and how much to irrigate. One limitation of most consumer weather stations is that they only measure liquid precipitation — rain, but not snow. Once temperatures drop below freezing, most rain gauges become useless. This is unfortunate since snow is an important part of soil moisture reserves. Having said that, snow can be measured by a weighing precipitation gauge, but this type of equipment is very expensive. An effective, low-cost alternative is a simple ruler to measure snow depth. Types of weather stations The simplest and cheapest “weather station” is a rain gauge that is read manually and emptied after a rain event. Unfortunately, this becomes labourintensive when trying to monitor several locations or faraway fields. Likewise, some automated weather
stations record measurements to their internal memories, which must be manually downloaded on site. This works fine for research, when the information will be analyzed post-season, but it’s less effective for day-to-day operations, particularly if you need the information at your fingertips. For these reasons, a weather station with on-board communications is highly recommended. The cost of weather station communications has become more affordable as data plans continue to come down in price. In some cases, less remote stations can take advantage of radio or Wi-Fi, often a more cost-effective communication option. Proper station placement may dictate the type of communications that should be used. For example, stations with shortrange wireless communications must often be installed near a power source and Internet. On a typical farm, this ends up being near obstructions such as buildings, bins, equipment or trees. It is important to recognize that conditions in a sheltered yard can be quite different than those in the field. Ideally, you should monitor conditions that are as representative of your crop as possible.
PHOTO: thinkstock
By Andrew Nadler | Agricultural meteorologist
Being part of a larger network When it comes to weather stations, there are definite advantages to being part of a larger network. There are now several thousand weather stations across the prairies so there may already be one or more near your farm. For those comfortable with sharing their weather data, farms can access stations on neighbouring properties. This provides additional coverage for a limited investment. Fortunately, technology is at the point where this has become relatively easy to do. For those unsure of how to install, operate, and maintain a weather station, there are providers that offer these services. Gleaning value from the data Ultimately, the purpose of investing in weather monitoring is to gather intelligence. But remember, data is only useful when something is done with it. Weather measurements, although interesting, will generally not provide advice on when to seed, how much nitrogen to apply, crop staging, disease risk,
spray timing or when to harvest. Rather, weather measurements serve as input for advanced analytics and models that simulate the soil and crop, or predict the risk of pests and disease. Accurate and sitespecific weather data, combined with crop, soil, and management information, help farmers make well-informed decisions. It used to be that farm records, including weather information, were logged in notepads or on spreadsheets. But today, with so much available information, more and more producers are working with third-party aggregators that help collect, analyze and present this information in meaningful ways. Weather monitoring technology has come a long way in recent years, particularly for the amateur weather watcher. Weather stations are now popping up across the landscape, enabling farmers to monitor field conditions in detail and in real-time. Improved technology has enhanced this ability and is leading to better tools and insight for the data-driven farm. In the end, this means knowledge-based decision support and higher returns for farmers. FF
When it comes to weather stations, there are definite advantages to being part of a larger network. There are now several thousand weather stations across the prairies so there may already be one or more near your farm
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Stacked seed traits take on problem weeds in soybeans Are multi-trait systems the answer to resistant weed battles in Ontario’s soybean crop? By Jennifer Barber
w
hen a weed shows resistance to one herbicide group, it’s a big concern. When it shows resistance to multiple groups, it’s a huge problem. For soybean growers in Ontario, resistant weeds are causing serious production issues in many areas and right now there aren’t any quick fixes. But, new seed system technology hopes to make dealing with resistant weeds in soybeans easier going forward. “Currently, the number one weed concern for soybean growers is glyphosate resistant fleabane,” says David Kikkert, crop and campaign marketing manager, soybeans and pulses with Bayer. “We’re also seeing fleabane with resistance to both glyphosate and Group 2 herbicides along with glyphosate resistant ragweed and waterhemp. These can be big, obnoxious weeds that can significantly reduce yield and cause production issues throughout the season.” To address concerns with weed resistance in soybeans, several new production systems in development use stacked seed traits for dual tolerance to glyphosate plus another herbicide from a different group. Roundup Ready 2 Xtend, for example, is now commercially available, and other systems are waiting for international market approval. Bayer has teamed up with MS Technologies to offer Balance GT, which, Kikkert says, should be available to Canadian growers in 2018. “We worked together with MS Technologies in the U.S. to develop the Balance GT soybean system,” he says. “This system will bring top soybean seed
genetics that have stacked resistance to both glyphosate (Group 9) and isoxaflutole (Group 27). Our new Balance Bean herbicide will bring a new herbicide group for soybean growers to use that will provide preemergent and long lasting residual control. We are also recommending that growers use more than one herbicide group in the tank to attack problem weeds like resistant fleabane.” In order to manage difficult-to-control resistant weeds, many soybean growers combine new technology with good crop management. They’ve also tried preemergent products with residual activity in the hope of eliminating weeds when they are small. Another approach has been to take out the weeds just before harvest with PPOs. All of these have had sporadic success, but none have been the silver bullet soybean growers are looking for. “Some of this will work, but the conditions need to be right,” says Kikkert. “For example, with most residual applications, moisture is required in order for them to maximize their performance. This year it was dry in some areas when these herbicides were being applied and it wasn’t as successful against problem weeds.” Mike Cowbrough, weed management field crops program lead with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, says the new herbicide tolerant systems could help fill the gaps since all three systems currently awaiting approval take different approaches to controlling resistant weeds in soybeans. He says that his biggest concern is off-target drift, so growers will have to be cautious about how they apply the herbicides with these systems. However, he says the more options available, the better.
“I think these new stacked trait systems could be very good for weed control in soybeans. But we still have to be very careful in our weed management practices because if there is one thing we’ve learned in recent years, it’s that environmental systems will adapt,” he says. “These systems, combined with practices such as destruction of seeds at harvest, or rotation into crops like edible beans or wheat where the chemistry and weed profiles are different, will all help reduce the spread of resistant weeds.” Historically, soybean growers have faced challenges as the crop has fewer herbicide modes of action available to it than other crops, says Cowbrough. For consistent weed control, especially when looking at herbicide resistant weeds, growers have to make the most of every option at their disposal. In addition to tank mixing and late season herbicide application, another route has been using tillage to try and remove resistant weeds before they become unmanageable. “As Canada fleabane is a fall emerging weed, tillage can be an effective option to break up the small weeds before they go dormant for the winter,” says Cowbrough. “Many soybean growers have to do some tillage to manage corn stalks, and they see the fleabane already growing in the fall. But even when fleabane seedlings are small they can hold onto the soil even when it has been broken. So you won’t get 100 per cent control this way.” Cowbrough adds that, currently, the best resistant weed control happens ahead of planting or prior to emergence, because once these weeds grow above the canopy »
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“I think these new stacked trait systems could be very good for weed control in soybeans. But we still have to be very careful in our weed management practices” Mike Cowbrough Weed Management Lead Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
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late in summer, there’s no reasonable way to control them. “We have tried weed wicking at that point,” he says, referring to the process of applying a herbicide directly to the weed. “But most of those weeds are already tolerant to the herbicides registered for application at that stage, and we would only get 40 per cent control at best,” he says. “We found the crop kept on flowering and then the wind would disperse the seed, setting up another fall of management issues for the grower.” Cowbrough says he can’t fault the process — most growers are using every management option available to try and get rid of these resistant weeds. But he says new tools are needed to complement proactive weed management in the crop. “Several researchers in the province are looking at the Harrington Seed Destructor, which has been effective in Australia in destroying weed seeds at harvest,” he says. “This device goes behind a combine to pulverize the seed. Our concern is that Canada fleabane has very small seeds so we still need to assess if this will effectively kill the seed.” While the new stacked-trait systems hold a lot of promise, good stewardship will always be important to keep these products working now and into the future. But some stewardship messages are more difficult to reinforce in soybeans. “Growers know that, in general, crop rotation is an important management tool,
FA R M FO R U M .CA / JANAURAY 2017
and that holds true for the development of disease and some weeds,” says Kikkert. “But often the products used to control weeds in soybeans are also used in rotational crops, so growers aren’t changing up the modes of action, and that can help weeds select for resistance. So we need to be looking at what herbicide groups we’re using across crops to get ahead of weed species.” Choosing a soybean system like LibertyLink is an effective way to rotate chemical groups since Liberty herbicide has no known weed resistance in Canada, says Kikkert. The initial launch of Balance GT will have two stacked traits, and will be the foundation system leading to a triplestacked herbicide tolerate system in the near future that will include varieties bred for resistance to glyphosate, isoxaflutole and Liberty herbicide. “Corn has already seen the introduction of successful multiple stacked traits to help manage problem weeds and insects,” says Kikkert. “We hope these new stacked trait soybean systems will offer similar success for soybean growers. “I think that these types of systems, with contact and residual control, will offer growers more flexibility and, together with good weed management practices, will help make managing resistant weeds easier,” he says. “We need to preserve all the tools we have, and make our new tools even better. I think these stacked traits systems will help do just that.” FF
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Get ahead of fungicide resistance BY GERALD PILGER
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strobilurin overuse on banana plantations in Costa Rica led to resistance to this fungicide group in just two years. UNDERSTAND THE RISKS At the Summit, Bayer’s Scott Henry, oilseed development manager, and Andreas Mehl, senior research scientist, outlined the risk factors for fungicide resistance. Henry began with a list of pathogen characteristics that can increase the risk of resistance development: • A short disease life cycle that requires more frequent applications of fungicides. • An abundance of sporulation increases risk because of increased disease spread. Higher numbers of spores also increases the potential for mutation of the pathogen. • Efficient dispersal. For example, wind-
borne pathogens can result in wider geographical spread of resistance. • Pathogens that can infect a crop at all stages of growth carry a higher risk of resistance. • Pathogens that display genetic adaptability also carry a higher risk. Henry also told agronomists that if a pathogen has a history of resistance, then the risk of that pathogen developing resistance to other fungicides can be higher as well. Mehl talked about fungicide chemistry and how it impacts resistance. Like herbicides, fungicides fall into different classes based on mode of action. From here, generalizations can be made about risk of resistance for each class. Group 11 fungicides, for example, are considered
PHOTO: BAYER CROPSCIENCE, MATTHIAS SANDMANN
esistance is a word that instills fear in the hearts of both farmers and the crop protection industry. And with good reason. Once herbicide resistance takes hold there’s no going back — you’ve lost the use of that herbicide forever. Most farmers would agree that it’s easy to see when a weed survives a herbicide application. Unfortunately, signs of resistance to a fungicide are not so obvious. Fungicides are preventative rather than curative, so the interaction between the pathogen, the fungicide and the agronomics is much more complex, making resistance harder to spot. But make no mistake — the potential for fungicide resistance is real. Agronomists attending the recent Bayer Agronomy Summit in Banff, AB, heard how
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to be high risk; Group 7 fungicides are medium to high risk; Group 3 fungicides are rated medium risk; and Groups 40, 12, M 3, and M1/2 are all rated at low risk for resistance. According to Mehl, the level of risk can be partially explained by how the fungicide prevents or defeats the target pathogen. For example, fungicides with single-site activity are more susceptible to resistance because it’s more likely for the pathogen to successfully develop a defensive mutation at that single site than at multiple sites of attack. Interestingly, fungicides that offer long persistence in the plant, and therefore provide very high levels of performance, have a higher risk of resistance development. That’s because more pathogens are exposed to the fungicide during the lifecycle of both the host and the disease, so mutation risk goes up. While weather conditions can impact the effectiveness of any fungicide, agronomic practices also play a role in resistance development. Application practices along with your spray program and even sprayer clean up between fields can impact resistance development. Having said that, crop and fungicide rotation are still the biggest agronomic risk factors for resistance. Short crop rotations and repeated use of the same fungicide, especially within the same crop year, significantly increase the risk of fungicide resistance. THE MATRIX Henry shared a decision-making matrix developed by the Fungicide Resistance Action Committee (FRAC), a tool that quantifies the risk of fungicide resistance developing based on agronomic, pathological and fungicide factors. For example, if you want to use a Group 3 fungicide (left side of matrix) to control sclerotinia (bottom of matrix) in a field that has a thin canola stand under warm, dry, low humidity conditions, and if that field has not had a sclerotinia host grown on it for four years (right side of matrix), the risk calculation would be: 3 (medium risk fungicide) x 1 (low risk pathogen) x 0.5 (low agronomic risk) = 1.5, which is low risk for resistance. Trevor Calvert, an agronomist with Heritage Co-op near Brandon, MB, says agronomists and farmers can use the matrix to assess the risk of resistance development for specific fields.
COMBINED RESISTANCE RISK MATRIX BASED ON FUNGICIDE, PATHOGEN & AGRONOMIC RISK FUNGICIDE CLASS
FUNGICIDE RISK
GROUP 1
AGRONOMIC RISK
COMBINED RISK
HIGH = 6
6 3
12 6
18 9
HIGH = 1 LOW = O.5
MEDIUM =3
3 1.5
6 3
9 4.5
HIGH = 1 LOW = O.5
LOW = 1
1 0.5
2 1
3 1.5
HIGH = 1 LOW = O.5
PATHOGEN RISK
LOW = 1
MEDIUM = 2
HIGH = 3
PATHOGEN GROUPS
Rusts Sclerotinia, Rhizoctonia, Pythium spp Smuts & Bunts
Ascochyta Septoria blotch Net blotch Barley Scald
Botrytis Erysiphe Pyricularia Venturia
GROUP 11 GROUP 4 GROUP 2
GROUP 7 GROUP 9
GROUP 3 MULTI SITES RESISTANCE IND.
Source: www.frac.info
Fungicide resistance has already occurred on potato farms in his area of the province, so it’s a top-of-mind issue for other local farmers. He noted potato growers make up to 10 different pesticide applications each year, so they need to be diligent about which fungicides they apply and when. “Farmers in this area are getting better and better at managing both herbicide and fungicide resistance,” says Calvert. The matrix is a tool that would likely be of interest. While reports of fungicide resistance in western Canada are still rare, Bayer presenters at the Agronomy Summit outlined a few things farmers need to pay attention to in order to minimize the resistance risk: • Avoid repetitive or sustained use of the same fungicide during the growing season. • Do not cut fungicide rates. • Limit the number of fungicide applications during the growing season. • Use a fungicide that has two or more different actives. • If using a mixture of two different fungicides, apply the effective rate for both actives — do not cut the rate of one or both. • Do not rely solely on fungicides for disease control. Adopt an IPM system that includes sound crop rotations, rotation of genetics and other non-chemical control measures. FF
While weather conditions can impact the effectiveness of any fungicide, agronomic practices also play a role in resistance development. Application practices along with your spray program and even sprayer clean up between fields can impact resistance development
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farm life
Big ideas breathe new life into small towns By Joy Gregory
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ural Canadians are worried about the sustainability of their small towns and communities. That’s, in part, because residents of small town Canada are getting older and many younger residents, aged 15 to 29, are leaving for good to pursue higher education and work. But it’s not all bad news on the rural Canadian front, where regions with less than 10,000 residents support 28 per cent of the nation’s jobs and produce 30 per cent of Canada’s GDP via jobs and services linked to industries like food production, resource extraction and energy generation. Those numbers come from the State of Rural Canada 2015, a report that includes input from the Rural Development Institute (RDI) at Brandon University in Brandon, MB, says RDI’s executive director, Bill Ashton. Moving forward, the RDI is convinced that rural economic development won’t be “about solving problems so much as it will be about figuring out who owns the problems,” says Ashton. “We’ve moved past strategic planning. The focus is on strategic doing.” RDI’s goal is to help communities tackle
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specific problems with specific actions. These range from zoning changes or the development of Internet infrastructure that make a community “investment ready”, to setting up community-based cooperatives to take over businesses without viable succession plans. “Sometimes the lack of action is the elephant in the room,” says Ashton. Here’s a closer look at what four towns in western Canada are doing to breathe life into their communities. Rolling out the welcome mat Altona, Manitoba Private sponsors in Altona welcomed 45 refugees from five Syrians families in early 2016. It’s impossible to quantify the economic spinoff of a humanitarian effort. It’s also foolhardy to deny the fact that all the newcomers might leave Altona when commitments made by their private sponsors expire after one year. “But if they leave, they are still grateful to the sponsors and there’s no question initiatives like this impact local economies. Altona, with a population of 4,400 people,
The town of Watrous and the Village of Manitou Beach, located about 100 km east of Saskatoon, SK, hired a community development officer to promote sustainable growth by capitalizing on its main tourist attraction: the therapeutic salt waters of Little Manitou Lake (above) and its beach.
increased its population by one per cent in a matter of weeks and that included about 20 new students for Altona schools,” says Laurie Sawatsky of Regional Connections (RC), an organization that helps settle newcomers in southern Manitoba. That region is now home to residents from more than 125 countries. Sawatsky, who lives in Altona, hopes some of the newest migrants stay. Regardless, the initiative was worthwhile — and not only because it saved lives. “The volunteers also supported each other. We’re all stronger now.”
per cent of all businesses in Alberta employ fewer than 50 employees. These enterprises account for more than 37 per cent of private sector jobs and about 29 per cent of Alberta’s GDP. Meeting across desks and kitchen tables throughout rural Alberta, Andrishak and her colleagues provide one-to-one business coaching about topics like marketing, human resources, staff retention and recruitment. To date, RABCs helped generate about $1.5 million in new revenue, plus more than $900,000 in investment.
Open for small business Camrose, Cold Lake, Hanna and Rocky Mountain House, Alberta Four Rural Alberta Business Centres (RABCs) in Camrose, Cold Lake, Hanna and Rocky Mountain House, were in the right place at the right time. Opened in 2012 under remarkably different economic circumstances, the RABCs are helping owner-operated companies in rural areas weather the collapse of the province’s energy industry, says Michelle Andrishak, a small business advisor with the RABC in Rocky Mountain House. There’s nothing small about the focus on small business, says Andrishak. About 96
If you’ve got it, flaunt it! Watrous and Manitou Beach, Saskatchewan In 2010, the Town of Watrous, Village of Manitou Beach and Rural Municipality of Morris teamed up to hire a community development officer (CDO). Their goal: work together to promote sustainable population growth by capitalizing on the fact that more than 150,000 people a year travel through Watrous to visit the therapeutic salt waters of Little Manitou Lake, just 4 km away. Managing competing interests in a cooperative development program is complicated. These neighbours make it »
“There’s nothing small about the focus on small business. About 96 per cent of all businesses in Alberta employ fewer than 50 employees” Michelle Andrishak Small Business Advisor Rural Alberta Business Centre Rocky Mountain House
The Jubilee Drive-In at Manitou Beach is one of only three remaining drive-ins in Saskatchewan.
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farm life
The town of Redvers, SK, knows the secret to bringing the community together — with food of course.
work by agreeing to a marketing plan that showcases the region’s future in young families and children, says CDO, Brendan Manz. Less than 2,000 people live in Watrous. With 17 per cent of the population under the age of 15 however, the town is recording a bit of a baby boom; the local preschool capped enrolment in 2016 and a new daycare centre is in the works. “Sometimes I hear people say they don’t recognize anyone when they go downtown. I want to smile and say, ‘You’re welcome,’” says Manz.
“The whole idea was to get people talking so we didn’t have assigned seating. About 150 people came and our guests ranged in age from two to 89” Jasmin Carlton Economic Development Officer Redvers, SK
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Share a meal, hatch a plan Redvers, Saskatchewan Regional cooperation is also key to Redvers’ success. Last September, Redvers, population 975, held a family-style “long table” meal on Main Street. Having launched an extensive study of its main drag’s past, present and future, “the meal was a good reminder of the fact that people live here because they want to live here,” says Jasmin Carlton, economic development officer for Redvers and the neighbouring Rural Municipality (RM) of Antler. “That’s something to build on. The whole idea was to get people talking so we
didn’t have assigned seating. About 150 people came and our guests ranged in age from two to 89.” Redvers has experience reinventing itself. In 2015, six years after the province closed its hospital, Redvers Health Centre reopened with the arrival of three doctors, including two with local ties. Today, that facility includes acute, emergency, longterm and palliative care, plus medical and public health clinics. It employs more than 90 people. The night before the long-table supper, tickets for the local health foundation’s annual fundraiser went on sale. That event raised more than $100,000 — big bucks for a small community with 575 people in the surrounding RM. “It’s about vision and sustainability. We think Redvers has both,” says Carlton. FF Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation’s State of Rural Canada 2015 www.farmforum.ca/ stateofruralcanada Rural Alberta Business Centres www.farmforum.ca/ ruralbusinesscentres
I will be a trailblazer by recognizing opportunity and embracing the future. I will meet challenges head-on, adapt and overcome. I will continually challenge the status quo and place my trust where it is deserved.
cropscience.bayer.ca
1 888-283-6847
@Bayer4CropsCA
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WHAT’S NEW WITH BAYER PRODUCTS
Capture Big Savings Opportunities available through BayerValue in 2017 and the Incredible Bayer Offer
W
hat better way to kickoff the next growing season than by locking in savings on your purchase of crop protection solutions through the 2017 BayerValue Program. This rebate program from Bayer allows you to mix and match purchases from the wide range of innovative crop protection solutions from Bayer, as well as receive additional bonus offers to maximize your savings.
The BayerValue West Program features savings for specific product segments depending on the crop, with stackable savings ranging from 10 to 25 percent (minimum 300 acres for each category). For cereals and pulses: Bayer SeedGrowth™, herbicides and fungicides For canola: Pre-burn and fungicide. When combined with the InVigor® bonus offers, Western growers can save up to 25 percent with BayerValue. This year, the program includes two great ways to maximize your savings with InVigor.
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• InVigor Purchase Bonus Simply purchase 30 bags or more of InVigor hybrid canola to qualify for up to 15 percent savings on individual product segments. • InVigor Innovation Bonus New for 2017, purchase 30 bags or more of InVigor Pod Shatter Reduction hybrids, InVigor L140P and InVigor L233P, and save an additional 5 percent on cereal herbicide innovations Luxxur™, Infinity® FX, Velocity m3 and Varro®. he Incredible Bayer Offer T In addition to the savings from BayerValue, Western growers can also take advantage of the Incredible Bayer Offer. Save up to $2 per acre when you early book at least 1,000 acres of participating Bayer cereal herbicides by March 17, 2017. Speak to your retailer or visit cropscience.bayer.ca/BayerValue for details.
The BayerValue East Program features incentives for Eastern growers making purchases of $2,000 or more and offers additional rebates for purchases in three bundles (with a minimum of 40 acres purchased) representing compoundable savings of up to 15 percent: 1. Cereal bundle (Purchase of 1 Cereal Herbicide + 1 Cereal Fungicide) 2. Fungicide bundle (Purchase any 2 Fungicides) 3. Crop bundle (Purchase of 1 Cereal Product + 1 Corn Herbicide) Proline Bonus. Save even more when you buy any BayerValue product plus Proline® (minimum 40 acres of each). Sign up today To sign up or get more details on each of these programs, visit cropscience.bayer.ca/BayerValue or call the Bayer Rebate Fulfillment Interaction Centre at 1-888-283-6847.
Try our online rebate calculators. To determine your potential savings, visit bveastcalculator.cropscience.bayer.ca for our BayerValue East rebate calculator, or bvwestcalculator.cropscience.bayer.ca for BayerValue West.
WHAT’S NEW WITH BAYER PRODUCTS
Enter This Growing Season With Some Very Good Karma Win $20,000 towards the charity of your choice
B
ayer celebrates the 20th anniversary of InVigor in 2017. To thank growers for the last two decades of trust and support, Bayer would like to return the favour by “paying it forward.” Celebrating 20 years of innovation The InVigor Pay It Forward contest will see Bayer donate $20,000 each on behalf of three InVigor growers to the charity of their choice. If you are an InVigor grower, you can participate by completing an entry form at cropscience.bayer.ca/PayItForward. Winners — one from each prairie province — will be selected through a draw based on entries received up to the content deadline of March 1, 2017. Expressing thanks to InVigor growers “The growers who have supported InVigor over the past 20 years are truly the reason for its success and the inspiration for the ongoing creation of new hybrid innovations, as we seek to provide solutions to address your biggest cropping challenges,” says Blaine Woycheshin, marketing manager for Bayer in Canada. “The InVigor Pay It Forward program is just one small way to acknowledge this tremendous support and to express our sincerest thanks. It has been a great run and we are looking forward to many more outstanding years ahead.”
Evolution™ hybrids which launched in 2014, the track record of continual improvement goes back decades. From the introduction of LibertyLink® canola to the latest disease-resistance packages and new Pod Shatter Reduction technologies, InVigor has always been on the cutting edge.
And today the journey continues, with prospects for the future brighter than ever. “There is a lot to be excited about,” says Woycheshin. “We look forward to the opportunity to continue to work with you, our grower partners, to continue to drive new solutions to meet tomorrow’s challenges. Let’s make the next 20 years the best yet!”
Here’s to the next 20 years InVigor has come a long way — fueled by your trust and support — to become the number one seeded canola brand in Canada, with many different InVigor hybrids to meet the needs of Canadian growers. While the most recent innovations in hybrid canola technology are the
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Making Your Seed Selection Easy Good news if you're having trouble deciding which InVigor® canola hybrids you want to grow for the 2017 season — there are plenty of online resources to help you find the right fit for your farm
I
nVigorResults.ca is home to the easyto-use DST map, which allows you to compare a wide range of hybrids from annual Demonstration Strip Trials (DSTs). See how various InVigor hybrids — and the competition — are performing in your area. Whether you want to compare yield, standability, maturity or other agronomic traits, the online Hybrid Selector Tool provides comparative information between the entire lineup of highperforming InVigor hybrids. This site is also a great place to watch the InVigor 2017 Evolution™ Series Crop Tour Video, offering a virtual tour of the newest InVigor hybrid trait technologies and innovations. Find out more about the Evolution™ hybrids — including InVigor L140P, the Pod Shatter Reduction
hybrid that has shown a 4.3 percent yield increase* when straight cut versus normal swath timing — all from the comfort of your own home. Intuitive and extremely user-friendly, these online resources were designed to make your canola seed decisions as easy and convenient as possible. Good luck in 2017.
For more than just performance results, visit cropscience.bayer.ca/InVigor for other great resources. * Source: 64 Bayer Demonstration Strip Trials (2013-2015).
The 2017 Crop Production Guides: Finding New Solutions for Big Challenges
T
he focus at Bayer is simple. We want to help you succeed. To get more value and profitability from every crop. To help meet the demands of feeding a growing world. To help you produce more with less. This is why every year Bayer continues to make significant re-investments into the research and development of new breeding technologies and other stateof-the-art cropping solutions, designed to support your profitability and ensure the future sustainability of your farm. Further to this, we strive to continually improve educational materials, online tools and access to personalized agronomic support, to help you identify and optimize the best approaches for your farm. An excellent reference to see and learn
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about the latest Bayer innovations is the new 2017 Crop Production Guide. Available in convenient digital versions for Western and Eastern Canada, the 2017 guides are designed to help you get the most out of every acre. The Eastern Guide is now
available for download at cropscience.bayer.ca/CropProductionGuide — look for the Western Guide coming in February. We sincerely hope you find this resource beneficial to your operation. Here’s to a great season ahead!
WHAT’S NEW WITH BAYER PRODUCTS
Zone In on Soil and Root Health Improved soil environment helps crops reach their potential
A
re you getting the best results possible from your crop? To ensure optimal conditions for a successful growing season, farmers are increasingly adopting a stronger focus on soil and root health. Some of the most important battles your potato crop faces are waged beneath the soil surface including a range of diseases and nematodes. That’s why good soil and root health is so important to a successful crop. Improving Soil and Root Health Here are some top options available for potato growers to fight back:
Tackle nematodes with all NEW Velum Prime.
Titan® Emesto® is the number one potato seed-piece treatment in Canada, Titan Emesto offers protection you can actually see because of its unique coloured formulation. It protects against the broadest spectrum of insects — including Colorado potato beetle — plus all major seed-borne diseases including rhizoctonia, silver scurf and fusarium even current resistant strains. With five years of proven performance, potato growers across the country trust Titan Emesto to get their crop out of the ground quickly and with better yield potential.
Velum™ Prime, new for 2017, is the first and only non-fumigant nematicide registered to protect against nematodes in potatoes in Canada. It offers broad-spectrum nematicidal activity including root knot, root lesion and potato cyst nematodes and also provides the added benefit of inseason early blight protection. Simple, easy to use and applied in-furrow, its low use
rates are ideal for existing liquid in-furrow application equipment. Integrate Velum Prime into your nematode protection program today and take your potato yield to the next level. “The launch of Velum Prime in Canada provides protection against a yield robbing pest that, for many growers, didn’t have a viable solution outside of fumigants,” says Jon Weinmaster, crop and campaign marketing manager, horticulture and corn at Bayer. “Potato growers have made great advances in increasing yields and quality and this tool will help them take it a step further.”
Serenade® SOIL is a biological fungicide for use in soil applications with a broad range of vegetables, including potatoes. It protects against soil diseases like rhizoctonia and pythium, is proven to boost yields and is exempt from tolerances (no MRL or residue concerns)
so you can sell your crops into even the most restrictive markets. Commitment to continual improvement All three of these products are part of a broad effort of continual advancement that will bring more tools and innovations to help your crop reach its greatest potential. Bayer is focusing substantial resources on further understanding and improving root and soil health — an effort that includes working with other experts in the industry. The addition of Velum Prime is a great example of how this effort is already paying strong dividends. And it’s just a start — with more product and crop registrations on the way. The Bayer team is excited about not only helping you better understand root and soil health, but also providing you with the tools you need to maximize both for the best results.
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Targeting New Levels of Protection Expanding your management approach to abiotic and biotic stresses can help boost your return on investment and ward off rising threats such as pea leaf weevil and wireworms
P
ressure from pests changes every year. One of the best ways to ensure your crop is protected, regardless of the conditions that arise during the growing season, is to take advantage of Stress Shield® as an integral part of a tank mix with top seed treatments. Stress Shield offers unique advantages for your crop’s health. It allows your crop to defend itself against a range of abiotic and biotic stresses and helps you manage the spread of pests such as pea leaf weevil and wireworms.
Protection and plant health Stress Shield works by supporting the natural processes and responses of the plant, says Beth Markert, Bayer SeedGrowth™ specialist. “Plants experiencing a stressed environment, whether from pests, drought, heat or other factors, will seek to protect themselves from further injury and also initiate processes to repair damage. To do this, the plant re-dedicates energy that would have normally been used for growth and seed production, thus resulting in decreased plant health, biomass and yield.” “Stress Shield supplies a supplemental
Standing on Guard Not only a pest deterrent against pea leaf weevil and wireworms, Stress Shield insecticide seed treatment supplies your crop with a full suite of additional plant health benefits. energy pool that the plant’s internal repair and coping systems can draw on to avoid these losses. This allows the crop to achieve superior root establishment, improved vigour, larger plants and increased yield.” Neutralizing key threats Stress Shield provides effective protection against both pea leaf weevil and wireworms through two key pathways. The first is by providing this supplemental energy pool. The second pathway is through the active ingredient in Stress Shield. When these pests take a bite of the treated seed or roots, imidacloprid forces them into a comalike state, saving your crops from further damage.
Top options available to get these benefits include using Stress Shield, which is part of Trilex® EverGol® Shield for pulses and Raxil® PRO Shield for cereals. Stress Shield is also available along as a tank mix partner for Trilex EverGol. “Pea leaf weevils are such a concern because they overwinter in the same location where they fed the previous season,” says Markert. “Wireworms are equally persistent and can survive in the soil in their larva stage anywhere from 3 to 5 years. Based on what we saw last season in both pulses and cereals, growers will want to be prepared for 2017. Stress Shield offers reliable protection, along with overall plant health support, for optimal quality and yield.”
Take Advantage of the Bayer SeedGrowth Team
G
etting the most out of your seed is as simple as connecting with the Bayer SeedGrowth team — a comprehensive resource to help you optimize your seed treatment approach. The SeedGrowth team includes specialists located across Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, with the sole purpose of supporting growers and commercial seed applicators by providing:
• Integrated advice and solutions • Technical expertise on products and application • Up-to-date knowledge on best agronomic practices and opportunities to reduce risk to seed and maximize plant health
• Comprehensive support to get your crop off to the best start possible When you meet with a SeedGrowth expert, you can expect: • Stronger crop establishment • Healthier plants • Higher yield
Visit cropscience.bayer.ca/SeedGrowth for more information
cropscience.bayer.ca 1 888-283-6847 @Bayer4CropsCA Always read and follow label directions. Emesto®, EverGol®, Infinity®, InVigor®, LibertyLink®, Luxxur™, Proline®, Raxil®, SeedGrowth™, Serenade®, Stress Shield®, Titan®, Trilex®, Varro® and Velum™ are trademarks of the Bayer Group. Bayer CropScience Inc. is a member of CropLife Canada.
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FA R M FO R U M .C A / JANAURY 2017
A strong pulse. Pulse plants are most vulnerable during the seedling stage when adverse weather, diseases and insect predators can cause irreversible damage. That’s why a quality seed treatment is so important. Choose Trilex® EverGol® seed treatment for pulses to get exceptional disease control for superior crop establishment. With the addition of Stress Shield® seed treatment, you can also count on outstanding protection from insect predators like pea leaf weevils. Take your pulse crop health to a new level, because it’s not just about surviving, it’s about thriving.
Learn more at cropscience.bayer.ca/Trilex
cropscience.bayer.ca or 1 888-283-6847 or contact your Bayer representative.
@Bayer4CropsCA
Always read and follow label directions. EverGol®, SeedGrowth™, Stress Shield® and Trilex® are trademarks of the Bayer Group. Bayer CropScience Inc. is a member of CropLife Canada.
TAKE CONTROL You’ve identified volunteer canola as a weed. Now it’s time to deal with it. For control of all volunteer canola, tank mix Pardner® herbicide with your pre-season application of glyphosate. Make Pardner your first choice.
cropscience.bayer.ca
@Bayer4CropsCA
1 888-283-6847
Always read and follow label directions. Pardner® is a registered trademark of the Bayer Group. Bayer CropScience Inc. is a member of CropLife Canada.
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