The New Crop is Growing!

After a very long winter, spring tentatively arrived.  The record winter snow melted into the seedbed, but dry conditions followed.  A high percentage of the land was seeded before any rainfall; towards the end of this dry period, it was questionable whether there was enough moisture to germinate the crop seeded at this point.  Rain came shortly after thankfully before the dryness caused too much damage.

There are variations of well-seeded crops for the standard reasons: timing of seeding, as mentioned above; seeded too deep; to dry; uneven ground; trouble on hilltops; disease; wireworms and fertilizer burn.  Since then, we've had an overabundance of moisture, but luckily not excessive on our farm.  More fertilizer per acre was used on our farm than ever before on Wheat, durum & canola crops. 

For over a month, producers have been focussed on weed control.  It didn't all happen at once.  Usually the pulse acres undergo weed control first, followed by canola then cereal crops.  This year, it has been all across the board.  In fact, to this day, producers are still spraying their late seeded canola or cereal crops.  We can say that pulse weed control spraying is complete.

Those early seeded canola crops - they are ready for fungicide!  One season following another...I took pictures of the most advanced field of canola.  It was in the 10% bloom stage.  Here we go.  Don't shut the sprayers down yet! 

A short supply of all fungicides is looming.  The producers who recognize the benefits of these products have begun to stockpile, to make sure there's enough for their intended acres.  Early seeded crops will be treated first; late seeded may not get treatment as products just won't be available.