So, How is your crop coming along? Once again, this is the favorite topic of conversation in rural communities. And then we "get into it".
If you are a newcomer into the world of direct seeding, you are probably out there walking the fields just like everyone else, so really, nothing has changed much has it? Or has it? Depending on the job of weed burndown prior to seeding and if you didn't scrimp, (you didn't, did you), you are probably not feeling all that pressed to get spraying done, because you still have reasonably clean fields. You still have the second chance to go out and control the remainder of the weeds that come at the same time as the crop, which is about now.
Spring seemed to be rather a shortened affair this year, what
with cool conditions existing over much of the prairies, and some
of the areas under a wet regime, leading to later than normal
seeding dates. It's interesting to drive around the country a bit
and compare crops right now and see the difference between
conventionally seeded crops and direct seeded ones. Conventional
crops tend to be seeded just a little deeper than direct seeded
and therefor are a little later emerging. Experienced direct
seeders could adjust the depth to a shallower level. Providing
they traveled at the proper speed (you didn't go 6 or 7 miles per
hour did you?) the crops came up very quickly and have a nice
even appearance over the whole field. And That's A Nice
Feeling, especially if you own one of those crops.
Seeding Rates
One other noticeable difference this year are the direct
seeded crops that were seeded at slightly higher rates. Heavier
seeding rates (1 2/3 bushels versus 1 1/4 bushels previous)
increases the proportion of main stems and first tillers in the
crop which results in higher yields. There is scientific evidence
to prove this and just now, serious direct seeders can began to
take advantage of the situation. Under ideal growing conditions
(good moisture and fertility), about 87 to 90% of the yield of
cereals in this part of the world originate from the main stem
and the first tiller, with the remainder of the yield coming from
subsequent tillers. A lot of years, there are gaps in one of
those required conditions and we see less than record yields. As
we all know, direct seeding provides extra moisture for the
growing crop by residue management, low disturbance of the soil
and good crop rotation. Barley is the exception, because of it's
extensive root growing capacity. Barley depends more than wheat
on the extra tillers for the extra yield, but still responds to
moisture and nutrients. However, experienced direct seeders still
tell us that heavier seeding rates for barley pay.
Openers
Manufacturers are still working on "The Perfect Opener", that will work in all conditions , and judging from the appearance of some fields this spring, the emergence factor still requires some perfecting. Plugged fertilizer or seed runs are easily seen from the roadside and stay there as reminders that we should have looked back more often, or at least taken the time to stop and unplug. Ah well, Next year. One ingenious farmer went to the local hockey rink and gathered up all the broken sticks from the winter, went home and painted them white and placed them in his field (The one right next to the highway) to mark out the misses, prompting many of his neighbors to ask what sort of a trial he was conducting in his field.
Direct Seeders -- Be Proud is how you should be feeling after the tremendously rapid rate the crop was placed in the ground when conditions were finally good or at least somewhat workable. If a large part of the province had been seeded with the traditional or conventional methods of more than one pass , there would have been even more delays in placing the seed in the ground. Direct Seeding works.
The one pass method allowed the acreage to move from a 30% of the total crop seeded at one point to over 90% seeded in as little as one weeks time. Conventional seeding would not have made that possible unless everyone seeded on a 24 hour basis. We are setting up for a great looking crop, lets hope we can pull it off to take advantage of those favorable prices expected in the fall. Tell your friends what a great direct seeded crop you have coming, or even better, put a few of them into the pickup and travel around to show them. You can contact your local regional soil conservationist with the SSCA and they will probably help you organize and conduct the tour. Watch for a tour near you.