Welcome to the fifth issue of Walking Your Fields ® newsletter for the 2017 growing season. On behalf of your DuPont Pioneer Agronomy team, we will be producing this newsletter on a monthly basis through to October. For more detailed agronomic information, please feel free to contact your local Pioneer Hi-Bred sales representative or check out pioneer.com/Canada. A monthly newsletter containing timely agronomic information, produced by DuPont Pioneer and provided with compliments of your Pioneer Hi-Bred sales representative. 1 Winter Grazing Beef Cattle in Western Canada 3 Clubroot Management 4 Soybean Harvest Losses September 2017 Volume 27 Issue 5 Inside this issue: Central Alberta Doug Moisey DuPont Pioneer Area Agronomist Tel: 780-645-9205 [email protected]Southern Alberta and B.C. Nicole Rasmussen DuPont Pioneer Area Agronomist Tel: 403-331-3783 [email protected]Northern Alberta and B.C. Kim Schoorlemmer DuPont Pioneer Area Agronomist Tel: 587-343-5806 [email protected]Southwestern Manitoba Derwyn Hammond DuPont Pioneer Area Agronomist Tel: 204-724-0275 [email protected]Saskatchewan Aaron Miller DuPont Pioneer Area Agronomist Tel: 306-220-5686 [email protected]Northwest Manitoba Tanis Sirski DuPont Pioneer Area Agronomist Tel: 204-572-7350 [email protected]Saskatchewan Lindsay Alberts DuPont Pioneer Area Agronomist Tel: 306-620-3535 [email protected]Eastern Manitoba Michael Weir DuPont Pioneer Area Agronomist Tel: 204-750-1305 [email protected]Winter Grazing Beef Cattle in Western Canada Historically, many producers in Western Canada have wintered their beef herd using a traditional drylot feeding system. In this type of system cows are fed stored forages, such as hay, in a corral or drylot. The winter feeding period for beef cattle in Western Canada is typically 200 d per year; therefore a large cost is associated with supplying feed nutrients to pregnant beef cows. Research has shown that harvested forage, such as hay, costs between $.02 and $.07 per pound of dry matter, which is double the cost for the same amount of nutrients from pasture. In addition, the cost of feeding bales can be 3% of the cost of harvesting the hay. This then leads to a substantial increase in cost of production per kilogram of beef for the producer. The producer will also have extra expenses related to corral cleaning, manure handling and facilities maintenance. Studies have shown that fall & winter grazing annuals can result in improved cow body Continued on page 2
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Welcome to the fifth issue of Walking Your Fields® newsletter for the 2017 growing season. On behalf of your DuPont Pioneer Agronomy team, we will be producing this
newsletter on a monthly basis through to October. For more detailed agronomic information, please feel free to contact your local Pioneer Hi-Bred sales representative or check out pioneer.com/Canada.
A monthly newsletter containing timely agronomic information, produced by DuPont Pioneer and provided with compliments of your Pioneer Hi-Bred sales representative.
Lindsay Alberts DuPont Pioneer Area Agronomist Tel: 306-620-3535 [email protected]
Eastern Manitoba Michael Weir DuPont Pioneer Area Agronomist Tel: 204-750-1305 [email protected]
Winter Grazing Beef Cattle in Western CanadaHistorically, many producers in Western Canada have
wintered their beef herd using a traditional drylot feeding
system. In this type of system cows are fed stored forages,
such as hay, in a corral or drylot. The winter feeding period
for beef cattle in Western Canada is typically 200 d per year;
therefore a large cost is associated with supplying feed
nutrients to pregnant beef cows. Research has shown that
harvested forage, such as hay, costs between $.02 and $.07
per pound of dry matter, which is double the cost for the
same amount of nutrients from pasture. In addition, the cost
of feeding bales can be 3% of the cost of harvesting the hay.
This then leads to a substantial increase in cost of production
per kilogram of beef for the producer. The producer will
also have extra expenses related to corral cleaning, manure
handling and facilities maintenance. Studies have shown that
fall & winter grazing annuals can result in improved cow body
Continued on page 2
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condition, postpone the onset of weight loss, and decrease
costs. In addition, wintering systems can have a positive
effect on nutrient cycling and soil health of the grazed land.
There are many different winter grazing systems available to
producers, including grazing standing whole plant corn.
When looking at winter grazing beef cows with standing
corn, there are a few key points to ensure success, while
maintaining cow health and increasing your bottom line.
Hybrid choice
• Choose a hybrid that is roughly 150 – 200 days longer than
your corn heat unit area. The goal is to have corn freeze
and thus be grazed at the R5 (dent) – R5.5 (1/2 milk line)
stage. Choosing a later hybrid will help ensure the crop
does not mature too much and will not produce blacklayer
corn. This will reduce issues associated with acidosis, due
to high starch accumulation in more mature corn. This will
also ensure higher palatability of the whole plant, leading to
more effective grazing and reduced residue on the field. Talk
to your Pioneer Hi-Bred sales representative to determine
which hybrid is right for your operation.
Cow history
• Remember that naïve cows will need time to adapt to a
winter grazing system. Since this is a high quality feed,
take the time to slowly adapt these cows to the grazing
system by allowing them entry to the field with full rumens,
supplying additional feed (ie., hay, green feed) and only
allowing a small grazing paddock (2-3 hours of grazing).
• Know and manage the cow age by limiting winter grazing to
your main cow herd. Older or younger cows may not be able
to graze as effectively as the main cow herd.
Grazing management & monitoring
• To eliminate the risk of acidosis and founder, make sure to
manage and monitor the grazing cows closely.
• Limit graze the animals on a 2-3 day rotation. This will
ensure they have access to new feed every 2-3 days for
proper nutrition, but will also ensure they clean up the stalk/
stover of the crop to limit residue.
• Ensure good, clean, adequate water supply.
• Ensure a proper mineral package is provided (2:1 Ca/P ratio,
trace mineral and salt).
Input costs for grazing corn can differ depending on commodity
prices, however they may range from $195 - $220 per acre.
Although this is significantly higher than input costs for other
types of grazing. Research has shown that winter grazing corn
can decrease overall feeding costs. Cost for grazing cows,
including yardage may range from $.70 – 1.40 per day, which is
substantially lower than feeding stored forages.
Winter Grazing Beef Cattle in Western CanadaContinued from page 1
Photo credit: Greg Hill
Photo credit: Greg Hill
References:
Kallenbach, Robert. 2000. Reducing losses when feeding hay to beef cattle. University of Missouri Extension. Accessible: http://muextension.missouri.edu/explore/agguides/crops/g4570.htm
Lardner, H.A. 2005. Winter feeding beef cows – managing manure nutrients. Western Beef Development Center Factsheet. #2005 – 02. 4 pp.
Mathison, G.W. 1993. The beef industry. In: J. Martins et al. (ed.) Animal Production in Canada. Univ. Faculty of Ext., Univ. of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada. ISBN 0-55091-019-1. pp. 34-75.
Volesky, J.D., Adams, D.C., and Clark, R.T. 2002. Windrow grazing and baled-hay feeding strategies for wintering calves. J. Range. Manage. 55:23-32.
Willms, W.D., Rode, L.M., and Freeze, B.S. 1993. Winter performance of Herford cows on fescue prairie and in drylot as influenced by fall grazing Can. J. Anim. Sci. 73: 881-889.
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CLUBROOT MANAGEMENT
IN CANOLA
Consult with your Pioneer Hi-Bred sales representative to build a plan for your fi elds.
PREVENT INFESTATION• Avoid infection every year with each crop through good stewardship practices
• Clean and disinfect equipment, vehicles and boots• Practice soil conservation to reduce soil movement• Avoid use of straw, hay, green feed, silage
and manure from infested or suspect areas• Avoid use of seed of any crop (for example wheat seed)
harvested from infected fi eld• Keep host weeds in check
PRACTICE ROTATION• Rotate crops to manage spore loads – the longer the rotation the better• Scout fi elds regularly and carefully
PROTECT FIELDS• Plant Clubroot resistant canola - Pioneer® hybrids with the Pioneer Protector® clubroot resistance trait in both infected and clean fi elds
Consult with your Pioneer Hi-Bred sales representativeto build a plan for your fields.
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When harvest is delayed, a number of potential losses may occur,
including increased tendency to shatter. Soybeans at harvest
stage lose and re-absorb moisture readily, and after several
such cycles of wetting and drying, are predisposed to shatter. In
addition, delayed harvest often results in losses from increased
lodging and reduced grain quality.
Research on Field Losses Due To Harvest Delays
A study conducted at the University of Wisconsin investigated the
effects of delayed harvest on soybean field losses Two varieties from
each of three maturity groups were grown in each of three years at
Arlington, Wisconsin. Initial harvest for each maturity group began 3
to 7 days beyond the R8 stage (full maturity). Other plots were left in
the field for periods of 2, 4 and 6 weeks beyond the first harvest date.
Yield losses as a percent of total yield are shown below:
Table 1. Effect of harvest delay on soybean field losses.
Harvest Delay Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4% yield lost
Yield loss was greatly affected by year. In year 1, field losses after
2 to 6 weeks of harvest delay were only slightly higher than normal
field losses with no delay. But losses due to harvest delay in both
years 2 and 3 were over twice that of year 1. Losses increased with
weeks of delay in all years tested.
Preharvest, shatter and stem losses increased with harvest delays,
but stubble and threshing losses remained constant across delays.
Gathering unit losses accounted for 60% of total losses.
Monitoring Harvest Losses
Four soybeans in a one-foot square area are equal to a one-
bushel loss per acre. Harvest losses should be checked in front of
the combine, behind the header, and in back of the combine to
pinpoint causes of loss. Ag engineers suggest checking losses in a
rectangular area across the entire width of the harvest swath. A ten
square foot rectangle is suggested as a standard size. 40 soybeans
in a 10 square foot area translates into a one bushel per acre loss.
A 10-square foot frame can be built out of rope, with small metal
stakes (heavy wire or nails) at the corners to insert into the ground.
Minimizing soybean harvest losses can mean substantially higher
yields and profits. Extension ag engineers suggest that good
harvest practices can reduce losses to near 3%, or only one
to two bu/acre. However, delayed harvest or poorly adjusted
equipment can result in losses of 10% or more. Since soybeans
dry very quickly, close monitoring of grain moisture is required for
timely harvest. In addition, combines must be properly adjusted,
frequently checked and carefully operated to minimize losses.
Timely Harvest of Soybeans Important
Soybeans should be harvested the first time they reach 13-14%
moisture. Moistures above 13% incur a price discount, but
moistures below 13% result in less weight at the elevator. The
loss of saleable weight can be more substantial than typical price
discounts for wetter grain, so growers should avoid delivering
overdry soybeans. In addition to lost income, harvest losses are also
increased when soybeans are harvested too dry.
Soybeans dry very quickly after reaching maturity. At physiological
maturity (R7), grain moisture is over 50%, but a harvestable
moisture of near 13% can be reached in as little as two weeks
under good drying conditions. In order to time harvest perfectly,
it is necessary to monitor soybean drying very closely. At full
maturity (R8), 95% of pods have reached their mature pod color.
From this point, only 5 to 10 good drying days are needed before
harvest. Begin checking grain moisture before all the leaves
have dropped off all the plants, since various stresses can cause
soybeans to retain some leaves. It is not uncommon to see a few
green leaves and stems on some plants after the pods are fully
ripe and the soybeans are dry enough for harvest.
Reducing Harvest Losses in Soybeans
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the cut-height. Other losses occur due to improper threshing and
separation at the cylinder and screens. Harvesting losses can be
minimized with proper maintenance and adjustment:
• Be sure knife sections and ledger plates are sharp, and
that wear plates, hold-down clips, and guards are properly
adjusted. Chains and bearings should be properly lubricated,
and belts tight.
• Proper reel speed in relation to ground speed will reduce
gathering losses. Shatter increases if the reel turns too fast;
stalks may be dropped if the reel turns too slow. Use a reel
speed about 25% faster than ground speed.
• The reel axle should be 6 to 12 inches ahead of the sickle in most
cases. Operate a bat reel just low enough to tip cut stalks onto
the platform. The tips of the fingers on a pickup reel should clear
the cutterbar by about two inches.
• Cut soybeans as low as possible to minimize stubble losses.
Excessive stubble heights can result in significant losses, as
shown in the following table:
Height of Cut % Loss0 inches (hand-harvested) 0%
3.5 inches 5.4%5.0 inches 9.4%6.5 inches 12.2%
Source: Iowa State University
• Adjust the rotor- or cylinder-concave clearance according to
your operator’s manual. Then adjust rotor or cylinder speed for
threshing conditions. Generally, operate the rotor or cylinder
at the lowest speeds that effectively thresh the soybeans.
When beans are tough, rotor or cylinder speed may have to be
increased. Decrease rotor or cylinder speed as beans dry to
reduce breakage.
• Keep forward speed at about three miles per hour for most
combines. Slow down for uneven soil surface or other abnormal
conditions.
• Stubble losses can also be reduced by planting and cultivating
practices. Height of lowest pods is increased by growing soybeans
in narrow rows or by higher plant populations within the row.
References
Pedersen, P. 2006. Combine setting for minimum harvest loss. Soybean Extension and Research Program, Iowa State U. Online: http://extension.agron.iastate.edu/soybean/production_combineset.html
Philbrook, B.D. and E.S. Oplinger. 1986. Soybean field losses as influenced by harvest delays. Agron. J. 81:251-258.
The length of the frame should be the width of the combine header.
The width of the frame needed to equal 10 square feet of area is
shown below:
Width of Combine Header (Length of Rope Frame) Width of Rope Frame