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How do the big weather changes of the last week affect combining?
Cooler, more humid conditions right across the Prairies and rain in many regions will significantly impact how straw flows through the harvester. Re-check combine settings (here’s how) and harvest losses (here’s how). Always allow adequate time after rain for drying. Patience pays, as one hot spot in a bin can destroy the whole lot. (Harvest loss calculator) (13 tips from Combine College)
How to make best seed choices for 2025?
It’s time to think about seed selection for next year. Now that some canola is in the bin and can provide a ‘report card’ on this year’s season, ask: what went right and what could have gone better? When selecting seed for next year, prioritize managing your most costly yield robbers. Avoiding yield loss will have more impact on final returns than choosing a variety that offers an extra percent or two of yield potential. Optimize seed selection based on each field’s specific challenges, and choose multiple cultivars to spread risk across a farm. This fundamentals article outlines the seed selection ‘decision tree’, including a step-by-step guide to prioritizing traits. (Seed traits: what are the standards?)
How to support next year’s soil fertility this fall?
Soil sample: Microbes will slow their use of soil nutrients when soil temperature drop below 10°C. Wait to fall soil sample until the soil has cooled so fall samples more closely reflect nutrient levels that will be available to plants in the spring. Even very flat fields may have variable fertility due to variation in previous crops’ uptake, variability in subsoil depths and slight topography changes. Correlate soil sample locations to yield monitor data. (Soil sampling: timing, technique, interpretation)
If fall-applying nitrogen: Use fall soil sample results or, if results aren’t available, review these uptake and removal charts to estimate carry over or deficit of nutrients based on this spring/summer’s fertilizer application rates. Wait to apply nitrogen until after the soil has cooled (but before it freezes) to reduce the risk of banded fertilizer losses. Use an enhanced efficiency product, such as a nitrification inhibitor, especially in any fields where fertilizer is applied to warmer soil.
How to set up fields now for success next year?
Control weeds — yes!
Preserve soil moisture and reduce spring weed pressure via fall weed control. Before applying fall herbicide, ask: have perennial weeds regrown enough post-harvest to allow good control? If winter annuals are a primary target, have enough reached the rosette stage that allows best weed control? Should you be layering products? Is herbicide residue a concern (how will products break down over winter)? (When to spray fall weeds)
Manage crop residue — yes
Residue management should be done as early as possible in fall. While thinking about residue, send canola stem samples away for pathogen testing. Cut cereal stubble may be starting to re-grow: balance the benefit of snow capture against the challenges longer stubble will bring at seeding. (Manage residue with the combine alone) (Residue management for a strong spring)
Fall tillage of unproductive areas — no
Harrowing or disking headlands, sloughs and unproductive areas offers little benefit but can carry significant cost in manhours, diesel, erosion (especially of gullies), disease spread (especially clubroot), and weed seed distribution (especially wild oats). Some use tillage to control foxtail barley but seeding to perennials is a better option. (Consider tillage wisely)