FERTILIZER BURN - SOMETHING THAT CAN BE AVOIDED
Fertilizer burn occurs every year to some extent.Experience has taught me that once the combined broadcast application of ammonia from urea and the salts of potash exceed 200lb/ acre on sandy loam soils fertilizer burn can become a reality.Once combined levels exceed 220lb/acre on sandy loams and soils remain dry for any extended period the severity of burn will increase.Over 240 lb/acre of the two combined and you're in for BIG TIME BURN.Add a liquid pop-up fertilizer to the mix and you are adding insult to injury.Even heavy manure applications on sandy soils can lead to fertilizer burn.The best way to confirm fertilizer burn from salts is to take cores of soil 2 inches deep right through plants suspected of burning from salt injury.
A simple laboratory test will corfirm your suspicions.

You can be 99.9% certain that fertilzer burn has occurred when you dig up plants like those shown on the right side of the above photo and you see NO RADICLES.
When radicles are missing or appear as blackened tips its a strong tell tale sign that they were burnt from too much ammonia and salt injury.

The surest means of avoiding fertilizer burn is to split your potash and N fertilizer applications.Of course you should never exceed 10 lb of N + K in a liquid pop-up on the seed and you should never exceed 70 lb of N + K in a 2 x 2 band.

CRITICAL WEED FREE PERIOD IS 3 - 8 LEAF CORN
The above photo is meant to depict a light weed infestation.Though this corn is approaching the Critical 3 leaf stage there is no urgency here to need to apply Glyphosate or a tank mix partner.Research will show that when weed pressures are light applications can be made by the 4th or 5th leaf and yields will not be suppressed
The above photo is meant to depict an average weed pressure.In this case weeds are more prevalent and the potential for them suppressing yield is very real.Though these weeds are very small they still represent a competitive factor to small 3 leaf corn plants.Glyphosate and any tank mix partner should be applied immediately to avoid possible yield loss due to their presence.In this case because weed pressures are heavier and the crop very small a residual tank mix partner would be recommended.
The above photo is meant to depict a very high weed pressure.With weed pressures this high the grower may have been better off applying a pre -emergent residual spray and then waiting to the 6-7th leaf stage of corn to apply glyphosate as a final spray application.This grower should have already applied his glyphosate and tank mix residual partner.YIELD OPPORTUNITY IN THIS CASE HAS ALREADY BEEN JEOPARDIZED.

NEARLY 100% RECOVERY EXPECTED FROM MONDAY MAY 10ths FROST
Growers across SW Ontario have been expressing concern over their corns recovery from Mays early freeze.They are finding a number of plants that are having a difficult time of unfurling their leaves and expressing a hooked candycane apperance much like that shown in the above photo.I have had to reassure many a grower that they have NO REASON to worry.Their crops are still actively growing and getting bigger day by day.Plants that express this shepherds hook will eventually break free with Little to NO YIELD LOSS expected.
Just to give you an idea of the type of recovery that you can expect I purposely untangled the corn leaves of the two plants shown in the first photo above and I then took a picture of them untangled.
I think you'll agree that you have a much different perspective of how you'd expect the two plants in the photo above to perform as compared to the two plants in the first photo above.Fact is they are the same two plants.I just speeded up what the recovery will look like by untangling their leaves.HANG IN THERE - THIS YEARS EARLY PLANTED CORN CROP HAS A LOT OF YIELD POTENTIAL BEHIND IT !

ONTARIO's ALFALFA HARVEST BEGINS IN EARNEST
Alfalfa silage harvest began in earnest this past week across SW Ontario.This is roughly a week ahead of normal.Though to put up high quality ALFALFA SILAGE with 20% protein ,30% ADF and 40% NDF digestibility scores requires harvesting at between the bud stage and first flower.

Both photos above were taken on Wed May 19 on farms loacted between Mt Elgin and Norwich Ontario.Pioneer will be releasing 2 new alfalfa varieties for Ontario forage producers this year.Current Pioneer favourites for putting up BIG TONNES of high quality alflafa silage are Pioneer brand 55V48 and 54V46.Both are intensively managed
alfalfas that will allow 3-4 cuttings per year.

ONTARIO's WHEAT CROP 7-10 Days Ahead of Normal

The maturation of the 2010 Ontario wheat crop is running 7-10 days ahead of normal.The overly warm month of April is responsible for making this occur.Most of the SW Ontario wheat crop will head over the next week.Much of Essex and Kent Countys' crop is already in head.It generally takes 6 weeks from heading to when combines start rolling.The above photo was taken Wed May 19 just west of Ridgetown.
Average to just slightly above average yields are expected.

PIONEER WHEAT VARIETIES LOOKING GOOD IN 2010

The newest Pioneer soft red winter wheat variety is Pioneer brand 25R39.This is an awnless soft red with the highest yield potential that has ever been released from Pioneers' breeding program for Ontario producers.25R39 is the tallest and latest to head of Pioneers' soft red winter wheat varieties.For growers wanting TOP YIELDS and more straw 25R39 is the one to beat.
Pioneer brand 25R56 is an awnless soft red that grows shorter than 25R39.For growers not wanting a lot of straw Pioneer 25R56 would make an ideal choice.Experience has shown that 25R56 has a tendency to have a very fast drydown.As wheat varieties approach their maturity 25R56 may not appear be as mature but in a very few short days it will dry down faster and be one of the first soft reds ready to combine.

Because of its fast drydown 25R56 has a bit of a tendency for some pieces of its head spike to appear in its harvested grain.Though this may seem unsightly at first it has never been a problem in 25R56 receiving grade 2 wheat status.

Another comment that has been fed back to us is that 25R56 has a tendency to thresh harder than our other soft red winter wheat varieties.Despite these comments one cannot overlook the fact that 25R56 is one of the highest yielding soft red winter wheats in the marketplace today if not the highest.

OLD FAITHFUL as she is called ! Pioneer brand 25R47 has long been a standing favourite of the Ontario farm marketplace.Probably no soft red winter wheat has ever been grown on more acres in its lifespan than 25R47.It just continues to deliver strong stable consistent yields year after year.People grow it because they like it and they can count on it.
You can put the combine on automatic pilot with this one.
The above photo taken just west of Ridgetown Ontario shows a nice plot of Pioneer soft red winter wheat varieties.( Double click on the photo to gain a close up )
Pioneer brand 25R51 is an awned soft red winter wheat.The key attribute that 25R51 brings to the Ontario marketplace is its FUSARIUM HEADBLIGHT RESISTANCE.

With the continual worry that growers express over the potential downgrading of their wheat I'm rather surprised that more growers don't take advantage of this varieties strength.

I have long expressed that if growers were to grow 25% of their acres to Pioneer brand 25R51 they would never have no worry over achieving grade 2 wheat status.

Pioneer brand 25R51 will be the first Pioneer wheat ready to harvest in July.Storing 25R51 in a separate BIN would allow growers to blend their 25R51 with any other Pioneer soft red wheat variety that might express some fusarium headblight ( or tombsone kernels ) in a BAD FUSARIUM HEADBLIGHT YEAR.

I only suggest growing 25R51 on 25-30% of ones acres as the variety does express a 3-4 bu per acre yield drag from other Pioneer soft red winter wheat varieties.On the other hand Pioneer brand 25R51 offers a significant yield advantage over companies Fusarium tolerant winter wheat varieties.

GROWERS HAVE OPPORTUNITY TODAY TO ENHANCE YIELDS WITH HIGHER PLANT POPULATIONS

Many growers today are not realizing the full yield potential that todays newer hybrids are capable of delivering.Todays hybrids have the unique capability of being able to deliver more yield through higher plant populations.Improved disease tolerance, stalk strength,silking strength,drought tolerance,herbicide tolerance and corn borer resistance have all paved the way to allow todays hybrids to deliver more harvestable grain yield when seeded at higher seeding rates.Growers have the ability to take advantage of this opportunity but they will first have to adjust their seeding rates upward if they are to ever realize it.The photo above shows the spatial distribution of a hybrids population when dropped at 32,000 seeds per acre.All Pioneer hybrids will respond favourably to this seed drop.( Double Click on these photos to make closer observations )

Growers dropping 32,000 seeds per acre, like that shown in the above photo, will likely end up with FINAL stands near 30,000.One has to remember that the average warm germ over a multiplicity of seed lots will be 96%.On top of that growers will generally lose another 2%.( 32,000 seed drop with a 6% plant stand loss equates to a FINAL STAND of 30,080.One can generally expect to see FINAL PLANT SEEDS of roughly 2,000 per acre less than what one seeds )

There are a number of Pioneer hybrids that will respond even more favourably when dropped at a 35-36,000 seed drop.These tend to be more determinate ear sized hybrids.

Increasing plant population to 35,000 seed drop should be relegated to your more productive farms that have historical farm averages of 150+ bu per acre. It goes without saying that achieving improved yields with dropping higher plant populations requires the application of good farm management skills.

Pioneer agronomy science researchers have evaluated all Pioneer hybrids for their yield responsivity to increased plant population.You can find this info by accessing Pioneers growing point website or by asking your Pioneer sales rep.

On choice soils of 190 + bu /acre capability there may be even more opportunity to capture more yield from some Pioneer hybrids when dropped at 37,000 seeds per acre.Seed drops of this magnitude are not for every farm or every farm manager.Be sure to do yourself a favour this coming year.At least make a committment to start assessing the extra yield potential that Pioneer hybrids can deliver you by evaluating higher seeding rates on your farm.

The above corn and soybeans were planted on a farm just south of Parkhill within a couple of days of each other.The corn was planted just ahead of the soybeans.The photo was taken on Monday afternoon May 17.

CORN RECOVERING NICELY FROM MONDAY MAY 10ths FREEZE
Some growers have questioned whether corn will be able to make a full recovery from the frost of May 10.Many fields show the new leaves pushing up but being caught or entangled with the older frozen plant tissue like that shown in the above and below photos.PLEASE BE ASSURED THAT THIS WILL POSE NO THREAT TO CORN BEING ABLE TO EVENTUALLY BREAK FREE AND GROW ON IN A NORMAL MANNER.
THERE IS NO REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THERE WILL BE ANY DELETERIOUS CONSEQUENCES FROM MONDAY MAY 10ths FREEZE.FACT IS THE HIGH YIELD PROSPECTS FOR THIS YEARS EARLY PLANTED APRIL CROP ARE EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD !

PROSPECTS OF CORN RECOVERY LOOK GOOD! FARMERS AND SALES REPS BREATHE SIGH OF RELIEF

48 hours in a WARM growth chamber shows clearly that recovery is well on its way for the plants in the above photo that were hard hot by Mondays freeze.These are the same plants that are shown in the first photo of Wed May 12th's blog posting.
This shot shows the recovery of the plants shown in the second photo of Wed May 12th's blog posting.Though these plants were never in question they were placed in the same growth chamber just to have a comparison check to the plants that were hit hard by frost.
The above photo comes from a sandy loam farm in the Strathroy area.This field was planted on April 20th and had reached the 3 leaf stage when hit by Mondays freeze.As you can see the new green growth at the soil line is giving indication that this crop is on its way to recovery.DOUBLE CLICK ON THE PHOTO TO SEE A BETTER CLOSE-UP.I am very hopeful now after viewing several fields on Friday afternoon that frost recovery for most fields will be excellent and very few fields will need any replanting.I did find some plants on some sharp sand knolls showing no sign of recovery but these were limited.With the early planting date on this years crop OVERALL YIELD POTENTIALS STILL REMAIN EXCELLENT.

There are two management tips that still need to be taking into consideration. Herbicide applications should be delayed until plants have regained some growth momentum or at least one to two new true leaves.The last thing you want to do is place an additional stress on the plant right now.The other management tip is to remember that the crop will behave physiologically like it had developed the two leaves it lost from the frost.You need to keep this in mind when reaching the upper limit of growth for certain herbicides.Also remember that sidedressing is best completed with 6 true leaf corn.That means 6 true leaf corn will be reached with 4 true leaves showing on this crop - thats if you were at the 2 leaf stage when your crop froze.

CORN CROPS RECOVERY DEPENDANT ON SUN and HEAT
Many growers have been questioning the viability of their plant stands.To help get a better handle on this a number of poor looking plants, shown above, were placed in a Pioneer growth chamber today to determine their recovery potential.Results should be known within 48 hrs.
The above set of healthier looking corn plants, taken from the same field as the first photo of poor looking plants, were also placed into a Pioneer growth chamber today.We will keep you posted on the results of these comparisons.
So much of the crops potential for recovery now lies in the balance of how much sun and heat we can expect to receive over the next 72 hours.Detrimental soil fungal pathogen activity is favoured by cool wet soil conditions whereas a return to favourable plant growth will be a function of the amount of sun and heat we receive.Even the couple of hours of sunshine received this evening has had its benefits in reinitiating some new plant growth as shown by the new green tissue at the base of the above plant.
The above photo also provides one with a ray of hope with the evidence of new green plant tissue pushing up from the soil line.

WIDESPREAD FROST HITS THE SW ONTARIO CORN CROP IN THE EARLY HOURS OF MONDAY MORNING MAY 10
Growers woke up Monday morning May 10 to frozen corn.Temperatures at sundown Sunday May 9 were approaching the freezing mark.By 3:00AM temperatures had dipped to -4.4C near the London airport. Recorded lows at the soil line reached -5.9C. By 6:00AM temperatures ranged from -2C in the Hamilton, Brantford and London area to -1C at Dresden Ridgetown and Chatham.By 10:00AM most emerged corn was taking on a limp darkened watery black-green appearanace much like that shown in the photo above.
Many factors are involved in how frost interacts with the crop.Planting depth,soil texture,residues, soil moisture reserves,topography and the geographical lay of the land can all have some degree of influence.Double click on the photo above to see more clearly how the two plants on the right are both frozen while the plant to the left is not.
Experience has taught us that the best way to diagnose frost injury is to give the crop an opportunity to respond to further growth.This means usually giving the crop 3-5 days before making any final assessments.Emerged to 2 leaf corn is more apt to bounce back favourably from an early season frost than corn that is in the 3 - 4 leaf stage.There are 2 reasons for this.First there is less dead plant tissue for the new emerging growth to push up through and secondly with 3-4 leaf corn the starch reserves of the seed have become pretty much exhausted.The first 4 leaves are in the seed and the endosperm starch of the kernel acts as the energy source to fuel the growth and development in the emergence of these first 4 leaves.If these leaves succcumb to frost the plants only reserves for initiating further growth are those in the mesocotyl.
New fresh green tissue rising up from the soil line like that shown in the above photo is ones surest indication that the plant is still alive and beginning to regrow.

SW ONTARIO PIONEER REPS ARE CONDUCTING OVER 160 PRODUCT ADVANCEMENT TRIALS ( PAT TRIALS) IN 2010

Pioneer sales reps are heavily involved in the evaluation process of potential new Pioneer products for the Onatrio farm marketplace.By planting and weighing on farm Pioneer PAT trials Pioneer reps contribute a substantial amount of data that aids in the potential advancement of New corn hybrids and soybean varieties for Ontario farmers.

Every year Pioneer hires an Agronomy Intern to help assist in the planting and data collection that comes from Pioneers extensive on farm PAT trial program.This years Agronomy Intern is Bruce Betzner who hails from Lynden Ontario located close to Hamilton.Bruce is the son of Pioneer sales Rep Joe Betzner.Bruce will help Pioneer sales reps plant and evaluate the performance of potential new Pioneer products in a geography that covers from Grandbend to Hamilton down to Niagara Falls and back along Lake Erie to Detroit.

PAT SEED is organized ahead of planting by clearly numbering each product for its respective turn to be planted.
When Bruce is unable to reach a Pioneer Sales Reps location others in the reps family will often pitch in to help make the planting process go smoothly.In the case above Megan Tyhurst daughter of Tom Tyhurst near Dresden,Ontario can be seen pitching in a hand.
Instead of removing planter boxes between each products fill-up some reps have streamlined their planting process by utilizing a shop vac and a portable generator.This has certainly made the job of planting a lot of PAT hybrids much easier and more time efficient.Brad Gawley can be seen above vacuuming out one of Tom Tyhurst planter units while his daughter Megan can be seen in the background retrieving a sample bag of a new PAT entry for the next planting.
Megan can be seen above pouring seed of a NEW PAT ENTRY in one of the hoppers of her dads planter.
Of course making sure that each plot gets properly recorded and staked is of fundamental importance in the entire plot planting process.The staked hybrid shown in the foreground is a unique new PAT ENTRY in that it is one of the first Pioneer hybrids to ever be evaluated for it dual-mode-of-action for corn borer control.This is a compliance requirement of the CFIA ( Canadian Food Inspection Agency )in order for companies to be able to reduce their percentage of Corn Borer Refugia requirement.X03A139YHR offers 2 modes of action for corn borer protection.

PIONEER ALFALFA - AS GOOD AS ALFALFA GETS !
In early April growers were busy preparing and seeding this years alfalfa crop.Fine firm seedbeds are the order of the day in establishing good alfalfa stands.A fine firm seedbed helps both seat the seed at the right depth and holds moisture for uniform early germination.Ideal seding depths are between 1/4 and 1/2 inch.The number one reason for poor stand establishment in alfalfa is seeding TOO DEEP.You can't beat cultipacking a field both before and after seeding like that shown above and below.

Alfalfa is best seeded on well drained friable soils.Hard pan soggy soils are no place for alfalfa.To grow persistent stands that will produce 5 tonne of dry matter per acre you will need to keep soil PH's above 6.5.Alflafa is a heavy feeder of Calcium and magnesium.Nearly 30 lb of Calcium is removed per tonne and nearly 10 lb of Magnesium.High Soil Phosphorus and potash levels are also required as close to 15 lbs of P205 and 50 lbs of K20 are removed per tonne of dry matter produced.

Alfalfa is best seeded at somewhere between 16 and 20 lb per acre.Higher seeding rates will provide higher leaf to stem ratios in the initial seeding year which is the preference of many high producing dairy herds.The addition of 2-3 lb of a grass like timothy is sometimes preferred by producers putting up baled hay as the grass will help in the drying process.Double click on the above photo and you will see how these young alfalfa seedlings are progressing.








Many of last years seedings look strong like that shown here.Growth has been exceptionally strong this spring and first cut yields of last years seedings look like they could be exceptional.

First cut harvest could start as early as the last week of May for those producers taking cuts at 1/10 bloom.Pioneer provides alfalfa varieties that will cover the entire spectrum of growers needs.Pioneer brand 55V48 and 54V46 are exceptionally high yielding varieties bred for the intensive alfalfa manager who prefers to harvest 3-4 cuts of big tonnage high quality alflafa silage per year.
Pioneer brand 53Q30 and 54Q25 can be used for producing good high tonnage alfalfa silage but are best positioned with growers preferring to put up high quality alflafa hay.For producers in need of a Leafhopper resistant variety Pioneer offers Pioneer brand 54H91.