Bourgault Metering Guidelines for Nodulator® Solid Core Granules

Posted on by
Reply

Granular inoculants including solid core granules typically have low application rates in addition to a low bulk density. This makes granular inoculants different than many other products applied through an air seeder. We have compiled the following metering guidelines from Bourgault to assist growers when applying solid core granules:

Bourgault 2000, 3000, 4000 series tanks
• These models use a quick change sprocket to vary the speed of the auger and the rate – if the operator is not able to set the rate low enough with the sprocket that they have – reduce the “cultivator sizing sprocket” this will slow the overall speed of the main drive and reduce the application rate.

Bourgault 5000,6000 series tanks (variable speed transmission)
• When conducting an initial calibration a transmission setting of between 13 and 26 in low range is appropriate. Actual setting will depend on application rate of product.
• If the operator is at the lowest end of the setting (below 10) after inputting calibration number from initial calibration, increase the drive ratio on the range sprockets to again reduce the speed the auger can be turned therefore requiring transmission to be set at a higher speed. Optimal transmission setting is between 30-50 however between 15 and 85 is acceptable for smooth operation.

Bourgault 7000 series tanks (hydraulic drive)
• The calibration number for the low output auger for solid core granules is 0.065 lbs per revolution.
• These units have the PDM Pro metering augers that have a UHMW flighting and UHMW lined housing – an ultra-low rate auger will be available in this configuration allowing for low rates to be easily obtained.

For further information, contact your local Bourgault dealer.

CNH (Flexicoil) Roller Selection for Granular Inoculants

Posted on by
Reply

Granular inoculants are not directly listed on the CNH meter roller selection chart. As a result, growers must find the most similar
product(s) and use that roller selection as a starting point. When using a granular inoculant the standard recommendation is that the extra-fine, low clearance roller should be used based on the most similar product listed on the chart – canola – also uses this roller.

If growers are having difficulty metering low enough with the extra-fine, low clearance roller, changing to the extra-fine segmented roller may help. This roller is not a standard roller but is available through your local dealer (part # 22737). Keep in mind, you must pay close attention to their air velocities to avoid blow by (don’t exceed 2500 air velocity for tanks with inoculants).

For further information, contact your local CNH dealer.

Revised Seed Plate Recommendation from Morris for Nodulator® Brand Solid Core Inoculants

Posted on by
Reply

Growers using any Morris 8000 series air seeder to apply Nodulator® Solid Core Granules (Nodulator® XL Solid Core Granules for peas and lentils as well as Nodulator® Solid Core Granules for chickpeas) should be aware that there has been a revision to the recommended seed plate setting for these granules.  The correct seed plate recommendation is MEDIUM and NOT the FINE.  If you have the newer plastic seed plates vs the older stainless steel version, the correct plastic seed plate to use will be orange in color.

Air Carts manufactured in 2011 and later indicate the correct setting.  Air carts manufactured in years prior to 2011 will not have the revised metering setting on the sticker on the side of the cart.  Please see most recent metering chart for Nodulator® Solid Core Granules below.

Morris 8000 Revised Chart

Nodulator® XL Solid Core granules have an application rate that is based per linear row foot rather than a static lbs/acre.  Depending on your row spacing, it may be more appropriate to use a 45 tooth sprocket vs a 40 tooth sprocket to operate within a more normal range.

My New Year’s resolution – Grow BIGGER Roots

Posted on by
Reply

As the New Year approaches we reflect on the past and plan for the future for many aspects of our life. Many of us will set personal resolutions such as losing that last 10 pounds (or first) but how many of us set resolutions for improved crop production? In agriculture we have finely tuned our yields over the past number of years; better genetics, improved pest control and improved crop management have been contributing factors in our yield increase. Now, Mother Nature still plays a very large factor in yield determination but if we look at the highs and lows over the past few years we can appreciate the overall increase in yield that can be contributed to other factors other than the weather. We are producing higher yielding, higher quality crops than ever before.  Plus, we can’t stop we need to produce more if we as farmers are to feed 9 billion people by the year 2050.

What resolutions should I plan for my 2013 crops? Bigger roots – Why roots and not genetics or using a specific fungicide or inoculant (don’t worry I am still going to talk about inoculants). When is the last time you actually thought about your crops roots? Yet it is one of the most important part of the plant and a big contributor to yield. What should I think about? Here is my short list of things to ponder when thinking about roots:

  • Soil compaction
  • Drainage
  • Crop rotation
  • Inoculation (you were forewarned)
  • Fertility
  • Tillage
  • Equipment – planting, tillage, application, etc.
  • Soil structure and soil capacities for yield and root growth

You have more that you may have thought of. If so, please add them to the comment section for others to read.

What we need to do now is go through the list and ask ourselves, field by field and operation by operation – What am I doing to increase my root growth and root volume? How am I planning to reduce soil compaction in this field this year? Am I applying the right amount of inoculant? Am I applying a biological with my inoculant that is promoting root growth? What about my fertility program, my seed treatment plan and my crop rotation?

By asking all these questions and more you start to plan to grow the biggest roots possible and attaining the highest yields. Taking time to make your New Year’s resolution of growing bigger roots will pay dividends in 2013.

Have a great holiday season and a happy New Year.

Pourquoi l’inoculant liquide n’est-il pas vendu dans de grands emballages ou en vrac?

Posted on by
Reply

(Blogue de David Townsend traduit avec permission par Francois Mercier)

Moins d’emballage pour des inoculants serait avantageux autant pour les producteurs que le fabricant d’inoculant; cependant, ce ne serait pas bénéfique pour le soya. Qu’est-ce qui diffère des inoculants liquides à comparer des pesticides en formulations liquides ou l’engrais liquide que j’achète en vrac? Les rhizobiums dans les inoculants sont aérobiques (besoin d’air/oxygène pour survivre) comme vous et moi. Les formulations liquides sont anaérobiques (manque d’air). Au fil du temps, si les rhizobiums restent en conditions anaérobiques, ils meurent.

 Non différent que si vous étiez submergé dans une piscine, avec le temps vous vous noieriez aussi. Alors, comment maintenons-nous les rhizobiums dans une formulation d’inoculant liquide à des niveaux qui répondent à notre garantie et aux normes de l’ACIA, une fois appliqué? C’est possible à cause de la façon dont le liquide est formulé (ce qui est dans le liquide) et comment nous ensachons l’inoculant (taille et matériel du sachet).

 La formulation n’est pas simplement de l’eau et des rhizobiums. Oui, elle contient de l’eau mais également des composants nutritifs de post-fermentation et beaucoup d’autres ingrédients confidentiels qui améliorent la stabilité et la performance du produit. Beaucoup de recherche sont faites pour augmenter la quantité des rhizobiums, dans des volumes de liquide plus bas, tout en augmentant la durée de conservation ayant de plus grands nombres de rhizobiums qui survivent, non seulement à l’entreposage, mais aussi au premier “choc” initial du produit appliqué sur la semence, (facilité de l’application et compatibilité avec les traitements de semence). Même avec nos formulations uniques, nous n’avons toujours pas de source interne d’oxygène – ce qui est la fonction de notre emballage unique.

 Ce n’est pas simplement un sac en plastique. Le sachet qui contient l’inoculant liquide « respire ». La composition du sachet est telle qu’elle permet à des gaz (air) de traverser la membrane et de garder le liquide à l’intérieur. Ainsi, si nous retournons à notre exemple de piscine, si vous aviez un tuba, vous pourriez survivre plus longtemps dans une piscine. Mais si la piscine était d’une profondeur de 30 pieds, qu’il y avait mille personnes à l’intérieur avec vous, et que vous seriez l’heureux chanceux dans le fond de la piscine, même avec un tuba, vous auriez à remonter près de la surface pour avoir de l’air. C’est la situation que les rhizobiums doivent affronter. Même si les gaz peuvent traverser les parois du sachet liquide, ils peuvent seulement traverser qu’un demi à un pouce du liquide. Ainsi comme dans la piscine, plus le volume d’eau et la distance sont élevés, plus difficile est la survie des rhizobiums. En gardant le sachet d’inoculant plat, et pas plus qu’une épaisseur d’un pouce, nous assurons l’accès maximal d’oxygène aux rhizobiums. Également en plaçant les sachets dans des caisses dont l’oxygène peut pénétrer de tous les côtés, on augmente la survie des rhizobiums.

 C’est une situation où avec un peu de trouble – vider beaucoup de petits sachets d’inoculant liquide – on est récompensé par un GRAND gain – le rendement.

Why is liquid inoculant not sold in large totes or bulk?

Posted on by
Reply

 Less packaging for inoculants would be beneficial to both the grower and the inoculant manufacturer; however, it would not benefit the soybean.   What makes liquid inoculants different than the liquid formulation of pesticide or fertilizer that I buy in bulk? The rhizobia that are in inoculants are aerobic (need air/oxygen to survive) like you and me.  Liquid formulations are anaerobic (lacking air). Over time if the rhizobium stays in anaerobic conditions they die.  No different than if you were submerged in a swimming pool in time you would drown. So how do we keep the rhizobia in the liquid inoculant formulation at levels that meet our guarantee and CFIA standards when applied? It is possible because of how the liquid product is formulated (what is in the liquid) and how we package the inoculant (container size and material).

The formulation is not just water and rhizobia.  Yes it does contain water but also contains post-fermentation nutrient component plus many other proprietary ingredients that improve stability and performance.  A great deal of research is being done to increase the amount of rhizobia that can be stored in smaller volumes of liquid, extending product shelf life, having greater numbers of rhizobia survive not only storage but the first initial “shock” of application, ease of application and compatibility with seed treatments.   ).  Even with the unique formulations we still do not have an internal oxygen source – that is the function of the unique packaging.

It’s not just a plastic bag.  The bladder that contains the liquid inoculant “breathes”.  The composition of the bladder is such that it allows gases (air) to move through the membrane but keeps the liquid inside. So if we go back to our pool example, if you had a snorkel you could survive a long time in a swimming pool.  But what if that swimming pool was 30 feet deep and had a thousand people in it and you happened to be the lucky one that is on the bottom. Even though you may have a snorkel you need to get close enough to the top to breath. This is the situation the rhizobia face. Even though gases can move through the bladder wall, they can only move about ½ to one inch. So like the swimming pool the more volume and distance from the bladder wall the harder it is for the rhizobia to survive.  Keeping the rhizobia-containing bladder flat and not more than about one-inch thick, helps ensure maximum oxygen access for the rhizobia. Also by placing the bladders in the case where oxygen can penetrate from all sides’ increases rhizobia survivability.

This is a situation where a little pain – dumping small bladders of inoculant -is worth a BIG gain – yield.

Less packaging for inoculants would be beneficial to both the grower and the inoculant manufacturer; however, it would not benefit the soybean.   What makes liquid inoculants different than the liquid formulation of pesticide or fertilizer that I buy in bulk? The rhizobia that are in inoculants are aerobic (need air/oxygen to survive) like you and me.  Liquid formulations are anaerobic (lacking air). Over time if the rhizobium stays in anaerobic conditions they die.  No different than if you were submerged in a swimming pool in time you would drown. So how do we keep the rhizobia in the liquid inoculant formulation at levels that meet our guarantee and CFIA standards when applied? It is possible because of how the liquid product is formulated (what is in the liquid) and how we package the inoculant (container size and material).

The formulation is not just water and rhizobia.  Yes it does contain water but also contains post-fermentation nutrient component plus many other proprietary ingredients that improve stability and performance.  A great deal of research is being done to increase the amount of rhizobia that can be stored in smaller volumes of liquid, extending product shelf life, having greater numbers of rhizobia survive not only storage but the first initial “shock” of application, ease of application and compatibility with seed treatments.   ).  Even with the unique formulations we still do not have an internal oxygen source – that is the function of the unique packaging.

It’s not just a plastic bag.  The bladder that contains the liquid inoculant “breathes”.  The composition of the bladder is such that it allows gases (air) to move through the membrane but keeps the liquid inside. So if we go back to our pool example, if you had a snorkel you could survive a long time in a swimming pool.  But what if that swimming pool was 30 feet deep and had a thousand people in it and you happened to be the lucky one that is on the bottom. Even though you may have a snorkel  you need to get close enough to the top to breath. This is the situation the rhizobia face. Even though gases can move through the bladder wall, they can only move about ½ to one inch. So like the swimming pool the more volume and distance from the bladder wall the harder it is for the rhizobia to survive.  Keeping the rhizobia-containing bladder flat and not more than about one-inch thick, helps ensure maximum oxygen access for the rhizobia. Also by placing the bladders in the case where oxygen can penetrate from all sides’ increases rhizobia survivability.

This is a situation where a little pain – dumping small bladders of inoculant -is worth a BIG gain – yield.

Control the Controllables – 5 ways to increase soybean yields in Western Canada

Posted on by
Reply

With the expansion of soybeans in Western Canada as a new or experienced grower you want to get the highest yields possible.  We can’t control the weather but we can control what we plant, when we plant and how we establish and manage our crops.  What five things that we control can make the biggest impact on yield: 

1)      Genetics’ First

  1. The biggest yield increase you can get is by choosing the right portfolio of genetics for your land and farming practices. For example using the 2011 Manitoba performance data (mid-season) and we choose the wrong variety compared to the best variety we could theoretically have lost 5.78 bu./ac (98 index compared to 114 index).
  2. Spread the risk. Choose a portfolio of multiple varieties.
  3.  Be wary of the ‘hot variety’ syndrome. What topped the plot this year does not mean it will top the plot next year.

2)      Protect your investment

  1. Treat your soybean seed as a major investment and protect it by using seed treatment.
  2. Plant it in high performance fields (good fertility, stay away from high residual nitrogen, good soil tilth, etc.)

3)      Inoculate for high yields

  1. Save Fertilizer.  Inoculate soybeans every year.
  2. Ground that has not seen soybeans before (virgin ground) or ground that has experienced prolonged flooding there is minimal to no native rhizobia.  Inoculating with high quality inoculants and at high rates (double inoculation) is required to achieve effective nodulation.
  3.  Effective inoculation leads to more uniform & stronger plant growth and maximizes total yield (including protein).

    Soybeans Double vs. single inoculation (Center pass)

  4. The practice of double inoculation has resulted in positive yield results. Double inoculation is the practice of treating the seed with inoculant such as Nodulator® N/T Liquid or Nodulator® N/T SA peat formulation and an in-furrow application of a granular inoculant (Nodulator® spherical  or RHIZUP® peat granular) or liquid formulation.

4)      Plant it right

  1. Plant early into warm soil to get the achieve ground cover as quickly as possible
  2. Control planting depth – avoid planting too deep
  3. Watch high trash situations as it slows soil warm-up and germination
  4. Use narrow rows (less than 21 inches) to increase early season light interception.
  5. Plant at right population for your row width.

5)      Keep it clean

  1. Plant into weed-free ground.
  2. Control weeds early and season long.
  3. Monitor and control insect and disease as required.