2016 - PRLCD - Drill Demonstation Video

This post is an extension of the June 13th post on the drill demonstration:  Spray Center Electronics brought a 4 prop drone, the Typhoon Q500 4K, by Yuneec ElectricAviation, and videoed the demonstration.  This is a 12:53 minute aerial view of the demonstration showing  all 7 units doing their thing.   < video of 2016 high residue drill demonstration>
     The test area was WW from the 2015 crop that had ≈100bu stubble, but not grain.  Approximately  300 feet of residue was left standing from a 32' Shelbourne Stripper Header.  At Each end, ≈100ft of stubble was mowed cross ways to the header travel with a 26 foot Schultz mower.  Between harvest, spraying and mowing, there were a lot of tracks that laid down the tall stubble.  There was basically solid  ground cover prior to any mowing.  Conditions were tough for any drill regardless of disc or hoe.
     The smoke is from a Case 4994 WT with an inexperienced operator not releasing the parking brake.  There was fire dropping onto the residue that was quickly extinguished along with fire on the oil/dirt deposits around the brake.  Unfortunate, but that is part of life at these events on occasion.

     Below are five pics from the five drill types demonstrated taken 17 days after the event.  All pics facing west from bldgs.  None of the drills were tuned for barley or had fertilizer.  One drill used a garb roll.  The operators just made sure they had barley coming out the tubes.  These pics were showing all level ground except the AgPro which was seeding on the hillside.  That was an additional complication.

 Horsch Anderson (all mowed area)

CrossSlot Drill (both areas)

JD 1890 (two pass in both areas)

Case 400 w 2280 cart (both areas)

AgPro with Bourgault point (both areas)

WSU - COOK FARM - SOIL HEALTH TOUR

      Recently I attended WSU's soil health tour at the Cook Agronomy Farm.  It was a long day from 7:30am -4:30pm.  It was interesting, but depressing.  So many questions with so few answers.  I had a number of pic's of charts I was interested in logging and talking about, but sadly they aren't available.
      There was a REACCH presentation related to the climate.  The climate models haven't changed much from a presentation I attended back in ≈2002 in predicting climate as we approach year 2100.  This study was not related to the UW and USGS presentation of ≈2002.  The short version:  We'll need to adopt "adaptive crop management" to stay nimble during periods of wet years followed by droughty years.   On average, we may get a little more moisture.  It will come in the winter .We'll likely have hotter summers with less moisture.  They are predicting less residue, less SOM, more erosion.  There will probably be a crop shift capability, for crops that use more GDU's.
      Explanation given on use of the "Flux Towers" located around the region.  Basically weather stations that have a special sensor array that senses water and carbon movement going in and out of the soil.  Sensor operates 10 times a second.  Useful for studying land use activity and it's impact on carbon and moisture.
      A new critter:  look for the "Cereal grass aphid".  It appears at pre-boot stage in wheat.  Not yet known if it will have an economic impact.
      In 2010 the Cook Farm moved from planting DNS to SWW.  This reduced N application substantially.  All growers in the Palouse need to be aware of the potential, but a train wreak is coming along ID/WA border area where very low pH levels exist.  N applications are driving pH down.  N calculators indicate that actual N used by crop is significantly less than that generally applied, resulting is excess N being lost to the environment and driving pH down faster than necessary.  A better management tool would be to use a "%predictability chart/calculation".  This chart, which an operator would need to build from their own records,  is a tool to be used for nutrient application based on yield goals and the percentage of time they actually attained that yield.  This could save a grower a lot of money without dropping yield, and it would slow the drop in pH.
      pH tests for lime applications need to be studied for, both, "Correlation" and "Calibration".  Current testing procedure does not work well for our soils.
      Researchers are finding areas where the pH is very low deep in the soil profile making it virtually impossible to correct.  Normally the pH problem is confined to the top 4" of the soil profile.  Continuous over application of N is the cause.
     During the ice cream social following the tour, Huggins was soliciting ideas for the direction of future research at the Cook Farm.

2016 - Late Spring Review of our Cover Crop

 

 This spring we started taking out CRP with 2qt of Rt3 with extra surfactant, using 12gpa solution, TeeJet blue TT with 40psi.  Results were excellent.  Two weeks later we seeded a cover crop mix that included:  Yellow Blossom Sweet Clover, Common Vetch, Daikon Radish, Graza Radish, Attack Mustard, Ida Gold Mustard, Winter Canola, Spring Canola.  The mix at 10#/ac contained about 1.7million seeds per acre.  Because the source of the Ethiopian Cabbage (Corinne) was not certified disease free, it was not included. The intention is to leave this cover to grow through March, maybe April 2017, and then chemically destroy it, leaving as much of a residue mat as possible.  The cultivars that are expected to survive the winter is the clover, vetch, and Graza radish.  Both of the legumes should grow well early in the spring 2017 and provide N by takeout time. The Graza will exist and grow leaf material prior to takeout.   If we could have planted the Corinne, it would likely survive and provide us with another vigorous bio-bore plant.  The radishes, canola's and mustards are bio-bore plants as well.  We have found that our CRP ground is in need of deep boring cultivars.  The mustards, canola and Daikon Radish will seed out in 2016 and likely die during the winter.  Come spring we will see high populations of these cultivars emerge early.  None of these cultivars will be a problem to remove.  Our intention is to seed these acres to winter wheat the fall of 2017.
      Today, I noticed some areas are very good and others with a sparse population.   On reflection, we should have started the process about a month earlier.  The south exposures indicates they were short on moisture showing a spotty stand with few cultivars.  One 0.40 rain will get them started.  Field aspects that point anywhere northerly looks good with high populations, and a good diversity of cultivars.
   

WSU's Agricultural Research Center at Lind

        The WSU Dryland Research Station at Lind receives less precipitation than any other state or federal dryland agricultural research facility in the United States.  The average precipitation for the years 1921 to 2015 is 9.53 inches annually.  The traditional agronomic cropping system in this region is winter wheat/fallow using conventional tillage. 
       I attended the annual Field Day to catch up on research centered around practices for the low rainfall regions of Washington.  Rainfall this year is a couple of inches above average and the crops in the region reflect that.  They look pretty good.  The tour this year was basically a variety trial for triticale, spring wheat, winter wheat, and winter peas.  There was a presentation on chemical control of russian thistles.
       I am looking for cultivars that will grow in low moisture to use for diversifying  cash crops as well as cultivars to add to cover crop mixes.  Two crops stood out.  One was triticale and the other was winter peas.  Both were developing a lot of biomass.  For the Lind area I think triticale will be the better for the near term.  It offers more fibrous roots and top biomass with a high carbon ratio.  
        From what I'm observing, this research station needs to either expand, or change it's emphasis.  That will be hard with all the decision makers and money driving the station to maintain the course of minimum tillage using bigger, heavier split packer drills.   Developing cultural practices that reduce tillage operations is not enough.  This soil has very low OM content and getting worse.  Ability to store moisture is poor, and moisture wicks out fast.  The practice of setting a deep moisture barrier with sweeps or under cutters and following up with seeders designed to place seed deeper seems archaic for the 21st century, and self destructive in the face of a warming planet.  With all the climate models pointing towards a warmer earth our soils will have an increasing need of an insulating cover.  Soil surface temperatures reaching 150-160+ degrees is not going to cut it for moisture retention or crop development.  I'm shocked to find that my HOBO's are already registering short periods of max temperatures (4" above the surface on bare soil) of 154 degrees.  That's scorched earth.
        This station need ssome new young blood that don't carry all the baggage of the past, --that don't know that residue can't be increased, --that don't know that crops can't be successfully emerged with no-till.  They need to be handed the keys and told, --GET IT DONE.

THE LONG & SHORT OF THE STRIPPER HEADER

IT'S ALL ABOUT MOISTURE  ---->  FARM TO SAVE IT OR LOSE IT
       Fact: --there is a layer at the soil surface, even though it looks dry, that is at 100% humidity.  This layer may be only 1-2micro's thick.  This layer is maintained until the soil profile can no longer draw on it's reserves.   How you manage this soil surface environment has a big impact on evaporation and the moisture available for the crop.
       Fact: --residue modifies soil temperature.  Soils are warmer through the winter and cooler during the summer with surface residue either standing or flat.
      83% of rainfall over a two year wheat/fallow rotation is lost off the soil surface through evaporation.  (see post of 9/19/2012)-- conclusion was to keep soils as cool as possible and air velocity across the soil surface as low as possible.  This translates to, --maintain as much cover as possible over the soil, and keep the cover as tall as possible, for as long as possible, to maximize moisture available for crop production.
      Our observations over 4 years indicates considerably fewer weed cultivars germinate and compete with the crop on ground that is not disturbed.  The more residue, the less disturbance, including disturbance from tracks/wheels, the better.
   
THE LONG:

       1-- Removing the straw row of a poor residue managing combine, is a major plus.  It gives new life to older machines and increases capacity by 10-20%.
      ---There is much less material being processed.  This has resulted in significant savings for us in combine repairs.

       2--Potential increase in moisture available to the crop by:  
      ---increasing snow catch (when we get it) over the standard cut or mowed height.  This resists snow drifting, leaving more even snow (water) distribution over the field.
      ---Accompanied with solar energy which warms the stems, the snow melts and enters the soil at the base of the plants in a slow controlled manner.
       ---reduced weed competition when used as part of the ULD system.  Fewer weeds, leaves more moisture for the crop.  Less surface disturbance including wheel tracks, the fewer the weeds.
       ---reducing air velocity over soil surface. Studies are showing reduced evaporation from tall stubble.  This means more moisture for the crop.
        ---reducing soil temperatures in the warm season.  Several studies, including our  own measurements with HOBO sensors show significant drop in summer surface temperatures compared to bare soil.  Studies concur, that lower soil temperatures conserves moisture for the crop.
       3--Modifies winter soil temperatures.  Our HOBO sensors are showing that tall stubble insulates the soil, not only in the summer to reduced soil temperatures, but also insulates the soil from the cold winter temperatures.
       4--The Shelbourne is a low maintenance header for us.
       5--The Shelbourne, being a sealed unit, reduces harvest dust around the combine cab.

THE SHORT:
       1--Is not useable for all the crops we grow.
              ---spring standup peas:  grade reduction from cracked/skinned seed coats.
              --mustard/canola:  problematic if stems carry seed pods extending more than 24 inches along the plants vertical axis.
              ---crops with seeds forming around a central stem like sorghum.
       2--Not all drills will successfully seed behind the stripper header.  Type and density of residue needs to be considered.
               

WHY WE STILL FALLOW

      Why do we still have fallow in our farming system when we have the equipment to direct seed was, in essence,  the question I received from a recent post.  We have no conventional tilled fallow, but do have chemical fallow.  
       I've concluded the short answer is TRADITION.  It's part of my family culture. There are plenty of university studies indicating how poor the moisture efficiency is with fallow, and how destructive fallow is to our economic base (the soil), and to the environment, however, we have learned to farm with it, getting good yields, and that is a comfort level of it's own.
      There is no question in my mind that, for the future, we would be better off if we broke tradition and looked at building up our soil health instead of continually farming it into oblivion as we have for the past 100 plus years.  That; however, puts us into the realm of the unknown, associated with higher risk.   Our forefathers used cover crops to a certain extent, but never to the extent of soil sustainability.  Sweet clover was planted for nitrogen, then ploughed down.  Many operations rotated cattle or sheep onto crop ground and seeded pasture, but those "soil building" attempts were negated by grazing those fields into the dirt.  As time went on, cattle left most of the operations, ground  has been consolidated, and transitioned into a monoculture of wheat.  The little our forefathers did understand about soil health and the role of cover crops was hampered by the equipment available.  To build soil health we have to remove our traditional fallow practice, and introduce more diversity of crop cultivars.  We will probably need to introduce cover crops to help with that diversity.  Chem fallow is a no-brainer for those of us that have been doing it for a couple of decades, but even that "conservation practice" is used by a small minority of the community as a whole.  I'm seeing more delayed tillage where the first one or two operations are application of chemistry, then tillage follows before planting.  This has morf'd, in some cases, into the two pass system (or 3-4).  That looks risky to me, but I've seen some pretty nice crops develop from that system.  It's all about moisture and it's timing.
      Even the mention of introducing cover crops leave people walking away shaking their heads.  It's just too risky.
      The next step for our operation to reach the goal of no fallow will probably be Green Fallow, --and that may be as far as we wish to go.  I'm starting to see where the "fallow" period my be the staging for the next cash crop.  The "fallow" will be planted with a diverse (designed plan) mix of cultivars that will bio-drill, add root mass, add nitrogen (if needed), and scavenge nutrients from the depths of the soil profile.  I'm reading where most (or all) the plants nutrition comes from the top 18" of the profile, and roots drive deeper for the purpose of accessing moisture.  If this proves out, we need to rethink how and when we apply nutrients in the short run, and plant appropriate cultivars to replace commercial fertilizer in the long run.

Stripper Header - Drill Demonstration

     Considering there were three other ag tour/events contending for peoples attention, we had over 100 people in attendance.  No media this year, --probably do to other better known events.  Interest in dealing with a stripper header is still there.  There were eight units that participated, --AgPro with Bourgault points, CrossSlot, Case 400 with Kile openers and 2280 cart, JD 1890 single disc opener that was set up as a two pass system, and the Horsch with Anderson opener.  Also three low disturbance fertilizer applicators were demonstrated.  The JD 1890 with Exactrix system where the seed boot was replaced with a fertilizer boot to deep band liquid NH3.  The Great Plains NP40 Nutri-Pro uses a coulter to cut a slot and stream liquid solution into that slot from above ground level. The Fast 8200 unit is  similar.  The drills seeded barley.  There was no solution provided for the fertilizer machines.  The area had a lot of residue.  The machinery park had the residue swathed and baled for building protection last summer.  The demonstration site had a mowed area on each end with standing (≈30") stubble in the middle.  Between harvest, spray applications, and mowing, there was a lot of wheel tracks with long stubble laid down.  Along with the fact that no leveling/smoothing operation has touched this site for over 20 years, this is a challenge for any drill to get a decent looking stand emerged.  Even though we hadn't received any appreciable moisture for 30 days, the site had good moisture levels, even in the scalped areas where the equipment is parked.  The following day, the site received 0.45" of rain.  That will eliminate any drying out the drills may have promoted.
       Where we strive for maximum moisture retention through low disturbance and residue, my bias of course, favors the CrossSlot, so, expectedly, it did the best, --at holding depth, consistent seeding without plugs or drags, and features a one pass system to maintain the ULD status that we strive for in our operation.
       The JD didn't hold depth in the mowed area which was the hardest for both it and the CS.  Too much variation in seeding conditions for spring loaded down pressure systems.  Also, the JD moves more dirt than the CS, and being set up as a two pass system, there is additional soil disturbance.
       All of the hoe type drill entries, were able to make it through the course, with more or less plugging and dragging.  Neither mowed nor standing stubble, with all the wheel tracks, was ideal for a hoe drill.  Even 30" stubble, when laid crossways to the line of travel spans across multiple opener widths.  Much of the time, coulters will cut through the mat in front of the hoe --but not all the time.  When a hoe passes among standing stalks, they tip and can become an obstacle to the next line of openers.
       Although I didn't watch any of the fertilizer applicators navigate the course, I could see from all the straw hanging, that the Great Plains NP40 struggled.  I didn't notice how the Fast 8200 faired, but my guess is that it was much the same.  With this type of application, where solution is directed towards a slot through a surface air gap, I have to wonder how much loss of N takes place. The JD 1890 fertilizer unit, like the drill version, probably suffered from depth control.
     Sorry to say, I was distracted,  and completely neglected to make a presentation about the stripper header and it's value to our operation, and the moisture it helps save.  I'll write two more posts that relate to: -- 1) the long and short of the stripper header, and 2) moisture saved with the stripper header in the near future.  I have yet to analysis the HOBO data gathered since September on soil temperatures under different residue scenarios .

All done, and equipment gone.  The site was completely used, but didn't need to go into the mustard.  We'll follow the site for awhile, then destroy it before weeds become a problem.