INTRODUCTION:

The objectives of the MZTRA farm in establishing the existing crop rotation are to:

1.      Reduce energy use, including N fertilizer, by 30%.

2.      Reduce pesticide dependence by 50%.

3.      Maintain or increase production.

4.      Decrease our dependence on glyphosate as the basis for successful zero-tillage.

5.      Reduce the need for chemical control of wild oats to 2 out of every 3 years.

6.      Develop a system that works in all years, regardless of moisture conditions.

7.      Develop a system that is economically sound and includes provisions for livestock.

8.      Just as we moved from the mechanical to the chemical age, now move to the cultural age, using the best of the knowledge we have learned from the past.

The following protocol has been drafted with the goal of addressing these objectives.

The goal of the protocol is to be consistent over time in order to be able to identify differences between rotations, and to accommodate flexibility in specific management practices.

The protocol will be reviewed annually in the event that measurable changes in recommendations of management practices occur, and may be revised if necessary. 

For all field operations, detailed information will be recorded into a consistent template.

Field operations will be conducted using MZTRA equipment; however custom applicators may be used if the MZTRA cannot accomplish the operation due to time or equipment limitations.

Daily time sheets will be maintained to track efficiency of various farm operations.

 Table of Contents:

INTRODUCTION                                                                                          1

GENERAL MANAGEMENT APPROACH                                                   3

SEEDING                                                                                                        4

WEED CONTROL                                                                                         6

FERTILITY MANAGEMENT                                                                        8

DISEASE AND INSECT MANAGEMENT                                                   11       

HARVEST MANAGEMENT                                                              12

PASTURE MANAGEMENT                                                                          13

CATTLE MANAGEMENT                                                                             14

TERMINATION MANAGEMENT FOR FORAGE STANDS                       15

CROP ROTATIONS                                                                                      16

APPENDIX                                                                                                     17

GENERAL MANAGEMENT APPROACH:

• Management decisions are made with the stated objectives of MZTRA in mind.

• A consistent approach to management is used on a year-to-year basis, with changes made only to correct observed problems/deficiencies in the existing management system.

• Disease, weed and pest control is achieved through integrated pest management.  Decisions to apply pesticides are based on field scouting.

• Fertilization to be based on results of soil test analysis along with yield goals determined from area/MZTRA farm long term average yields.  Tissue testing may be used if it can be incorporated into a funded agronomic project.

SEEDING:

Crop Species

Selection of crop species (e.g. spring and winter cereals) will be based on:

- long term crop rotation set by board of directors

- agronomic considerations (e.g. pea/flax or barley/wheat)

- economic considerations (e.g. pea/flax or barley/wheat)

Cultivar

Selection of cultivars will be based on:
- local suitability (days to maturity, disease resistance, yield potential, quality)

- competitiveness with weeds

- market opportunities

- Seed Manitoba recommendations

- producer input regarding price, availability, agronomic characteristics

Seed source

- certified seed whenever possible

Seed treatments

- use seed treatments if conditions such as early seeding, cool spring soil temperatures or high pest pressures are expected, unless directed by research committee.

*post-emergent flea beetle control as a rescue operation, if required

Inoculation

- inoculate all legume crops.

Seeding rates / dates

- target the higher range of the goal plant stand when determining seeding rate, as better weed competition and even crop maturity result from increased seeding rates.

- update seeding rate and seeding date recommendations based on current information.

Annual crops:

Reference:  Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives, Field Crop Production Guide.

Alfalfa:  Will be sown at 8-10 lbs/ac.  Recommended seeding rates for forages are provided by Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives at http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/crops/forages

*Forages are under-seeded with canola during the year of establishment, with Clearfield canola seeded at a reduced rate.

*Early spring seeding of forages is preferred.

Seeding depth

- seed as shallowly as possible into moisture

Seeding equipment

- Morris air drill

WEED CONTROL:

**Weed control decisions are based on weed populations in each field**

Field scouting (for decisions regarding burn-off and in-crop herbicide applications):

Field scout to estimate overall weed densities

1. Select 5 - 1m² areas in each individual field at random.  Areas selected should be representative of the field in terms of weed numbers, and uniformly spaced across the entire field avoiding field edges, low spots and weed patches.
2. Count and record the number of grassy weeds and the number of broadleaf weeds in each 1m² area.
3. Calculate the field average for each rep of a given treatment.
4. Apply grassy and/or broadleaf herbicide only if weed densities warrant application.  (Economic thresholds for selected weeds are available in the Guide to Crop Protection.)

Note:

If weed populations warrant herbicide application in one of two reps of a given treatment, both replicates must be sprayed, with the exception of spot spraying weedy patches within the field.

A rescue operation may be conducted if weed populations have the potential to cause an economically significant reduction in crop yield and/or quality.

Field scout to identify weed patches, encroaching weeds, etc.

1. Assess weed patches, low spots and field borders separately from inside of field.
2. Mark on a map any weed patches (e.g. Canada thistle, quackgrass, wild oat) or weeds invading from field edges.
3. Use GPS to mark location of weed patches.
4. Monitor weed patches, etc.
5. If warranted, spot spray weed patches.

Record scouting information into a consistent template.

Herbicide selection

- Where herbicide application is warranted based on the weed densities present, select the least costly of the effective products available if a significant price difference exists.

- Free products from sponsors will be used where available, but not if it undermines the overall goals of the study.

- Apply recommended herbicides based on recommended rates and crop stages.  Where necessary, adjust herbicide rates, based on weeds present, environmental conditions and development stage as per recommendations.

- Rotate herbicides used to avoid weed resistance.

- If a cost effective option to glyphosate application is available, it will be considered.

Herbicide application

- Record information into a consistent template.

Field boundary weed control

- Field boundary and fence line sanitation will be conducted annually to prevent weed encroachment into the study area.

- Herbicide choice will be dependant on weeds present.

Chaff collection

- MAFRI is responsible for weed scouting regarding chaff collection study, and MZTRA is responsible for collection of the chaff

- Chaff is collected from the west half of fields 103 and 203 using a Redekop chaff spreader.  Chaff is spread on the east half of these fields.

- Field divisions are marked with poles and GPS.

- Weed counts are done separately for each half of these fields.

FERTILITY MANAGEMENT:

Soil Sampling Protocol

- Selected mid and upper slope sampling sites from the 83 site farm grid pattern will be used, in order to provide a representative mid-slope sample (some grid locations may be in sloughs, saline spots, knolls etc.) of each field.

- Each field will have 5 geo-referenced sites x 3 samples per site and each sample separated by depth at 0-6", 6-12", 12-24".

- Sampling will be done in late fall.

- Keep a small number of samples in long-term storage in case there is additional analysis needed in the future.

Traditional Composite Random Sampling:

- Cores of each depth (0-6", 6-12", 12-24") will be taken throughout the field, thoroughly mixed, sub-sampled and sent to the lab as a single sample for each depth.

- Sampling areas will be representative of the field being sampled.  For hilly fields with knolls, slopes or depressions, samples will be taken from mid-slope positions to get average results.

- Sampling in obvious areas of unusual variability, such as saline areas, eroded knolls, etc. will be avoided.

Reference: Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives, Manitoba Soil Fertility Guide.  http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/soilwater/soilfert

Soil analysis techniques

- Soil analysis will be conducted at the same lab each year for consistency in analysis techniques.  Norwest will be used as the farm has sent samples there in the past.  The following procedures are used for the analysis of the four major nutrients:

Nitrogen (N) - Water soluble nitrate-nitrogen measured to the 24 inch depth and extracted with a weak calcium chloride solution.

Phosphorus (P) - Modified Kelowna extract which technique measures extractable P in the top 6 inch depth.

Potassium (K) - Modified Kelowna extract technique measures exchangeable K in the top 6 inch depth.

Sulphur (S) - Water soluble sulphate-sulphur measured to the 24 inch depth and extracted with a weak calcium chloride solution.

Reference: Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives, Manitoba Soil Fertility Guide.  http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/soilwater/soilfert;Norwest Labs Schedule of Services. http://www.norwestlabs.com/newnorwestwebsite/who_we_are

Fertilization Criteria, Products and Placement

Fertilization criteria

- develop our own fertility recommendations, or understand Norwest basis for their recommendations.

Nitrogen:          soil test nitrate-N level in each treatment; established goal N levels.  In crops after alfalfa, use MB Soil Fertility Guide to determine available lbs/ac of N credit from alfalfa.

Phosphorus:      pre-set ranges of fertilizer P rates according to P removal by crop

Potassium:        if required according to soil test

Sulphur:            soil test sulphate-S level in each treatment; established soil test S criteria.  Sulphate-S will be applied in the year of alfalfa establishment, even though it may hinder the nitrogen fixation to some degree.  S will not be applied to cereals, as the high organic matter content of the soils combined with the fact that canola (which receives S) is grown in the rotation, likely means that there would be no response to S fertilizer on cereals.  Test results may not be accurate for S, because of the presence of gypsum in the farms soils.  If the soil test indicates adequate S when planning to grow canola, S will still be applied, as the potential yield loss of canola from S deficiency can be high.  Tissue testing will be considered when a more accurate analysis of sulphur levels in the soil is required.

                        Reference: Cynthia Grant, 2003

Fertilizer sources, placement

- Phosphate is placed with the seed, while Nitrogen and Sulphur are side banded.

- The following sources are the preference, however other new or donated products will be considered.

- If other sources or placement methods are being considered, factors such as potential impact on nutrient loss (e.g. denitrification), and whether or not they have the potential to be commonly practiced will be investigated.

N source:         UAN solution (28-0-0)

P source:          granular monoammonium phosphate (MAP), seed placed

S source:          liquid ammonium thiosulphate, side dribble with N

Fertilizer rates for each crop

- Estimated lbs/ac of nutrient to achieve desired yield goals.

- Phosphate recommendation is based on placement with a view on seedling safety; ex) to apply more Phosphate to peas, apply extra in previous cereal crop.

* Sufficient S will be applied to canola in order to have sufficient S recycling to support the other crops in the rotation which will not receive sulphur.      

** If flax is to be grown, apply more P fertilizer in the previous season.

*** forage will not be fertilized due to short term nature and the need to compare soil fertility of hayed vs. grazed treatments

DISEASE AND INSECT MANAGEMENT:

**Decisions regarding fungicide and insecticide application are based on the results of field scouting and, where available, economic thresholds**

- Monitor fields regularly as required by conditions, as outlined in Manitoba Agriculture and Food’s Field Scouting Guide.

- Decisions regarding fungicide and insecticide application are at the discretion of the manager based on the results of field scouting.

- Resource people (e.g. MAFRI, AAFC) can be consulted if in doubt.

- Keep in mind what area farmers are doing when making decisions.

- Disease forecasting tools (e.g. ACE) may be consulted when making a decision.

HARVEST MANAGEMENT:

Annual crops

* Yield of all crops is measured with both a yield monitor and weigh wagon, which are used for every harvested load.  Care is used to avoid filling the weigh wagon to much, as its accuracy goes down as the total weight measured per load increases.

Harvest:

Cereals:                        preference is to straight-combine whenever possible, swath and pick -up if necessary.

Non-cereals:                 preference is to straight-combine whenever possible, swath and pick -up if necessary.

Residue management*:

- Consider harrowing as an option for residue management.

Cereals:                        preference is to chop and spread straw however, bale if straw management or livestock feed are issues.

Non-cereals:                 preference is to chop and spread straw however, bale if straw management or livestock feed are issues.

*note re: chaff collection

- Chaff is collected from the west half of fields 103 and 203 using a Redekop chaff blower.  Chaff is spread on the east half of these fields.

- Field divisions are marked with poles and GPS.

- Weed counts are done separately for each half of these fields.

- In future, if straw is to be removed, chaff can be dropped on the straw and baled.

Forage crops

- Preferred harvest method is to cut and bale.

- Goal is to take 2 cuts per year.

- Preferred crop stage at harvest:  10-15% bloom.

PASTURE MANAGEMENT:

- Cattle graze on ½ of the forage acreage in each of the 2 alfalfa fields.

- The number of cattle is a function of the carrying capacity of the pasture.  Due to the short term nature of the forage stand in the rotation, we will use a high stocking rate, to be determined by the moisture outlook at the beginning of each year.  Stocking rates will be determined in consultation with the Livestock Committee.

- 1/3 of the hay from the hayed fields will be held back as insurance, so that there is feed available if the high stocking rates cause a pasture shortage late in the season.

- If the animals do have to be fed hay, they will be moved to the pasture north of the farmyard which is outside of the study area.

- A rotational grazing system is used, with animals moved from paddock to paddock based on the condition of the current and upcoming paddocks.  Animals will be rotated faster if it is necessary to prevent the alfalfa from getting too mature.

- Each field may be divided into 6 paddocks which will also help in preventing the alfalfa from getting too mature.

- Information regarding pasture management from MAF is available at:

   http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/crops/forages

- If fertilizer must be applied to the pasture, it is applied to both the hayed and grazed pastures.  In the years after forage termination, the fields will be fertilized according to soil test recommendations.

Cattle Management:

- MZTRA will manage Ducks Unlimited cattle and in return receive a portion of the revenue from those cattle.

- MZTRA and Ducks Unlimited Cattle will be from the same source, and animals will be weighed individually coming in and out of the pasture with a mobile scale.

- Shrink will be managed when cattle are being shipped out in order for the custom grazing to be as profitable as possible.

- Animals will be managed humanely and treated in the same manner that would be considered common practice on a farm scale.

- When necessary, animals will be treated with a veterinarian recommended medication.

- Animals will have access to clean drinking water through a pasture pipeline system at all times.

- Animals will be fenced out of riparian areas, accessing drinking water from troughs only.

- Animals will have access to cattle oilers for fly control.

- Animals will receive free choice pasture mineral throughout the season.

- Cattle may be leased or purchased, at the discretion of the livestock committee and MZTRA board of directors.

- Cattle grazing alfalfa will be medicated with a bloat reduction product delivered      through the water system.

TERMINATION MANAGEMENT FOR FORAGE STANDS:

Method of termination:  herbicide application

Herbicide product / rate:           based on timing of application, stand condition, weeds present, cost, etc.

Timing of termination:    Terminate pasture before the cattle graze the paddocks on the last rotation (spray each paddock 3 days before they will be grazed for the last time).  For the hayed field, spray out 3-7 days before 2^nd cut is hayed (use the earlier period if leaf loss is a concern).  If necessary, use a second herbicide application prior to freeze up or the following spring.

Crop Rotations at the MZTRA Farm:

• Green indicates annual rotation                               
• Note: Cereals are interchangeable
• 2001 was baseline a year (whole farm sown to canola) and is excluded from the rotation.
• 100 and 200 fields are replicates and are to be managed the same every year
• Both annual and livestock rotations have a “staggered start” in order to have more comparison crops throughout the rotation.
• Comparison crops: 02-wwheat; 03-flax; 04-canola; 05-wwheat; 06-flax; 07-canola

APPENDIX

Reference material:

Internet Sources:

Fertility

MB Soil Fertility Guide:  
http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/        soilwater/soilfert/fbd02s00.html

Soil testing: 
http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/soilwater/soilfert/fbd02s11.html

Field scouting

Scouting for weeds: 
http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/crops/weeds/fab01s00.html

Scouting for insects: 
http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/crops/insects/fad01s00.html

Scouting for disease: 
http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/crops/diseases/fac01s00.html

MB Field Scouting Guide: 
http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/news/topics/daa35d03.html

AB Field Scouting Guide: 
http://www.agric.gov.ab.ca/pests/60510600.html

Integrated weed management

General weed information: 
http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/crops/weeds/index.html                                             http://www.mandakzerotill.org/adart06.html
http://www.agr.gov.sk.ca/DOCS/crops/integrated_     pest_management/weed_control/weedmgt.asp

Integrated insect management

General insect information: 
http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/crops/insects/index.html
http://www.mandakzerotill.org/iimindex.html

Disease management

General disease information:
http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/crops/diseases/index.html

Rotation

General crop rotation information:
http://www.mandakzerotill.org/adart04.html

Personal reference:

Fertility

Personal contact.  Grant, Cynthia, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 2003.

Personal contact.  Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives Specialists, 2003.

FARM PROTOCOL

OBJECTIVES OF CROP ROTATION

CROP ROTATIONS