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Direct Seeding Advantage 2008 Conference Proceeedings
Author: Reduced Tillage LINKAGES
Date Created: November 27, 2008
Last Reviewed: November 27, 2008
Direct seeding Advantage was held on November 19-20, 2008 at Nisku Alberta To download a complete copy of the conference proceedings open the attached PDF (1.5 MB) Robert Ruwoldt - No-Till Farmer - Victoria, Australia  Advancing the Art of No-Till in Australia – Crop Rotations and Soil Advancing the Art of No-Till in Australia – Equipment & Technology Robert Ruwoldt is a past president of the Victorian (Australia) No-Till Farmers Association. Robert is one of Australia's best no-till farmers and a dynamic speaker. He started direct seeding his crops in 1983 and has continued to advance his system ever since then. Robert’s farm is now a fourth generation family farm and is situated in the middle of Victoria (Australia) and in the heart of the Wimmera farming region. The farm consists of 7000 acres of no-till crop land. Robert is lucky to have some of the best soils in Australia to farm, consisting of mainly heavy black clay soil types with good water holding capacity. Average rainfall is 16 inches a year of mainly winter rain fall with no reliable summer rain to count on. Robert grows wheat, barley, lentils, canola, beans and chickpeas in his diverse and continuous cropping rotation Dr. Jeff Schoenau - Professor, University of Saskatchewan- Saskatoon, SK Tillage Systems & Soil Phosphorous The effects of the no till system on soil phosphorus availability over the short and longer term are covered in the presentation. Issues such as nutrient stratification, and general strategies for maximizing crop recovery of soil and fertilizer phosphorus are dealt with, using recent research examples from Western Canada. Dr. Bob Blackshaw - Weed Scientist, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada - Lethbridge, AB Integrated Weed Management in No-Till Successful long-term weed management requires a shift away from simply controlling weeds with herbicides to agricultural production systems that are redesigned to manage weeds at all stages of their life cycle. These production systems should restrict weed emergence, reduce weed growth and reproduction, and minimize weed interference with crops. Zero tillage is a key component of such improved cropping systems because weed seed death is higher, weed emergence is lower, and healthier crops are more competitive with weeds. Other practices such as diversified crop rotations, higher crop seeding rates, competitive cultivars, and strategic fertilizer management will further reduce weed populations over time. Examples of integrated management systems for troublesome weeds such as foxtail barley and downy brome will be given. Dr. Kris Nichols - Soil Microbiologist, USDA - Mandan, ND Microbial Engineering to Enhance Your Bottom Line Soil microbes manipulate their growing environment to more efficiently access food and maintain a habitat. This manipulation comes in the form of creating soil aggregates in the rhizosphere, or zone around the roots. Soil aggregates are small soil pellets which give the soil structure and improve soil functions such as water infiltration, water holding-capacity, and nutrient cycling. Plants growing in the high quality environment formed by soil aggregates have higher productivity with less water and synthetic inputs. Mark Olson - Provincial Pulse Industry Development Specialist, Alberta Agriculture & Rural Development - Stony Plain, AB Emerging Pulse Crop Opportunities Zero tannin faba bean? Lupin? Mung bean? Winter pea, lentil and faba bean? These are all new pulse kinds that we've heard mentioned in passing, seen write ups in the farm press or maybe even have seen a small plot growing in a neighbors field. Come hear Mark Olson of Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development update you on the research that has been completed and what new research is being worked on in the pulse area. Additionally, there will be a discussion on the developing markets and commercialization potential of these new pulse crops. Craig Shaw - Producer - Lacombe, AB & Jay Bruggencate - Manager - Western Prairies, Farmers Edge Precision Consulting - Lacombe, AB Variable Rate Technology Remote sensed Variable Rate Application uses GIS referenced imagery to create management zones within fields. Based on geo-referenced data, variable rate prescriptions for fields can be built. Recently, Variable Rate Fertility has seen the most interest from farmers, however Variable Rate seed and various pesticide applications can also be implemented. By varying fertilizer application rates throughout the field, farmers can target higher yield goals in good areas and minimize economic losses on poor areas. Field areas high in soil nutrients can be given low or no fertilizer, reducing environmental risks. Farmers can now implement this technology with their new or existing application equipment. Curt McNaughton - Producer - Rumsey, AB New Seeding Technology Curt shares his experience with new seeding equipment, the Morris Contour Drill.