Bin Buster Yields!

Get those spring cereals seeded early! All spring cereals benefit from early seeding, unless soil conditions are excessively wet. Cool, moist conditions during early growth promote tillering and formation of large heads, resulting in higher yields and better kernel weights. Early seeding will allow the crop to avoid damage from the most serious diseases, and escape the worst effects of mid-summer heat and drought. Target seeding dates are in Table 1:

In areas of greater than 2900 crop heat units, spring cereals are generally not recommended, and should definitely not be grown if planting is delayed beyond April 20^th.

Delayed seeding of spring cereals beyond the first date when soil conditions are favorable can result in yield losses of 1.5 bushels/acre/day or greater, (Table2). Lodging potential increases with delayed planting dates, and test weights drop.

* Lodging Rating where 1 = erect at harvest , 9 = flat at harvest
Source: Dr. Garry Hoekstra, Kemptville College - University of Guelph

Frost Seeding?

Seeding spring cereals into frost is a relatively new technique in Ontario, which can significantly advance seeding dates and potentially increase yields. This strategy has been used extensively and with great success in other regions of North America.

Frost seeding refers to seeding cereals into a light frost in early spring. After the snow has melted, and the frost is out of the ground, several cold nights with below zero temperatures are common. Seeding into this light frost is possible, as the frost will support the tractor and avoid compaction or rutting. It is not essential to close the seed trench when frost seeding. The soil will naturally fall in and cover the seed as the frost comes out of the ground. Simply set no-till equipment to make a shallow (1") seed trench, and firm the seed into the bottom of the trench.

The window of opportunity for this option is short. Frost is generally not hard enough until 2:00 - 4:00 a.m., and is out of the ground by 8:00 -10:00 a.m. Do not attempt when air temperatures drop below -8° C. The ground will be frozen hard enough to break the no-till equipment.

Whether frost seeding or early seeding get those cereal crops in the ground as soon as possible. It's the only way to hit those "bin buster" yields!

| Top of Page |