QUIZ – This Week in Agronomy

Six questions on topics CCC agronomy specialists talked about over the past week…plant counts, excess moisture, fertilizer shortages, tank mixing, flea beetle spraying and reseeding.

1. Canola is advancing in southern Alberta, making it the perfect time to do plant counts and assess crop establishment. This photo was taken in a field near Lethbridge. What is the likely cause of low counts in this particular photo? 

2. Heavy rains submerged canola plants in some areas of the Peace River region. We dont have a lot of research on water-logging and its effect on canola yield. Chinese research indicates the _______ stage is most susceptible.
3. Fertilizer is in short supply at some input providers. If farms don’t have enough fertilizer to finish seeding at their intended rates, one option is to go at a lower rate and then top dress. Ideally, in-crop application of nitrogen should occur before peak uptake. At what canola stage does maximum nitrogen uptake occur? 
4. Mixing order can be critical for herbicides as well as water amendments, surfactants and adjuvants. One misstep and products may not work as well as expected and, possibly, the mix can separate into blobs of goo that plug everything. A mixing order example: When using ammonium sulphate to treat water and improve glyphosate performance, which goes into the tank first? 
5. Various factors can influence the efficacy of insecticides to control flea beetles. Day time temperature is one of them. What is the recommended maximum temperature for pyrethroid (Decis, Pounce, Perm-UP, etc.) application?
6. Farmers and agronomists looking at a slow and sparsely emerging crop may be asking, should I reseed? An established uniform canola stand with as few as ___ plant(s) per square foot generally has higher economic potential than a thicker stand reseeded late. (Fill in the blank.)