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Manitoba Agronomists Conference

2017

PROGRAM AND ABSTRACTS

December 13 & 14, 2017

Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences University of Manitoba

Managing Crops to Maintain Markets

#MbAgron17

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Morning Program

Wednesday, December 13, 2017 JRI Auditorium, Room 172 Agriculture Building

Chair: Mr. John Heard

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8:00 Registration Foyer outside of Agriculture Auditorium, 172 Agriculture Bldg.

8:25 Welcome to the Conference

Dr. Karin Wittenberg, Dean Faculty of Agricultural & Food Sciences, University of Manitoba

8:30 Introduction

Mr. John Heard, Manitoba Agriculture

8:35 Accelerating Innovation, Productivity and Sustainability in

Agriculture Ms. Michelle Nutting, Manager of Agriculture Sustainability, Agrium and Board of Directors Member, Field to Market

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9:20 Impact Metrics of 4R Nutrient Stewardship

Dr. Tom Bruulsema, Vice President, Americas & Research, International Plant Nutrition Institute

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10:05 Coffee Break – Agriculture Atrium

Poster Session – 138 Agriculture Bldg.

10:45 Local Choices, Global Impact: Why You Want To Consider Market

Access Before You Spray Ms. Delaney Ross Burtnack, Executive Director, Manitoba Canola Growers

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11:30 Industry Panel

Moderator: Ms. Ingrid Kristjanson, Farm Production Extension Specialist-Crops, Manitoba Agriculture Panel Mr. Doug Chorney, Assistant Chief Commissioner, Executive Division, Grain Commission/Government of Canada Mr. Ian Epp, Agronomy Specialist, Canola Council of Canada Dr. John Waterer, Director, Crop Science, Paterson GlobalFoods

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12:00 Lunch – University Centre, Rm 204 Marshall McLuhan Hall

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AFTERNOON PROGRAM

Wednesday, December 13, 2017 JRI Auditorium, Room 172 Agriculture Building

Chair: Ms. Holly Derksen

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1:00 Manitoba weed resistance update: Results of the 2016 field survey and management questionnaire Dr. Hugh Beckie, Research Scientist – Herbicide-Resistant Plants, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

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1:40 Flea beetles: Economic thresholds, natural enemies, and

landscape effects Dr. Alejandro Costamagna, Department of Entomology, University of Manitoba

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2:10 Dicamba drift from Xtend beans – what is going on?

Dr. Tom Wolf, Agrimetrix Research & Training 8



3:20 Phytophthora root rot or not? That is the question.

Dr. Alison Robertson, Department Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Iowa State University

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4:00 From large spiny caterpillars to small sap suckers: Insects on

crops in Manitoba in 2017 Dr. John Gavloski, Farm Production Extension – Entomologist, Manitoba Agriculture

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4:30 Beer and Pretzel Reception – Agriculture Atrium

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MORNING PROGRAM

Thursday, December 14, 2017 JRI Auditorium, Room 172 Agriculture Building

Chair: Ms. Anastasia Kubinec

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8:30 Welcome 8:35 Crop Management to Improve Environmental Stress Tolerance

Dr. David Hooker, University of Guelph 11

9:15 7 Tips to Improve Your Corn Production

Mr. Greg Stewart, Maizex Seeds Inc.12

9:45 Straight Cutting Canola – Beyond the Variety

Mr. Lorne Grieger, Prairie Agriculture Machinery Institute 13



10:45 300,000 Acres of Peas in Manitoba – Is it Possible?

Mr. Terry Buss, Manitoba Agriculture14

11:20 Panel – What’s the Deal with Intercropping?

Mr. Scott Chalmers, Manitoba Agriculture Ms. Lana Shaw, South East Research Farm Inc., Redvers, SK Mr. Brooks White, Pierson, MB

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12:00 Lunch – University Centre, Rm 204 Marshall McLuhan Hall

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AFTERNOON PROGRAM

Thursday, December 14, 2017 JRI Auditorium, Room 172 Agriculture Building

Chair: Ms. Marla Riekman

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1:00 Developing K Recommendations for North Dakota Mr. John Breker, AgVise Laboratories

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1:30 Optimizing Nitrogen Management Strategies for High-yielding

Spring Wheat in Manitoba Ms. Amy Mangin, Department of Soil Science, University of Manitoba

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1:45 Record Yields in a Drought??

Dr. Paul Bullock, Department of Soil Science, University of Manitoba 18

2:15 Soil Health in a Changing Climate

Dr. Steve Crittenden, Research Scientist – Soil Nutrient Management, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

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2:45 Farmer Panel – Cropping Forward for Global Markets

Mr. Scott Perkin, Souris, MB Mr. Korey Peters, Randolph, MB Mr. Geoff Young, Carman, MB

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3:30 Formal Dismissal

Coffee Break – Agriculture Atrium Poster Session – 138 Agriculture Bldg.

4:30 Official Closing

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CCA CREDITS

There are a total of 11.5 Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) continuing education units available

CCA Continuing Education Credits Offered:

Day 1 Day 2

Nutrient Management 1 1.5

Integrated Pest Management 4

Crop Management 0.5 3

Soil and Water Management 0.5 1

TOTAL POSSIBLE CREDITS 11.5

CCSC CREDITS

A total of 11.5 Certified Crop Science Consultant (CCSC) continuing education units available

Day 1 Day 2

Integrated Pest Management 4

Crop Management 2 5.5

Application Technology

Professional Development

TOTAL POSSIBLE CREDITS 11.5

Up to an additional 2 CEUs will be available through the self-study poster session, to all registrants. Successful completion of quiz questions will

result in .5 CEU in each of the following: Nutrient Management, Soil & Water Management, Integrated Pest Management, and Crop Management.

Submission deadline: December 30, 2017

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Accelerating Innovation, Productivity and Sustainability in Agriculture Michelle Nutting, Agrium, Manager, Agriculture Sustainability, Calgary, AB, T2J 7E8. E-mail: [email protected] One of the most significant challenges facing this generation is how we provide food, fiber and fuel for a growing and more affluent global population, while conserving finite natural resources. A pivotal solution to the challenge is how we unite the agricultural supply chain to build a long-term strategy to address resource availability. Consumers are increasingly seeking out information about how their food and other agricultural products are grown. Collaboration is key to expanding the conversation around agricultural sustainability from farm to fork, enabling all sectors of the industry to better answer questions about environmental, economic and social impacts and advance sustainable production.

Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture is helping the agricultural supply chain address these questions. Bringing together a diverse group of grower organizations; agribusinesses; food, fiber, restaurant and retail companies; conservation groups; universities; and public sector partners, the Alliance focuses on defining, measuring and advancing the sustainability of food, fiber, and fuel production. Michelle Nutting, Agrium Agricultural Sustainability Manager and Field to Market Board Member, will share how the Alliance is accelerating innovation, productivity and sustainability in U.S. agriculture.

Biography Michelle Nutting is the Manager of Agriculture Sustainability for Agrium in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. She has a B.Sc. in Agriculture with a major in Soil Science from the University of Manitoba. Her experience includes roles in agriculture research, extension, regulatory management, sales and distribution. In her current position Michelle is responsible for implementing the 4R Nutrient Stewardship program and working with external stakeholders engaged in sustainable agriculture initiatives. She is an active member in The Fertilizer Institute, Fertilizers Canada, the International Fertilizer Association, the Canadian Field Print Initiative and the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Crops and a board member for Field to Market, the Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture.

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Impact Metrics of 4R Nutrient Stewardship Dr. Tom Bruulsema, International Plant Nutrition Institute, and Allison Thomson, Field to Market Guelph, ON, N1G 1L8. E-Mail: [email protected]

Consumer interest in sustainability provides an opportunity to communicate the connections between nutrient stewardship and its outcomes. The 4R Nutrient Stewardship concept requires impact metrics of interest to a broad range of stakeholders of crop production systems. To provide information that is both understandable and comprehensively representative of all relevant impacts, it is important to accurately define, group and place together appropriate sets of complementary metrics. The fertilizer industry agrees that nutrient use efficiency metrics must be balanced with metrics for productivity and soil health. In the same manner, it may be helpful to group indicators of further-reaching impacts, including water and air quality, greenhouse gas balance, food security, biodiversity and economic value. This presentation will describe efforts of the International Plant Nutrition Institute and its partners toward development of metrics connecting 4R practices to material outcomes of interest to current sustainability initiatives.

Biography Since July 2017, Tom Bruulsema has been VP Americas & Research for the International Plant Nutrition Institute. Based in Guelph, Ontario, Canada, he has been involved in soil fertility research and education since 1995. From 2015 to 2017 he led the Institute's Phosphorus Program. Dr. Bruulsema has been recognized as a Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy, the Soil Science Society of America, and the Canadian Society of Agronomy. He was previously a research associate at the University of Minnesota (1994), and an agronomist with the Mennonite Central Committee in Bangladesh (1986-1990).

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Local Choices, Global Impact: Why You Want To Consider Market Access Before You Spray Delaney Ross Burtnack, Executive Director, Manitoba Canola Growers Association, Winnipeg, MB, R3B 0T6. E-mail: [email protected]

As agriculture becomes increasingly global, so does the impact of the production choices we make here at home. The pesticide registration process is complex, and pesticides that are registered in Canada may not yet be registered in other markets, putting grain and oilseed exports at risk of rejection. Recently, the agriculture industry has come together to better manage the export risks for Canadian products, and protecting the marketability of every grower’s grain starts with the decision they make on what to spray.

Biography Delaney Ross Burtnack recently joined the Manitoba Canola Growers Association as Executive Director. Previously. Delaney led the Canadian Association of Agri-Retailers as President & CEO, during which time she sat on the Steering Committee and was Communications Chair for the Market Acceptance of Pesticide Use Policy initiative. She holds her Masters of Science in agronomy from the University of Manitoba.

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Industry Panel

Moderator Ms. Ingrid Kristjanson, Farm Production Extension Specialist-Crops, Manitoba Agriculture Ingrid Kristjanson is a Farm Production Extension Specialist-Crops, with the Primary Agriculture Branch of Manitoba Agriculture. She joined Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives as Ag Rep in Morris, in 2002. She is making the move to the Teulon office, currently covering both areas.

She previously worked with Cargill AgHorizons as consulting agronomist, and with Simplot Soilbuilders as sales agronomist. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Manitoba, is a member of the Manitoba Institute of Agrologists and is a Certified Crop Adviser. Panel Mr. Doug Chorney, Assistant Chief Commissioner, Executive Division, Grain Commission/Government of Canada Doug Chorney served as Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) President from 2011 to 2015. Prior to this, he was KAP Vice-President and served as Chair of KAP's Workplace and Employment Committee.

Mr. Chorney served on the board of directors of Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation from June 2015 to February 2017. As well, he served on the Agricultural Risk Management Review Task Force in 2015.

From 2011 to 2015, Mr. Chorney served on the board of directors of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture. He also served as member of the Manitoba Advisory Council on Workplace Safety and Health from 2012 to 2017. Mr. Chorney is a former Vice-Chair and Board Member of the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council.

Mr. Chorney is a professional engineer and holds an agricultural engineering degree from the University of Manitoba. He farms 1,500 acres of cereal, oilseed and vegetable crops near East Selkirk, Manitoba.

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Panel (continued)

Mr. Ian Epp, Agronomy Specialist, Canola Council of Canada Ian Epp was raised on a family grain farm near Blaine Lake SK, where he continues to be involved in the operation. He graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a B.Sc. in Agriculture, majoring in Agronomy. Ian is finishing a Master’s degree in Weed Science at the University of Saskatchewan, focusing on cleaver control in canola. Since October 2015 Ian has been an Agronomy Specialist with the Canola Council of Canada focusing on Stand establishment and weed management.

Dr. John Waterer, Director, Crop Science, Paterson GlobalFoods Born and raised in Winnipeg, and still owns a farm near McAuley, Manitoba. Director Crop Science, Paterson Global Foods. Winnipeg. Testing Operations Manager, Corn Breeding at Monsanto and Canadian Agronomy Manager at Cargill. BSA, MSc, PhD from University of Manitoba. Married with two kids and is an avid tournament angler, but still needs to work.

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Manitoba weed resistance update: Results of the 2016 field survey and management questionnaire Hugh J. Beckie, Scott W. Shirriff, and Julia Y. Leeson, Saskatoon Research & Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 0X2. E-mail: [email protected] The last weed resistance survey in Manitoba was in 2008, where about half of all surveyed fields had a herbicide-resistant weed biotype. However, about 60% of fields where wild oat was sampled had a herbicide-resistant population. Of fields where green foxtail was sampled, 44% had a resistant population. In late summer, 2016, 150 randomly-selected fields were surveyed throughout Manitoba for herbicide-resistant weeds. All residual weed species with mature seeds were mapped and sampled before harvest. Selected fields were cropped to cereals (wheat, barley, oat), oilseeds (canola, flax), including soybean, or pulses (field pea). Samples of grass and broadleaf weed species were subsequently screened in pot assays in the greenhouse using Group 1 or 2 herbicides. This presentation will highlight the results of those screening tests, as well as provide a snapshot of the top weed management practices of Manitoba growers and the cost of weed resistance.

Biography Hugh is a weed scientist at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Research Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and Adjunct Professor in the Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta in Edmonton. His research program over the past 25 years has focused on surveillance, risk assessment, and management of herbicide-resistant weeds as well as impact assessment of crops with novel traits.

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Flea beetles: Economic thresholds, natural enemies, and landscape effects Alejandro C. Costamagna, Tharshi Nagalingam, and Thais Silva Guimaraes Department of Entomology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N2. E-mail: [email protected]

Flea beetles are one of the major pests in canola, resulting in widespread use of insecticide treated seeds, supplemented with foliar insecticide applications during outbreak years. The nominal threshold currently utilized for foliar applications is based on varieties no longer in use and there is no information on the role of natural enemies or agricultural landscape complex in the population dynamics of these pests. We are conducting field and laboratory experiments to 1) develop descriptive economic thresholds for flea beetles, 2) identify the suite of natural enemies of flea beetles using molecular methods, 3) define landscape characteristics that limit flea beetle populations and increase mortality of flea beetles by natural enemies, and 4) develop models to predict flea beetle emergence and major seasonal activity based on abiotic environmental conditions.

Economic threshold experiments were conducted in small plots using current hybrid cultivars in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, in 2015-2017. The treatments included an unsprayed control, a neonicotinoid-treated seed with no foliar insecticide spray, and foliar insecticide sprays at 15-20%, 25%, and 45% defoliation levels. We assessed defoliation by flea beetles, canola phenology, flea beetle abundance, and seedling survival. When the average defoliation of a sprayed treatment reached its threshold, the plots were sprayed with Matador (lambda-cyhalothrin) at 34 ml/ac, within 24 h of the assessment. At harvest, seed yield and seed quality were determined. We also followed flea beetle populations in commercial fields and characterized the landscape around them within a 2 km radius. Results from the initial two years of experiments suggest that applying foliar insecticide provided yield protection compared to the treatments without any seed treatment or foliar insecticide, and that the neonicotinoid seed treatment produced the highest numerical yield. At the landscape scale, the area with canola had significant effects on flea beetle populations. Biography Alejandro Costamagna is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Entomology at the Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences. His research focuses on sustainable methods to control arthropod pests in agricultural systems. His current research projects include studying landscape and natural enemy impacts on flea beetles, cereal leaf beetles, lygus bugs, and soybean aphids. He is also looking for new sources of plant resistance to wheat midge, in collaboration with scientists of AAFC. Alejandro obtained his M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Entomology at Michigan State University, and did post-doctoral studies at the University of Minnesota and at CSIRO in Australia. He is member of the Entomological Society of Manitoba, the Entomological Society of Canada, the Canadian Forum for Biological Control, the Entomological Society of America, the International Organization for Biological Control, the Ecological Society of America, and the International Association for Ecology.

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Dicamba drift from Xtend beans - what is going on? Tom Wolf, Agrimetrix Research & Training, Saskatoon, SK S7N 3R2. E-mail: [email protected] The introduction of dicamba tolerant Xtend trait soybeans allows the use of high rates of dicamba in these beans for control of certain glyphosate-resistant weeds. Non-Xtend beans, many horticultural and ornamental plants, as well as trees can be highly susceptible to dicamba, and special measures are needed to prevent off-target movement via particle and vapour drift. XtendiMax (Monsanto), FeXapan (DowDuPont) and Engenia (BASF) formulations have reduced vapour drift significantly, but vapour losses can still occur 72 h after application, particularly at high temperatures. The new Canadian dicamba labels require adherence to strict drift mitigation measures, including spray quality (Extremely Coarse or Ultra Coarse only), water volume (>12 US gpa), boom height (< 20”), travel speed (<15.5 mph), wind speed (<15 km/h, no inversions), temperature (<25 ºC), tank mixes (no AMS or acidifying adjuvants), but modest terrestrial buffer zones (4 m, 15 m with glyphosate). Although some dicamba drift incidents were reported in Canada in 2017, the situation in the US was different. The US planted about 20 M acres of Xtend beans, and officials received 2,708 drift complaints covering about 3.6 M acres in 2017. Vapour drift and inversion conditions are suspected in at least some of these incidents by local specialists. In late 2017, dicamba was declared a restricted pesticide by the US EPA, allowing only Certified Applicators to purchase and use the product and requiring mandatory training and record keeping. Some US states are proposing time of year and time of day restrictions on dicamba use. The US Xtend soybean acreage is expected to rise to 50 M acres for 2018.

Biography Tom Wolf is the Owner of Agrimetrix Research & Training. He is a spray application specialist, based in Saskatoon. He obtained his BSA (1987) and M.Sc. (1991, Plant Science) at the University of Manitoba, and his Ph.D. (1996, Agronomy) at the Ohio State University. Tom has focused his career on improving the safety and efficiency of spray application, most recently with his own company, Agrimetrix. Topics of interest are spray drift, spray deposition and canopy penetration, sprayer cleanout, and pesticide performance as affected by droplet size and carrier volume. Tom enjoys sharing his findings by speaking to growers directly or through the world’s number one sprayer website, Sprayers101.com.

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Phytophthora root rot or not? That is the question. Alison Robertson, Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50014. Email: [email protected]

Soybean is susceptible to a number of soil-borne pathogens that cause root and/or stem rot including Phytophthora root rot (PRR), white mold (Sclerotinia stem rot), and sudden death syndrome (SDS). In 2015, an estimated 180 million bushels (4.9 million tonnes) was lost to stem diseases in the U.S. Correct diagnosis of a disease is important for management in subsequent years. Diagnosing stem diseases requires examining the whole plant. Plants with symptoms of PRR may be wilted with yellowed leaves. A chocolate brown lesion extends up the stem and extensive root rot may be present. Similar symptoms may occur with other stem diseases but there are often subtle differences that can be used to distinguish the disease apart from another disease. Perhaps more disconcerting are symptoms that occur as a result of stressful growing conditions rather than a pathogen, for example, K deficiency. Discriminating plant symptoms due to biotic or abiotic factors may sometimes require laboratory work. Considering the whole disease triangle often provides additional clues to help with diagnosis, for example, environmental and field conditions. PRR usually occurs when soils are warm and in areas of the field that may have been flooded for a few days. Considering host resistance scores is also important. Several major resistance genes against Phytophthora sojae, which causes PRR, have been identified in soybean. Although some of these have been incorporated into commercial soybeans, it is not uncommon for P. sojae to evolve, overcome these genes and cause PRR. Moreover, the diversity of P. sojae within a single field may be extensive. Consequently, planting varieties that have good field tolerance to the pathogen may help reduce losses to this important disease. Biography Dr. Alison Robertson is a Professor of Plant Pathology and Microbiology at Iowa State University. She provides leadership for corn and soybean disease diagnosis and management information, and coordinates education programs for corn and soybean farmers and agribusiness professionals throughout Iowa. Through her Extension activities, she strives to increase the plant pathology expertise of her clientele in order to facilitate more effective disease management and thereby increased net returns for Iowa farmers. Her research program addresses contemporary issues in disease management of corn and soybean production. Students in her lab are currently researching diseases of corn and soybean caused by Phytophthora and Pythium species.

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From large spiny caterpillars to small sap suckers: Insects on crops in Manitoba in 2017. John Gavloski, Entomologist, Manitoba Agriculture, Carman, MB, R0G OJO. E-mail: [email protected]

Every year brings a different assortment and levels of both the insects we need to protect and maximize yield of our crops, and those that feed on our crops and could potentially cause economic damage. Some insects do not overwinter in Manitoba, and their presence, absence or levels may depend on being blown or migrating into Manitoba. The temperature and amount and frequency or precipitation can also affect insect populations, with any given set of conditions favoring some insects and potentially hindering others. In this presentation we will explore some of the insects found in high levels in field crops in Manitoba in 2017.

Early season insect concerns included flea beetles in canola, cutworms, and alfalfa weevil in alfalfa. Flea beetles (Phyllotreta spp.) were a concern on canola in the spring and early-summer, in spite of most canola seed containing a neonicotinoid seed treatment for early-season protection from flea beetles. Cutworms (Noctuidae) were also an early-season concern in some fields. Feeding from larvae of alfalfa weevil (Hypera postica) caused a lot of damage in some alfalfa fields from mid-June through the first 2 weeks of July. Thistle caterpillar (Vanessa cardui) was quite noticeable in many soybean and sunflower fields. Although generally not an economical threat to crops in Manitoba, the caterpillars and their webbing are very visible and caused a lot of concern. Aphids (Aphididae) were at economic levels in several crops, including small grain cereals, peas, and soybeans. High levels of aphid predators (such as lady beetles, lacewings, and syrphid larvae) also established in some of these fields. Diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) was at economic levels in some canola fields, in spite of quite low levels of adult moths in pheromone-baited traps early in the season in some of the affected areas. High levels of bertha armyworm (Mamestra configurata) were present in some canola fields in western Manitoba.7

Biography John is an entomologist with Manitoba Agriculture in Carman. He conducts monitoring programs for some of Manitoba's major insect pests and provides information on insects and insect management to farmers, agronomists and those working in the agriculture industry. John does numerous presentations and information updates for agronomists and farmers, and produces a weekly Manitoba Insect and Disease Update during the spring and summer. He has worked for Manitoba Agriculture since 1997. John has a bachelor’s degree in environmental biology and a M. Sc. in entomology from the University of Guelph, and completed his Ph.D. in the department of entomology at the University of Manitoba. Aside from entomology, John also enjoys hiking, cycling, travelling and observing almost any type of wildlife.

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Crop management to improve environmental stress tolerance Dr. David C. Hooker, Dept. of Plant Agriculture/Ridgetown Campus, University of Guelph Ridgetown, ON, N0P 2C0. E-mail: [email protected] Weather is the overwhelming factor that causes variability in crop performance from year to year. Climatologists warn that crop growing regions may be exposed to a higher frequency and intensity of weather extremes in the future. This has important implications in crop production, because data show a direct relationship between water uptake and crop yield; in other words, the lack of water may become more important for maintaining trendline yields, as yields increase from genetic and agronomic improvements. A systems approach is needed to build for resilience and a reduction in year-to-year variability caused by environmental stresses, but the building process is rather long-term. We have published results from long-term studies in Ontario that have quantified the impact of various tillage systems, crop rotations, and NPK fertility on corn, soybean and wheat performance. In the crop rotation work, crops were most vulnerable to environmental stresses in continuous corn or a corn-soybean rotation, regardless of tillage system intensity, compared to crop rotations that include a forage or a small grain cereal. Corn after wheat yielded 10-30 bu/ac higher compared to corn after soybean; the highest yield responses were produced with water deficits around silking. Corn after wheat was also produced with a lower optimal economic N rate compared to a corn after soybean. Grain corn yield potential increased by an additional 9 bu/ac with the inclusion of red clover underseeded into wheat the previous year. Soybean in a corn-soybean-wheat rotation yield a consistent 4-6 bu/ac higher compared to a corn-soybean rotation. Clearly, crop rotation decisions must be made considering the impact of other farm enterprises. Improvements and resiliency were related to soil quality. Other long-term work in P and K fertility supports the build and maintain approach to P and K fertility management in corn, soybean and wheat. Twitter: @cropdoc2

Biography Dave is a Cropping Systems Agronomist and Associate Professor in the Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, at Ridgetown Campus, which is approx. 1 hour east of Detroit and 2 hours west of Toronto. His work focuses on field crop agronomy in mainly corn, soybean, wheat and some canola. He manages several long-term experiments on phosphorus and potassium fertility, crop rotations, tillage systems and cover crops. Dave also teaches plant science and crop management to approximately 400 students per year. Dave also farms about 600 acres near London, Ontario.

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7 tips to improve your corn production Greg Stewart, Agronomist, Maizex Seeds Inc., Tilbury, Ontario, N0P 2L0. E-mail: [email protected]

Corn yield is significantly impacted by stand uniformity. However, uniformity of emergence and early growth is considerably more important than uniformity of plant spacing. Delays in emergence by as little as 1 or 2 days may reduce yields in delayed plants by 5%. Various corn planter adjustments or modifications can reduce the key contributors to uneven emergence, namely, uneven seeding depth, residue pinning, sidewall compaction or open seed trenches. Higher corn seeding rates can improve yields but should be adjusted for spatial variability in or among fields, hybrid differences and other management inputs. Corn ear size determination passes through a critical phase at the V4 to V6 stage. Weed control and nutrient availability need to be optimized during this period. Nitrogen management strategies which include later (post V8) applications can improve yields but often only when rainfall, yield or N loss prescribe a need for additional N to meet demand during grain filling. Biography Greg Stewart was born and raised on a farm near Peterborough, Ontario. He attended the University of Guelph – his MSc focused on tillage and soil compaction. Stewart farmed and worked in the farm equipment industry for four years before joining the Ontario Ag Ministry as the Corn Specialist in 1998. Stewart joined the Maizex team in March of 2015.

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Straight Cutting Canola – Beyond the Variety Lorne Grieger, P.Eng., Project Manager, Agricultural Research and Development, PAMI, Portage la Prairie, MB, R1N 3C5. Email : [email protected]

Canola in the prairies has traditionally been swathed before harvesting, but interest in straight cutting as a harvest method has been growing. In 2016, PAMI studied three straight cut harvest treatments (Reglone, Heat & glyphosate, natural ripening) on a shatter-tolerant canola variety in Manitoba to understand the implications on harvest timing and combine efficiency compared to swathing (benchmark). A statistical analysis of data showed that treatment did not have an effect on yield, engine speed, dockage, oil content, green seed, or seed weight. However, it did significantly affect harvest productivity (bu/hr), harvest efficiency (bu/L), fuel consumption, engine load, harvest speed, and threshing losses.

Additional research in Manitoba on straight cutting canola during the 2017 harvest season studied physiological characteristics as a result of pre-harvest treatments compared to swathing. The implications on combine performance were also assessed.

In SK, PAMI studied the effect of header type on shatter losses and combine performance compared to swathing over three years (2014-2016). The test protocol involved harvesting strips in a randomized split-block design of a shatter resistant and typical hybrid variety at Swift Current, Saskatchewan (dry prairie), and Indian Head, Saskatchewan (thin black zone). The harvest treatments included three straight-cut header types (rigid auger, extendable knife auger, and draper) and a swathed treatment, as well as a comparison of different divider types. Data collected included header loss, yield, and multiple seed quality parameters. Observations were documented for header ground following cutting and feeding performance in addition to general combine performance. Environmental losses between the swathing date and harvest date were collected using trays placed between the rows in multiple locations in the main plots.

Biography Lorne Grieger is the Project Manager for Agricultural Research and Development at PAMI in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. He holds a degree in agricultural engineering from the University of Manitoba. Lorne’s passion for agriculture began with his family farm in the Swan Valley. After exploring the engineering consulting and pharmaceutical sectors, Lorne returned to a career in agriculture with PAMI. His broad range of experiences include research and development of agricultural equipment; evaluation of manure treatment and bioenergy systems; and research in grain harvesting and storage techniques.

PAMI is an applied research, development, and testing organization serving members of the agricultural community. PAMI has a history of independent third-party farm equipment evaluation and development, that has spurred technological advances in traditional and new farming practice.

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300,000 Acres of Peas in Manitoba – Is it Possible? Terry J. Buss, Manitoba Agriculture, Beausejour, MB, R0E 0C0. E-mail: [email protected]

Over the last several years, field pea acres and yields have varied considerably in Manitoba. Over the past couple of years, higher prices to growers and lower seed costs relative to soybeans have spurred on grower interest in field peas, including in areas of the province where acres had declined dramatically. In Manitoba and across Western Canada, the establishment or proposed establishment of additional field pea processing facilities to manufacture food ingredients and consumer ready food products have also driven increased interest in the crop. Clearly, field pea production in Manitoba is entering a new era of development, change and opportunity.

In this presentation, agronomic best management practices that facilitate profitable, reliable and sustainable field pea production will be explored. The objective is to identify which best management practices are critical to grower success as they strive to take advantage of new opportunities for field pea production in Manitoba.

Biography Terry Buss is the Farm Production Extension Specialist – Pulses, Primary Agriculture Branch with Manitoba Agriculture working out of the Beausejour office.

Terry grew up in Beausejour and was part of his family’s farming operation until 1993. He received his Bachelor and Master’s Degrees in Agriculture at the University of Manitoba. He also has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the same institution.

Terry has been with Manitoba Agriculture since December of 2002 and previously has worked as an Ag Rep, Diversification Specialist and Farm Production Advisor – Crops. Before joining Manitoba Agriculture, Terry worked as a Pulse Crop Specialist for Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development for seven years.

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Panel - What’s the Deal with Intercropping? Mr. Scott Chalmers, Manitoba Agriculture Scott grew up on a small mixed farm operation near Carroll, MB. Scott completed his B.Sc. (Honours) degree at Brandon University in 2004 majoring in Botany and minoring in chemistry.

Scott Chalmers is a Diversification Specialist, and has been working for MB Agriculture for over 10 years. He has been managing the non-profit applied crop research group Westman Agricultural Diversification Organization (WADO) in Melita. Aside from public variety trials, and general agronomy trials in all crops types, Scott enjoys researching cropping systems the most including intercropping. Scott has been researching the merits of intercrops since 2009 when he first did an experiment with peas and canola. Since then, Scott has research many successful crop combinations and systems of intercrops, relay crops and companion crops.

Scott resides in Reston, MB with his wife Tanis and has two kids. Scott takes an interest in all grain beer brewing and cider making, holistic no till gardening, aquaculture, and sustainable greenhouse systems. Ms. Lana Shaw, South East Research Farm Inc., Redvers, SK Lana Shaw has a M. Sc. Plant Sciences (2002) and a BSc Agriculture (1999) from the University of Saskatchewan. She has worked in pulse agronomy since 1999, first in a Masters degree in dry bean agronomy and then as an irrigation agronomist with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture (2001-2009. Since 2010, Lana has worked as research manager of the South East Research Farm, designing and conducting various agronomic field crop trials with a considerable emphasis on novel techniques like intercropping. Mr. Brooks White, Pierson, MB Brooks and his wife Jen operate Borderland Agriculture, a 7500 acre 5th generation farm near Pierson, MB. The vison for their farm is "REGENERATE" and they focus on incorporating bison production into a diverse cropping system. This year two thirds of their cropping acres were seeded to intercrops, relay and cover crops. They are honored to be recognized as finalists for the 2018 Manitoba Outstanding Young Farmer Program. They welcome visitors to their farm any time to share what they have learned from intercropping.

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Developing K recommendations for North Dakota John S. Breker, AGVISE Laboratories, Northwood, ND, USA 58267. E-mail: [email protected] North Dakota potassium (K) fertilizer recommendations for corn (Zea mays L.) were borrowed from central U.S. Corn Belt states, utilizing the soil test K (STK) critical level of 150 ppm determined by 1 M ammonium acetate extraction on dried soil. Since the expansion and intensification of corn and soybean production in North Dakota in the 1990s, increased grain K export with these crops has removed much soil K. As a result, STK below 200 ppm is more common, and K deficiency symptoms in corn and soybean are more frequently observed, particularly in dry years. A recalibration study was conducted from 2014 to 2016 on 30 sites in southeast North Dakota to identify an accurate soil test K method and its critical level for corn. The established method using ammonium acetate on dried soil remained the best predictor of yield response, although the 150 ppm critical level only predicted corn yield response at half of sites. Mineralogical analysis revealed that the relative proportion of smectite and illite in the clay fraction resolved most inconsistences between STK and yield response. For soils with a smectite/illite ratio > 3.5, STK critical level was increased to 200 ppm to address yield responses on these soils in dry years. For soils with a smectite/illite ratio < 3.5, the STK critical level remained at 150 ppm. A clay mineralogical survey of North Dakota identified the clay type and STK critical level for local areas. In the new recommendations, a minimum amount of fertilizer material (broadcast 60 lb K2O acre-1) is suggested for a probable yield response. A maximum K rate was set at 120 lb K2O acre-1 because corn yield reductions were often observed above this rate.

Biography John Breker is a soil scientist with AGVISE Laboratories in Northwood, ND. He received his B.S. and M.S. in Soil Science from North Dakota State University in 2015 and 2017, respectively. His M.S. research under Dr. David Franzen concerned recalibration of the soil potassium test for corn in North Dakota. John grew up on his family’s grain farm in southeast North Dakota, where his father still raises wheat, corn, and soybean.

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Optimizing Nitrogen Management Strategies for High-yielding Spring Wheat in Manitoba. Amy Mangin and Don Flaten, Dept. of Soil Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2. John Heard, Manitoba Agriculture. Email: [email protected]

High-yielding spring wheat varieties being grown in Manitoba, along with improved agronomic practices, have challenged our traditional nitrogen (N) fertilization strategies. The Manitoba Soil Fertility Guide’s N recommendations for spring wheat were developed using much lower yielding varieties and suggest a large amount of N (2-3 lb N/bu) is required to obtain these high yields, creating a large financial, agronomic and environmental risk. A two-year management study was conducted to determine appropriate N rates, timings and sources to maximize yield and protein levels in two varieties of spring wheat commonly grown across Manitoba: AAC Brandon (CWRS) and Prosper (CNHR). Rates of N applied entirely in the spring (urea and/or ESN), as well as in split N applications (combinations of spring and either stem elongation or flag leaf) were evaluated. Post anthesis, foliar applications of UAN and urea solution were also investigated.

Means comparisons at the sites with the largest range of treatments determined that Prosper consistently out-yielded AAC Brandon by 8 – 15 bu/ac. The minimum amount of soil plus fertilizer N required to match maximum yield was 2.2 – 2.3 lbs N/bu for AAC Brandon and 1.7 – 1.8 lbs N/bu for Prosper. Protein content for AAC Brandon was 1.3 – 2 % greater than for Prosper. Split applications at stem elongation and flag leaf yielded at least as well as when N was applied entirely at planting, while post-anthesis foliar applications decreased yield. Protein levels increased as split applications were applied later in the growing season (post-anthesis>flag leaf>stem elongation>planting). Foliar application of urea solution resulted in higher yield and protein than UAN applications. ESN blends had similar yield and protein as equivalent rates of conventional urea.

Biography Amy completed her Undergraduate degree at U of Manitoba majoring in Agronomy, and her Master’s degree at the U of Alberta under the supervision of Dr. Linda Hall working on the influence of tillage systems on soil-applied herbicide efficacy. She returned the to the U of Manitoba in the spring of 2016 to work with Dr. Don Flaten on updating nitrogen recommendation for spring wheat in Manitoba and will began a PhD program with Dr. Yvonne Lawley at the U of M this coming January.

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Record Crop Yields in a Drought?? Paul Bullock1*, Les Henry2, Marla Riekman3, Timi Ojo3, Jarrett Powers4, Amy Mangin1, Don Flaten1, 1Department of Soil Science, University of Manitoba. 2Department of Soil Science, University of Saskatchewan. 3Agri-Resource Branch, Manitoba Agriculture. 1Science and Technology Branch, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

The 2017 growing season made headlines for drought conditions as well as reports of record crop yields. Although this may sound contradictory, record crop yields are certainly possible in a drought, provided there is an ample supply of soil moisture for a crop at the time of seeding as well as sufficient soil nitrogen. In reality, 2017 precipitation levels varied from record wet to record dry, although the dry conditions were more widespread. The 2017 provincial average crop yields were very good in Manitoba, but they were not a record overall (notwithstanding reports of record crop yields in some locations which were entirely feasible). In Alberta, crop yields were mediocre and in Saskatchewan below average. The longer season crops, such as soybean and grain corn, did not fare as well as the cereals and canola that have a shorter growing season and smaller soil water requirement. The plant available soil moisture ran out for soybean and grain corn before they completed their growth cycle, which limited their yield. Fall soil moisture is a critical factor affecting crop yields in a semi-arid agricultural region such as Western Canada where crop water demand regularly exceeds crop water supply. The generally high levels of soil moisture recorded in the fall of 2016 saved many prairie fields from disaster in 2017. It is starting to become clear that subsurface replenishment of soil water is another important factor affecting crop yield in dry years but there is currently no monitoring system in place to determine the extent of its impact. Measurements of fall 2017 soil moisture level will be presented and it is expected that crop yield prospects will not be as rosy in the event that another summer drought occurs in 2018.

*Corresponding author: [email protected]

Biography Paul Bullock is Professor and Head, Department of Soil Science, University of Manitoba. He has a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and a M.Sc. in Soil Science from the University of Saskatchewan and a Ph.D. from the Centre for Resource and Environmental Studies, Australian National University. Prior to joining the University of Manitoba, Dr. Bullock had several years experience in global operational crop yield forecasting at the Weather and Crop Surveillance department of the Canadian Wheat Board as well as remote sensing application development with Noetix Research Inc. His research covers a range of topics in agrometeorology including modeling weather impacts on crops, assessment of weather-based production risk and soil moisture modeling and measurement techniques.

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Soil Health in a Changing Climate: A New Research Project Steve Crittenden, Brandon Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Brandon, MB. R7A 5Y3. E-mail: [email protected].

Climate change is expected to bring more frequent summer drought to the Canadian Prairies. Crop growing conditions will be increasingly stressed and risk of yield losses and failure could increase. Crops need water to grow and the supply of nutrients is reduced under drought conditions, thus growth and yield are greatly reduced. Heavy rainfall washes away nutrients, seals soil, and damages crops. These changing growing conditions will shift disease pressures, especially Fusarium head blight (FHB), which could further exacerbate risks to crop growth and yield. Furthermore, as water and nutrient dynamics shift, so too will greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and soil microbial biodiversity and thus the environmental footprint of agriculture. Agricultural producers will need to select management practices that give their agro-ecosystems the greatest resistance and resilience to potential changes. Reduced soil tillage intensity systems (e.g., no-till) lessen soil disturbance and promote soil structure that shifts water and nutrient fluxes. Crop irrigation relieves water stress and thereby promotes plant growth thus increasing soil organic matter input to soil. Reduced tillage systems and irrigation may on one hand promote healthy functioning soils that result in higher crop yields but on the other hand disease pressures and GHG emissions may increase. A balance must therefore be struck between practices beneficial for water and nutrient fluxes given predictions of increased incidence of drought and heavy rainfall events during the growing season and risks involved with greater potential for FHB and GHG emissions. Therefore, we propose to evaluate the impact of soil tillage intensity and irrigation on soil health, GHG emissions, soil and rhizosphere microbial biodiversity, and incidence and severity of FHB under drought and heavy rainfall conditions.

Biography Steve Crittenden is currently a Research Scientist in Soil Nutrient Management at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Brandon, Manitoba. He studied Soil Science at University of Guelph (M.Sc.) and Soil Quality at Wageningen University in The Netherlands (Ph.D.). He also did a postdoc in Nutrient Management at Cornell University in U.S.A. He has worked on transport of N, P, and E. coli from manure in drainage and runoff water, soil quality of tillage systems in organic and conventional farming using biological, chemical, and physical indicators, and on revising the New York Phosphorus Index and linking P indices and soil tests between regions using soil P saturation. At AAFC he hopes to evaluate soil management practices that will give producers in Canada the best opportunity possible to sustainably adapt to changing growing conditions and to continue working with soil P conservation.

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Farmer Panel – Cropping Forward for Global Markets Mr. Scott Perkin, Souris, Manitoba My name is Scott Perkin, I farm at Elgin, MB with my brother and family. Perkin Land and Cattle Company consists of approx. 8000 acres of Wheat, Canola, Oats, Sunflowers, Soybeans and corn as well as 175 purebred black and red simmentals. We also operate Perkin Seed and Soil; a soybean and corn seed company providing seed solutions for our local market. We pride ourselves on being progressive and efficient. We are constantly looking at opportunities in grain markets and are willing to put the agronomic work into growing some unique crops. The balance of farm and family is important to us; we have young families involved in hockey, dance and 4H; so the challenges of the workload and family activities are always top of mind. Im always excited to speak about cropping options and agronomy to anyone.

Mr. Korey Peters, Randolph, Manitoba Korey farms in Randolph, Manitoba, just west of Steinbach. His family farms around 5000 acres. They grow winter wheat, spring wheat, canola, soybean and corn. They also run a hog operation.

Mr. Geoff Young, Carman, Manitoba

Geoff is an Agriculture Diploma graduate. He farms between the towns of Manitou and Darlingford, Manitoba. He grows wheat, canola and oats. Last year was the first year he added soybeans to the rotation. He is actively involved with the Boundary Trails Railway Co. (BTRC) and has been a member of the Board for the last 8 years.

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POSTER ABSTRACTS

Page #

1. Resistance in flax cultivars and genotypes to powdery mildew Author: Khalid Y. Rashid, Morden Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Morden, MB R6M 1Y5

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2. Soybean performance as affected by early-season soil temperature, and

planting date: Crop establishment and early development Authors: Aaron Glenn1, Ramona Mohr1, Craig Linde2, and James Frey3. 1Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Brandon Research and Development Centre, Brandon, MB R7A 5Y3; 2Canada-Manitoba Crop Diversification Centre, Carberry, MB, R0K 0H0 ; 3Parkland Crop Diversification Centre, Roblin, MB, R0L 1P0.

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3. Soybean performance as affected by early-season soil temperature, and

planting date: Yield and quality Authors: Ramona Mohr1, Aaron Glenn1, Craig Linde2, and James Frey3. 1Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Brandon Research and Development Centre, Brandon, MB R7A 5Y3; 2Canada-Manitoba Crop Diversification Centre, Carberry, MB, R0K 0H0 ; 3Parkland Crop Diversification Centre, Roblin, MB, R0L 1P0.

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4. The Place of Cereals in Rotation: Lessons Learned from the 2017 Crop

Diagnostic School Authors: Réjean Picard1, Earl Bargen2, and Anne Kirk3 1Manitoba Agriculture, Somerset, MB, 2Manitoba Agriculture, Steinbach, MB, 3Manitoba Agriculture, Carman, MB

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5. Fall and Spring Placement of Nitrogen Fertilizers. Where do Enhanced

Efficiency Fertilizers Fit? Author: Rigas Karamanos, Koch Fertilizer Canada, ULC

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6. Effect of tillage method and soil moisture conditions on canola yield Authors: Curtis Cavers and John Fitzmaurice, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Portage la Prairie, MB R1N 3V6

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7. ACCase resistant green foxtail (Setaria viridis (L.) P. Beauv) in a long-

term rotation study with different in-crop herbicide use intensities. Authors: Deanna J. McLennan, Brent P. Murphy, Dr. Robert H. Gulden Department of Plant Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB. R3T 2N2

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Page #

8. MCGA On-Farm Trials: Assessing the Effects of Split Nitrogen Application in Corn Authors: Ron Tone P. Ag CCA1, Jordan Karpinchick CCA1, Liz Karpinchick Tech. Ag CCA1, John Heard P. Ag CCA2 , 1Tone Ag Consulting Ltd., St. Pierre-Jolys, 2Manitoba Agriculture, Carman

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9. MCGA On-Farm Trials: In-Season Corn Management Tools when

Nitrogen Status is Unknown Authors: Ron Tone P. Ag CCA1, Jordan Karpinchick CCA1, Liz Karpinchick Tech. Ag CCA1, John Heard P. Ag CCA2 , 1Tone Ag Consulting Ltd., St. Pierre-Jolys, 2Manitoba Agriculture, Carman

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10. Studies of Root System Architecture in Soybean using Computer Vision

Author: Kevin Falk, Dept of Agronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011

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11. Soybean Response to Potassium Fertility and Fertilizer in Manitoba

Author: Megan Bourns, Dept. of Soil Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2

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12. Determining Optimum Target Plant Stands for Spring Cereal Crops in

Manitoba Author: Anne Kirk, Primary Agriculture Branch, Manitoba Agriculture, 65-3rd Avenue, Carman, MB, R0G 0J0

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13. The effects of seeding rate and fungicide application on field peas in

Manitoba Author: Laryssa Stevenson & Greg Bartley, Manitoba Pulse & Soybean Growers, Carman, MB R0G 0J0

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14. Characterization of variation in preharvest sprouting tolerance of

different wheat lines Author: Pawanpuneet Rehal1, Rohit Kumar1, Gavin D. Humphrey2, Belay T. Ayele1, 1Department of Plant Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, 2Ottawa Research and Development Center, AAFC, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

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Page # 15. Analysis of the physiological and genetic bases of pre-harvest sprouting

tolerance in malting barley Author: Parneet K. Toora1, Rohit Kumar1, Ana Badea2, Marta Izydorczyk3, Belay T. Ayele1, 1Department of Plant Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada 2Brandon Research and Development Center, AAFC, Brandon Manitoba, Canada, 3Grain Research Laboratory, Canadian Grain Commission, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

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16. Manitoba Canola Disease Survey: 2017 Results and Long-Term Trends

Authors: Debra McLaren1 & Holly Derksen2 , 1 Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Brandon, MB R7A 5Y3, 2 Manitoba Agriculture, Carman, MB R0G 0J0

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17. Study on Verticillium longisporum of Canola for the First Reported Farm

in North America Authors: A. AGARWAL, and M. TENUTA*, Department of Soil Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3T2N2, Canada.

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18. Improving the functional measurement of soil potassium supply using the Plant Root Simulator (PRS®) probe. Author: Edgar Hammermeister, Western Professional Agronomy

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19. Update on Manitoba Potato Crop: Disease and Insects in Manitoba, 2017 Author: Vikram Bisht, Crop Industry Branch, Manitoba Agriculture, 65-3rd Ave NE, Box 1149, Carman, MB, R0G 0J0.

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20. Phytoglobin over-expression alleviates drought stress in maize

seedlings Author: Cassandra Hammond, Dept. Of Plant Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2

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21. On-Farm Trials with the Ultimate Canola Challenge (UCC)

Author: Nicole Philp, Agronomy Specialist, Canola Council of Canada, Regina, SK, S4X 0J8

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22. Impact of starter nitrogen fertilizer application on soybean production in

Manitoba Author: Navneet Brar, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N2

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Page # 23. Soybean agronomy highlights from western Canada: the new frontier

Author: Kristen P. MacMillan, Dept. of Plant Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N2

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24. Post-harvest residue management impact on seed yield in intermediate

wheatgrass. Author: D.J. Cattani, Department of Plant Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg MB R3T 2N2, email: [email protected]

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25. A new tool for grass and broadleaf identification on cropland in Western

Canada Authors: Jo-Anne Joyce, Doug Cattani, Rob Gulden; Dept. of Plant Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 E-mail: [email protected]

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26. Cultural Weed Control in Soybean: Does it Matter? 51 Author: Jonathan Rosset, Department of Plant Science, University of

Manitoba, R3T 2N2

27. How Are We Doing? Manitoba Nutrient Use Efficiency in Field Crops?

Authors: Samuel Steinmann and Mario Tenuta, Department of Soil Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N2

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28. What Will It Take? Meeting Soil Nitrous Oxide Emission Targets in

Manitoba for Field Crops? Author: Mario Tenuta, Department of Soil Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N2

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29. Assessment of Fusarium Head Blight Resistance in Registered Spring

Wheat Varieties under Natural Conditions in Manitoba, Canada Authors: Holly Derksen1, Pam de Rocquigny2, Anne Kirk1, & Craig Linde3 1Manitoba Agriculture, Carman, MB R0G 0J0 2Manitoba Wheat & Barley Growers Association, Carman, MB R0G 0J0 3Canada-Manitoba Crop Diversification Centre, Manitoba Agriculture, Carberry, MB R0K 0H0

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30. Faculty of Agricultural & Food Sciences Mentorship Program for

Women. Authors: Annemieke Farenhorst and Siobhan Maas, Department of Soil Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N2

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Page # 31. 2017 Fall Soil Moisture Survey

Author: Marla Riekman, Manitoba Agriculture, Carman, MB, R0G 0J0 56

32. Elemental sulfur and gypsum as soil amendments: Can you really

change soil pH and salinity? Authors: John Lee, Bob Deutsch, and John S. Breker, AGVISE Laboratories, Northwood, ND, USA 58267

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Resistance in flax cultivars and genotypes to powdery mildew Khalid Y. Rashid, Morden Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Morden, MB R6M 1Y5.

Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) is a major crop in western Canada with 1-1.5 million ha mostly in Saskatchewan, with smaller acreage in Manitoba and Alberta. Powdery mildew (PM) caused by the fungus Oidium lini Skoric, was first observed in western Canada in 1997 and has been reported from all flax growing areas in western Canada causing an estimated 10-20% yield loss in susceptible cultivars. Moderate resistance to powdery mildew is one of the minimum requirements by the Canadian Variety Registration Office to register flax varieties in Canada. The objectives of this study were to identify and characterize new and diverse sources of resistance to improve the level of genetic resistance in future cultivars. All Canadian registered cultivars, a core collection of 500 accessions representing the diversity in the flax world germplasm collection and 167 improved selection inbred lines were tested for their reaction under field conditions for four years and in repeated tests under controlled indoor conditions. Ninety percent of the Canadian flax cultivars are resistant or moderately resistant to PM, 25% of the improved selected inbred lines had high levels of resistance, and 10% of the world core collection had various levels of resistance.

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Soybean performance as affected by early-season soil temperature, and planting date: Crop establishment and early development Aaron Glenn1, Ramona Mohr1, Craig Linde2, and James Frey3. 1Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Brandon Research and Development Centre, Brandon, MB, R7A 5Y3; 2Canada-Manitoba Crop Diversification Centre, Carberry, MB, R0K 0H0; 3Parkland Crop Diversification Centre, Roblin, MB, R0L 1P0. Soybean germination, emergence and early development rates are partially dependent on soil temperature (TSOIL). Studies conducted at four sites across Manitoba over three years examined the effect of three treatments on TSOIL, soybean emergence, and early season growth. A factorial combination of two planting dates and three soil temperature treatments was arranged in a split-plot design with four replications, with planting date as the main plot and soil temperature as the subplot treatments. To produce a range of TSOIL at planting, plots were covered in early spring with one of three materials: 1) Styrofoam and/or reflective material (“cold”); 2) black plastic (“warm”); and 3) white+clear plastic (“control”). Soil temperatures were recorded hourly using sensors installed at a depth of 5 cm in each plot following planting at two sites in 2014 and four sites in 2015 and 2016. Analysis of the hourly TSOIL data indicated that significant differences were obtained with the subplot treatment coverings applied, which persisted for at least three days after planting (DAP) for at least half of the ten (i.e. 5/10) site-years on both planting dates. Cumulative soil degree hours less than 10°C (i.e. the summation of negative values of mean hourly TSOIL - 10°C) for 20 DAP were significantly different between temperature treatments for 4/10 site-years for the first seeding date and 2/10 site years for the second seeding date. However, for cumulative soil degree hours greater than 10°C (i.e. the summation of positive values of mean hourly TSOIL - 10°C) for 20 DAP there was only one site-year where there was a significant difference between the temperature treatments. Despite success in obtaining different TSOIL at the time of seeding and for several DAP, analysis of repeated plant counts made from emergence to V1 only showed significant differences between the treatments for two site-years on the second planting date.

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Soybean performance as affected by early-season soil temperature, and planting date: Yield and quality Ramona Mohr1, Aaron Glenn1, Craig Linde2, and James Frey3. 1Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Brandon Research and Development Centre, Brandon, MB, R7A 5Y3; 2Canada-Manitoba Crop Diversification Centre, Carberry, MB, R0K 0H0; 3Parkland Crop Diversification Centre, Roblin, MB, R0L 1P0.

Manitoba’s soybean industry has grown rapidly over the past decade leading to a record seeded area of 2.3 million acres in 2017, in part due to the introduction of short-season cultivars adapted to this region. Despite ongoing improvements in soybean genetics, soybean is inherently a cold-sensitive crop, with current provincial recommendations suggesting that soybean be planted when the average soil temperature is ≥10°C, with 18-22°C being ideal.

A series of field studies were conducted at four locations across Manitoba (Brandon, Carberry, Portage, Roblin) over three years to determine the effect of soil temperature at two planting dates on soybean growth, yield and quality. A factorial combination of two seeding dates (10-15 days apart) and three soil temperature treatments (cold, control, warm) was arranged in a split-plot design with four replications, with seeding date as the main plot and soil temperature as the subplot treatments. At Roblin only, main plots were not randomized. To produce a range of soil temperatures at planting, plots were covered in early spring with one of three materials: 1) Styrofoam and/or reflective material to insulate the soil and produce a “cold” temperature treatment; 2) black plastic to warm the soil to produce a “warm” temperature treatment; and 3) white+clear plastic to reflect the sun to produce a “control” treatment.

Soil coverings altered the soil temperature at planting to varying degrees depending upon the planting date and site-year, with average soil temperatures often ranging from 10°C to >20°C for a given planting date and site-year. Temperature treatments influenced yield in a few cases but, where differences were noted, higher yields were not consistently associated with higher soil temperatures at planting. Delayed planting reduced seed yield to varying degrees in the majority of site-years, with the greatest yield decline the result of fall frost damage at Roblin. In general, treatments did not appear to have a strong and consistent effect on seed quality.

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The Place of Cereals in Rotation: Lessons Learned from the 2017 Crop Diagnostic School Réjean Picard1, Earl Bargen2, and Anne Kirk3 , 1Manitoba Agriculture, Somerset, MB, 2Manitoba Agriculture, Steinbach, MB, 3Manitoba Agriculture, Carman, MB. Crop rotation can be defined as the successive cultivation of different crops in a specified order on the same fields, in contrast to a one-crop system or to haphazard crop successions. Rotating crops is a basic agronomic practice designed to bring diversity to the crop production system. Designing a crop rotation that is sustainable and profitable over the long term can be done by applying basic agronomic principles. Agronomic considerations for developing a crop rotation include intervals between crop types, ratio of grassy and broadleaf crops, inclusion of nitrogen fixing plants, and inclusion of crops with different growth habits. Diverse crop rotations can help minimize disease and weed pressure, vary nutrient requirements and soil moisture utilization, maintain soil quality, reduce risk, and improve resource utilization. An important aspect of this poster is to highlight the place of cereals in the rotation. Twenty years ago, cereals occupied about 60 % of the area planted to crops in Manitoba. Today, cereals represent about 40% of the area planted to crops in Manitoba and broadleaves now occupy about 60%. What impact will such a shift have on the production of crops in Manitoba is hard to predict, but based on historical knowledge and field experience, we can be certain that there will be consequences. This shift is relatively recent and the trend may still be progressing toward more broadleaf crops and less cereals. Cereals have an important role to play in the rotation and careful consideration must be given to include them in proper proportion. The poster also looks at three crop rotations and provides a comparison for profitability. The more diverse rotation meets many of the criteria for a good crop rotation and it is more profitable than the shorter less diverse rotations.

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Fall and Spring Placement of Nitrogen Fertilizers. Where do Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizers Fit? R. E. Karamanos, Koch Fertilizer Canada, ULC. E-mail: [email protected] There are three major losses of nitrogen (N) from the soil-plant system, namely, volatilization, denitrification and leaching. A number of practices are recommended to reduce volatilization of urea-based fertilizers, e.g., use of urease inhibitors, slow-release forms, and, irrigation shortly after application. However, the most common practice in western Canada has been incorporation of the fertilizer into the soil, especially in bands. This practice now is under scrutiny as shallow banding of urea-based is proving to be less efficient in affording protection of urea-based fertilizers than deep banding. This study summarizes the data from a three-year research conducted in the three prairie provinces that included deep-, shallow-banded and broadcast urea with or without the addition of stabilizers. Agrotain® stabilized urea (NBPT) and

SuperU (NBPT and DCD) fertilizer were used (NBPT is a urease and DCD a nitrification inhibitor). Overall, there were no differences in yield when fertilizers were deep banded (6-8 cm); however, broadcasting or shallow banding (1-4 cm) non-stabilized urea resulted in significant yield reductions.

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Effect of tillage method and soil moisture conditions on canola yield Curtis Cavers and John Fitzmaurice, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Portage la Prairie, MB R1N 3V6; Lorne Grieger, Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute, Portage la Prairie, MB.

Many parts of the Canadian Prairies are experiencing extreme weather events that hamper the productivity of conventional cropping systems. In areas that receive excess precipitation and a lack of drying weather conditions, timeliness of operations for crop establishment, addition of inputs and harvest are often made during times of sub-optimal soil conditions for equipment traffic-ability. As a result, soil compaction is an outcome that negatively impacts soil health and reduces the long-term productivity on affected soils. In addition, there is a trend towards lowering seeding rates for canola but the presence of excess soil moisture or soil compaction may further reduce yields, as fewer individual plants may not be able to branch and thus compensate to the same degree.

Since nearly every commercial field in western Canada will have some portion impacted by increased equipment traffic, there should be merit in quantifying the impacts of soil compaction and soil moisture and linking this data with canola performance. By examining novel tillage practices, whose tillage depths range from approximately 2 inches (5 cm) with shallow vertical tillage to 16 inches (40 cm) under deep tillage (subsoiling), as well as the inclusion of raised beds/controlled traffic concepts, we can provide an initial assessment that may have implications for precision farming systems and alternatives to surface/tile drainage.

In 2017, this project compared the performance of canola varieties (Invigor® 5440, L140P, L241C and L252) and soil penetrometer measurements to 18 inches (45 cm) in four tillage treatments under two moisture regimes (rain-fed and excessively irrigated) to determine how to manage canola stands under compacted/excess moisture conditions for best performance. In 2018, we will select one variety from above and repeat the tillage and soil moisture treatments to compare canola target seeding populations (30, 60, 90 and 120 pure live seeds per square meter).

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ACCase resistant green foxtail (Setaria viridis (L.) P. Beauv) in a long-term rotation study with different in-crop herbicide use intensities. Deanna McLennan, Brent Murphy, Robert Gulden, Department of Plant Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2. The long-term Pesticide Free Production (PFP) experiment was initiated with the objective to reduce the selection pressure for herbicide resistant weeds by omitting in-crop herbicide-use. One annual rotation and one annual/perennial rotation were established, both rotations were subjected to three in-crop herbicide omission treatments. The control treatment allowed in-crop herbicides each year, the PFP Oats treatment omitted herbicides from oats, and the PFP Oats & Flax treatment omitted herbicides from both oats and flax. After several rotation cycles, observations of green foxtail plants not-sensitive to in-crop ACCase Inhibitors (Group 1) applications were made. In 2016, the dose-response curve experiment confirmed the resistant green foxtail biotype, that is 9x less sensitive to the field rate of clethodim. Further genetic analysis identified the Ile-1781-Leu mutation within the extracted gene fragment. In 2017, a seedbank study was completed to characterize the resistant green foxtail population. Within both rotations, the lowest densities and proportions of the ACCase resistant green foxtail biotype and total green foxtail densities were found in PFP Oats & Flax treatments, that received fewer herbicide applications. Canola and second-year alfalfa had low green foxtail densities and proportions, this was attributed to the glufosinate application in canola, and cutting the alfalfa for hay. This study indicates that lowering the selection pressure through fewer in-crop ACCase inhibitor applications reduced the occurrence and prevalence of ACCase resistant green foxtail.

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MCGA On-Farm Trials: Assessing the Effects of Split Nitrogen Application in Corn Ron Tone P. Ag CCA1, Jordan Karpinchick CCA1, Liz Karpinchick Tech. Ag CCA1, John Heard P. Ag CCA2, 1Tone Ag Consulting Ltd., St. Pierre-Jolys, 2Manitoba Agriculture, Carman.

In 2017, field scale corn trials were setup to determine what effect there would be on yield if nitrogen applications were split between seeding and in-crop between V4-V6 versus all nitrogen being applied in the spring at seeding. There were 9 fields selected for the on-farm trials across southern Manitoba. Seeding dates ranged from May 2 to May 9 with spring nitrogen applications ranging from May 1 to May 10. Nitrogen rates ranged from 80 lbs to 175 lbs of actual N applied. Spring nitrogen was applied as urea ammonium nitrate, anhydrous ammonia or granular urea, with application methods being subsurface banding, broadcast, or broadcast and incorporated before seeding. For the split nitrogen application, the base nitrogen rate in the spring was lowered by 40 lbs, with the 40 lbs side dressed on between V4 and V6. Mid-season nitrogen was applied as urea ammonium nitrate, with a range of application methods used - y-drops, streamed, broadcast, coulter injection, and dribble application. Throughout the growing season, in-crop scouting tools (i.e. Greenseeker, PSNT, NDVI imagery, stalk-nitrate test) were used to observe differences in the treatments and assess the efficacy of those tools. Trial results showed no yield advantage for the split application of nitrogen in 2017.

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MCGA On-Farm Trials: In-Season Corn Management Tools when Nitrogen Status is Unknown Ron Tone P. Ag CCA1, Jordan Karpinchick CCA1, Liz Karpinchick Tech. Ag CCA1, John Heard P. Ag CCA2 ,1Tone Ag Consulting Ltd., St. Pierre-Jolys, 2Manitoba Agriculture, Carman.

As part of the MCGA on-farm nitrogen trials conducted this year, in-crop scouting tools (i.e. Greenseeker, PSNT, NDVI imagery, stalk-nitrate test) were used to observe differences in the treatments and assess the efficacy of those tools. One of the fields selected for an on-farm trial had a unique nitrogen situation. In the fall of 2016, chicken manure had been applied to the field, but conditions did not permit incorporation until a month after application. The farms regular practice would not include any spring nitrogen application but with the undesirable incorporation timing, it was difficult to predict nitrogen availability for the 2017 corn crop. A soil test was taken in the spring of 2017 showing 45 lbs/ac of available N, with a recommendation for 135 lbs/ac to be applied. The farm chose to apply three different N rates at two different timings. The trial was set up as 6 alternating strips of 0 N vs 120 lbs/ac N along with 12 alternating strips of 80 lbs/ac spring applied N vs 80 lbs/ac split applied (40 lbs/ac at seeding and 40 lbs/ac dribbled on at V4). The Greenseeker readings were taken across all treatments and called for an application of 41.2 lbs of N on the zero nitrogen treatments. The PSNT did not recommend any in crop N on any of the treatments. The NDVI image showed a lower vegetative index on parts of the zero treatments and no detectable difference in the split applied treatments. There was lots of variability in the corn stalk nitrate test, but the 0 N strips did show half as much N in the stalks as the 120 N treatments. The 120 N strips showed a 20 bus/ac increase in yield over the 0 N treatment.

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Studies of Root System Architecture in Soybean using Computer Vision Kevin Falk, Dept of Agronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011 Root system architecture (RSA) studies are tedious, susceptible to introduced variation, measurements are time consuming and the extracted features may not translate to meaningful outcome, i.e., increase in yield or other important traits. With the advent of computer vision, there is a renewed interest in uncovering “the hidden half”, i.e., discovering trait correlations within and between genotypes and phenotypes. This study included 300 diverse soybean accessions from a wide geographical distribution and deployed 2-D (in controlled conditions) and stereo imaging platforms (field tests), processing and data analytic tools to deep phenotype for important RSA traits using in-house imaging software, ARIA. Both 2-D and stereo imaging platforms reveal tremendous genetic variability for RSA traits for root shape, length, mass, and angle. The stereo imaging platform developed for this study makes it possible to phenotype hundreds of genotypes and extract numerous RSA traits. In addition, the 2-D platform developed is non-destructive, adding observations of seedling root growth and development.

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Soybean Response to Potassium Fertility and Fertilizer in Manitoba Megan Bourns and Don Flaten, Dept. Soil Science, University of Manitoba, R3T 2N2; John Heard, MB Agriculture; Greg Bartley and Brent Wiebe, Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers. Soybean acres in Manitoba have greatly expanded in recent years and reports of soybean potassium (K) deficiency symptoms have increased. Soybeans remove more K in the seed at harvest than any other crop grown in Manitoba (1.4 lb K2O/bu). As acres expand, lighter textured soils inherently low in K are being planted to soybeans. These are commonly the fields showing K deficiency symptoms. In addition, genetic yield potentials for soybeans are increasing as a result of improved genetics. This combination of factors likely explains the increased incidence of K deficiency symptom reports in soybeans. In this two-year study, soybean response to potassium fertility and fertilizer is being assessed using a combination of intensively managed small plot trials as well as field scale on-farm trials. With a combination of data from both sets of trials, soil test K thresholds for soybeans will be assessed to determine where application of K fertilizer is beneficial and economically viable, and where it is an unnecessary expense. In both sets of trials, combinations of rates and placements of K fertilizer are being used to evaluate their effectiveness for improving soybean seed yield. Preliminary results from year one of the study (still pending statistical analysis) suggest minimal differences in yield between treatments, even where soil test K was below 100 ppm, the current threshold for recommending K fertilization of soybeans. Further analyses of soil and tissue samples, in situ plant root simulator (PRS) probes and seed K concentration at the time of harvest will be completed to better understand potassium dynamics and the effects of K fertilization. Agronomists and soybean growers who are interested in participating in the second year of field trials are welcome to contact Megan Bourns ([email protected] or 204-599-0980) or Greg Bartley ([email protected] or 204-751-0219).

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Determining Optimum Target Plant Stands for Spring Cereal Crops in Manitoba Anne Kirk, Primary Agriculture Branch, Manitoba Agriculture, 65-3rd Avenue, Carman, MB, R0G 0J0.

Yield of spring cereals is impacted by many agronomic practices, but starts with variety selection, seeding date, target plant stand, and the seeding rate needed to achieve those plant stands. Optimum plant population is determined by factors including crop management practices and growing conditions. Previous research has shown that optimum plant stand can also differ by crop type and for individual varieties. With the introduction of semi-dwarf and higher yielding varieties, more information is needed to assist producers with choosing target plant stands and seeding rates for newer varieties of spring cereals. This project will determine if optimum seeding rates differ by crop type and for individual varieties. Two varieties of spring wheat, oat, and barley were grown at the four crop diversification centres at five seeding rates. This study will take place over two growing seasons, 2017 and 2018, data presented in this poster is from 2017 only. There were no significant yield differences across seeding rates at two of the wheat sites, all oat sites, and two barley sites. At wheat sites where there were significant yield differences, in general yields were higher at the higher seeding rates. At the barley sites with significant yield differences one site had a significantly lower yield at the highest seeding rate, while the other site had variable yields across seeding rates. There were no yield interactions between variety and seeding rate for wheat and barley, at one oat site the two varieties did respond differently to the five seeding rates.

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The effects of seeding rate and fungicide application on field peas in Manitoba Laryssa Stevenson & Greg Bartley, Manitoba Pulse & Soybean Growers, Carman, MB, R0G 0J0.

A multi-input study conducted in 2012-2014 identified two important inputs for maximizing economic returns for field peas: 1) a high seeding rate and 2) foliar fungicide. However, this study lacked a detailed range of seeding rates and did not evaluate the use of a single application of fungicide. To further investigate seeding rates and fungicide application in Manitoba, small plot trials were established in Minto (2015 and 2016) and Hamiota (2016) to validate the optimal plant stand recommendation for field peas, and determine if there is an interaction between seeding rate and foliar fungicide application on field pea yield. On-farm trials were also established in 2017 to determine the probability of response to fungicide application.

Seeding rates tested included 60, 80, 120 and 140 seeds/m2, and the optimum plant populations that reached 95% of the maximum yield were 74, 78 and 96 plants/m2 at Minto (2015 and 2016) and Hamiota (2016), respectively. Significant effects of fungicide occurred at each site year between: 1) no fungicide application, 2) one application (Headline EC at 10% flower) and 3) two applications (Headline EC at 10% flower + Priaxor 12-13 days later). In 2015, there was significant yield response to one application of fungicide and no benefit was observed for the second application. In 2016, there was a significant yield response to two applications of fungicide at each site year. No interaction was observed between seeding rate and fungicide application.

A combination of no fungicide, one application or two applications of fungicide was applied in on-farm trials across six farms in Manitoba. There was a 75% probability (n=4) of a significant yield response to a single application of fungicide compared to no fungicide, and a 25% probability (n=4) of a significant yield response to two applications of fungicide compared to one application of fungicide. This on-farm trial will be continued in 2018.

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Characterization of variation in preharvest sprouting tolerance of different wheat lines Pawanpuneet Rehal1, Rohit Kumar1, Gavin D. Humphrey2, Belay T. Ayele1

1Department of Plant Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada 2Ottawa Research and Development Center, AAFC, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Seed dormancy is an important trait that inhibits germination under favourable conditions. It is induced by the initial stages of seed formation and continues to increase until the seed is fully matured. Higher level of seed dormancy results in delayed germination and low seed dormancy causes pre-harvest sprouting (PHS), germination of the spike under high moisture conditions before harvest, which is responsible for reducing seed quality and crop yield. PHS in wheat is closely related to seed dormancy level. Internal factors such as plant hormones and external environment affects seed dormancy. Abscisic acid (ABA), one of the important plant hormone, is a crucial regulator of seed dormancy and germination. Amount of ABA present in the seed and seed sensitivity to ABA modulates dormancy level. ABA signalling components are involved in regulating seed’s response to ABA and dormancy which may alter the PHS tolerance. This study analyzed different wheat varieties with a range of dormancy levels to assess genetic variation in one of ABA signalling gene and its role in determining seed dormancy in wheat crop.

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Analysis of the physiological and genetic basis of preharvest sprouting tolerance in malting barley Parneet K. Toora1, Rohit Kumar1, Ana Badea2, Marta Izydorczyk3, Belay T. Ayele1

1Department of Plant Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada 2Brandon Research and Development Center, AAFC, Brandon Manitoba, Canada 3Grain Research Laboratory, Canadian Grain Commission, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Malting barley is affected by abiotic stresses such as preharvest sprouting, which refers to germination of the grain prior to harvest under high moisture conditions. The grains of modern malting barley cultivars have low dormancy and are affected by preharvest sprouting that causes reduction in yield and malting quality. Therefore, controlling the level of dormancy is crucial in cereals to prevent sprouting damage as this trait is closely associated with seed dormancy. Plant hormones such as abscisic acid (ABA) are necessary for controlling dormancy and germination of barley grains. ABA plays role in the onset of dormancy and inhibition of germination. The amount of ABA in grains is regulated by its synthesis and breakdown, and these processes are regulated by ABA metabolic enzymes and their genes. To assess if the differences in PHS tolerance is due to variation in grain ABA level, this study investigated variations in ABA formation and breakdown genes in selected malting barley breeding lines. Characterization of the germination phenotype of the different malting barley lines showed variation in the level of dormancy as high, intermediate and low. Analysis of the DNA sequence of ABA breakdown gene showed the presence of variations among some lines. The expression of ABA breakdown genes in the endosperm tissues showed some degree of correlation with the level of seed dormancy. This study provides important insights into the role of ABA in controlling field sprouting of barley grains.

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Manitoba Canola Disease Survey: 2017 Results and Long-Term Trends Debra McLaren1 & Holly Derksen2 , 1Brandon Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Brandon, MB R7A 5Y3, 2Primary Agriculture Branch, Manitoba Agriculture, Carman, MB R0G 0J0. The annual canola disease survey provides valuable information on the distribution and level of canola diseases in commercial fields across Manitoba. The survey has been conducted annually since 1998 throughout the canola-growing regions of the province. Sclerotinia and blackleg are the two most common diseases detected through the survey. Levels of sclerotinia vary from year to year depending on the environmental conditions. For example, the prevalence of sclerotinia in 2016, a wet year, was 94% versus a prevalence of 73% in 2017, a drier year. Levels of blackleg across the province are more consistent over time, although prevalence and average incidence consistently increased from 2009 to peak in 2014. The survey also captures levels of diseases that can cause significant damage, but that are less common overall. For example, in 2012, aster yellows was present in 95% of the canola fields surveyed, making it a more prevalent disease than blackleg or sclerotinia that year. While economic impact is hard to capture, measuring prevalence, incidence, and in some cases, severity, of these less common diseases provides valuable information for those involved with the canola industry. Results of disease surveys can help agronomists and farmers prioritize where future resources need to be directed. The results can also help the canola researchers and government agencies justify applications for research funding. The surveys are also valuable as an early-warning system that provides information on the occurrence of disease resistance breakdown and the development of pesticide resistance. Summarized reports of the canola disease survey are published annually in the Canadian Plant Disease Survey that can be accessed online through the Canadian Phytopathological Society’s website, www.phytopath.ca.

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Study on Verticillium longisporum of Canola for the First Reported Farm in North America A. AGARWAL, and M. TENUTA*, Department of Soil Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3T2N2, Canada. The soil-borne fungus, Verticillium longisporum (Stark) Karapapa et al. 1997, is a common pathogen of Brassica crops in Europe and causes Verticillium stripe in oilseed rape crops. Verticillium longisporum was first identified in North America on canola at a farm in Manitoba, Canada in 2014. Past research has established that V. longisporum is a diploid hybrid of either two species of V. dahliae (parental lines D2 or D3) and also either of two other unknown species (A1 or D1). Since this is the first ever-documented case of this pathogen of canola in North America, very little is known about its ease of dispersal, spatial distribution within farms, virulence, and hybrid lineage. To help address those uncertainties, a research study was set out with objectives of: i) investigate the spatial variation of V. longisporum at the farm positive for the pathogen, and ii) determine the hybrid origin of V. longisporum isolates in Manitoba. The farm was segregated into 57 sites based on differences in management history from 2003 to 2015, identified based on field records and historical aerial images. In fall 2015, one to four composite soil samples was obtained from each site for a total of 194 samples. A real-time direct soil extraction PCR assay developed in our laboratory confirmed 76 of 194 samples were positive for the pathogen. The highest amount of the fungus observed was 69.65 pg V. longisporum genomic DNA g-1 soil with mean across positive samples of 8.19 pg g-1 soil. Hybrid lineage determination of isolates from the farm indicates it to be that of V1D1; this is the most virulent line on canola. The results suggest the pathogen is easily dispersed on the farm and also the hybrid present for the first report farm in North America is that which is most aggressive on canola.

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Improving the functional measurement of soil potassium supply using the Plant Root Simulator (PRS®) probe. K.J. Greer1, E.H. Hammermeister2, J.J. Schoenau3 1Western Ag Innovations, 2 Western Ag Professional Agronomy, 3University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada. Soil types with more clay are known to better buffer the soil solution and result in higher available soil potassium (K) supply. Conventional soil extractions measure the soil solution K and some proportion of the exchangeable K. The Plant Root Simulator (PRS®) probe was designed to be an integrated measure of the factors controlling K supply namely, soil solution K, diffusion path, and the soil buffer power through release from K bearing minerals. The PRS® probe uses the principle of ‘Donnan Exchange’ to attract and adsorb K ions from soil solution, creating a concentration gradient that results in more K release from the buffering clay minerals. Certain soil types possessing high proportions of 2:1 swelling clays may be identified as K deficient but the contribution of interlayer K may not be effectively measured since sodium (Na), currently used as the PRS® probe counter ion, has a large hydrated radius and will not exchange with interlayer K that becomes available. This study shows that the cesium (Cs) ion, which has a smaller hydrated radius than Na, and reactive properties similar to K, can be more effective as a counter ion and may better assess bioavailable K in soils with high content of 2:1 clay minerals. Results from over 100 soils indicate that Cs:Na counter ion PRS® probes exchanged an average of 20% more K from these soils as compared to the standard Na PRS® probes. Plant drawdown of K in the growth chamber was equally well predicted by the Cs:Na or the Na charged PRS® Probes.

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Update on Manitoba Potato Crop: Disease and Insects in Manitoba, 2017 Vikram Bisht, Crop Industry Branch, Manitoba Agriculture, 65-3rd Ave NE, Box 1149, Carman, MB, R0G 0J0.

Manitoba raised 61,200 acres of potatoes in 2017, with an average of 359 cwt/acre, which is a new record. Total area planted was 61,200 acres. Russet Burbank, Ranger Russet, Umatilla and Innovator are the top processing varieties; while Norland, Sangre, Viking and Goldrush are the top fresh market varieties by acreage in Manitoba. Weather conditions permitted timely planting starting 3rd week in April and harvesting without any major frost event. There were not many hot (>30C) days and the cropping season was generally favourable for good production, when supplemented with irrigation. Precipitation in late July and August was low, and ranged from 60-80% of normal precipitation in most of Manitoba. The first late blight disease (LBD) appeared in central potato area in the 2nd week of July but did not appear to spread from the field. Other incidences appeared on potato and tomato crops in southern Manitoba potato area, unrelated to the first field. Pink rot was found in a few storages; and caused significant secondary rots. Early blight in general was minor; incidence of verticillium wilt was widespread but the severity was moderate compared to hotter summer years. Minor incidences of European corn borer (ECB) damage were noticed in some fields; but insecticide use was not recommended. Some fields showed noticeably high bacterial stem-rot infections with maggot damage, significant lodging, and high in-canopy moisture maybe related; only Pectobacterium species were identified from samples. Aphid monitoring in 2017 showed very high numbers of aphids trapped in suction and pan traps in seed fields; with surge in numbers towards end of August. As part of the National survey for potato psyllids (vector of Zebra Chip disease), none was found in the samples from Manitoba.

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Phytoglobin over-expression alleviates drought stress in maize seedlings Cassandra Hammond*, Rob Hill, Sylvie Renault, Mohamed Mira, Belay Ayele, Claudio Stasolla.

The effect of water stress generated by applications of 25% w/v polyethylene glycol (PEG) was evaluated in 3-leaf stage (V2) maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings over-expressing or down-regulating the Zea maize phytoglobin 1.1 (ZmPgb1.1) gene. Over-expression of ZmPgb1.1 increased tolerance to drought and resulted in profound changes in the accumulation of ethylene and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Time course analysis of the lines over 0, 4, 8, and 16h showed an increased expression of genes participating in ethylene synthesis and response, as well as ROS production, in the line suppressing ZmPgb1.1. Relative to the wild type (WT) line, reduced expression of the same genes occurred in the ZmPgb1.1 over-expressor. The observed effects were regulated by nitric oxide (NO). While pre-incubation with the NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) induced the transcription of ethylene and ROS generating genes in the WT and ZmPgb1.1 over-expressing line, application of the NO scavenger cPTIO had opposite effects in the WT and ZmPgb1.1 down-regulating line. These results are consistent with the role of Pgbs as NO scavengers. Pharmacological treatments altering ethylene levels and ethylene measurements further showed that this hormone is integrated in the Pbg regulation of drought tolerance. A model is proposed in which suppression of NO by Pgbs reduces ethylene and ROS accumulation, thereby alleviating drought stress.

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On-Farm Trials with the Ultimate Canola Challenge Nicole Philp, Agronomy Specialist, Canola Council of Canada, Regina, SK, S4X 0J8.

The Ultimate Canola Challenge (UCC) is a program to challenge growers to obtain higher yields and profitability. It started in 2013, originating from the idea of pitting agronomists or researchers against each other in head-to-head competitions to see who could produce better canola yields. However, this effort did not come to fruition because the researchers believed that following the same best management practices that the agronomists promoted would produce the best result.

So the approach of the UCC was adjusted to testing whether various canola products, such as micro-nutrients and macro-nutrients, could increase yields and profitably when used in conjunction with the CCC recommended best management practices for canola. These were tested in small plots at multiple research locations across the prairies for two years. In 2015, the UCC evolved into a vehicle to encourage canola growers to evaluate new products and practices by conducting their own field scale trials.

UCC has simple protocols available to help implement an on-farm trial. Protocols cover on-farm trial fundamentals like leaving a check strip, treatment replication, trial randomization and a sample trial layout. Along with the protocols, a data collection sheet is available for download to keep records of trial information.

At the conclusion of the trial, statistics are used to determine if there was a statistically significant different between the check strip and the treatment. In addition, economics are run to see if the treatment impacted economics of the crop.

The protocols available through UCC are intended to be multi-purpose, and simple to follow. For example, the “Foliar Products” protocols can be used for fungicides or other foliar-applied products. The “Nitrogen” protocol can be adapted to test any seed-placed fertilizer practices. A variety-testing protocol, and seeding rate protocol are also available.

Results are published annually at https://www.canolacouncil.org/crop-production/ultimate-canola-challenge/.

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Impact of starter nitrogen fertilizer application on soybean production in Manitoba Navneet Brar, Department of Plant Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N2. Soybean (Glycine max) acreage in Manitoba is expanding as evident from increase in acreage by 40% in 2017 from 2016 to 2.29 million acres (Stat Canada, 2017). However, abiotic stress of low soil temperatures at or after soybean planting in Manitoba has potential to delay emergence, biological nitrogen fixation and growth of soybean (Zhang and Smith, 1994). Small doses of N fertilizer can prove beneficial to plant development and subsequent nodulation and N fixation, especially when initial nodulation is reduced or delayed (Mahon and Child, 1979). To evaluate effect of starter N fertilizer on soybean nodulation, growth, and seed yield, a field study was conducted in 2015, 2016 and 2017 at the University of Manitoba Ian N. Morrison Research Farm, near Carman, Manitoba. Soybean seed inoculated with Brady rhizobium inoculant (Cell-Tech) was planted at a target population of 180,000 plants /ac on 15-inch row-spacing. Six N fertilizer rates (0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75 lb /ac) as urea were broadcasted in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Plant roots, plant biomass, and soil samples were collected at R1 and R5.5 stages of crop to evaluate nodulation, soybean growth, and nitrogen uptake. Application of N fertilizer did not influence soybean performance in all three years of study. No statistical differences were observed in plant biomass, plant height or pod height between N fertilizer treatments and control. However, N fertilizer rates reduced nodule number per soybean plant significantly at R1 as well as R5.5 stages in two of the three years of study. This resulted in lesser nitrogen fixation in N fertilized treatments at both stages in all three years of study. In spite of this, N fertilizer rates did not have any effect on seed yield or seed protein and oil content in all growing seasons.

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Soybean agronomy highlights from western Canada: the new frontier Kristen P. MacMillan1*, Bryan J. Cassone2, Don Flaten3, Robert H. Gulden1, Yvonne Lawley1 and Ramona Mohr4 1Dept. Plant Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB. 2Brandon University, Brandon, MB. 3Dept. Soil Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB. 4Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Brandon, MB.

In response to increasing soybean acreage in Manitoba, an expanse of research to develop best management practices has been underway. This poster highlights some of the work that has been completed or is in progress and demonstrate the importance of regional research. Some of the major distinctions for Manitoba soybean production are canola as a major rotational crop, occurrence of calcareous soils and the growing season which is relatively short and cool. For stand establishment, progress has been made on identifying optimum plant populations, inoculation strategies, and seeding dates through a combination of small-plot and on-farm research. However, soil and residue management remains a priority particularly for clay soils and zero-till areas, where water management and soil warming are a concern. Soybean phosphorus studies have led to the development of a rotational P management strategy for Manitoba cropping systems, and work is underway exploring soybean response to potassium fertilization and supplemental nitrogen. Volunteer canola has become the most common weed in soybeans and some new pests have emerged recently including glyphosate resistant kochia and frogeye leaf spot. However, major pests, such as soybean cyst nematode, remain at large and preventative measures are encouraged to delay their introduction. Crop and pest surveillance continues in addition to much pathology work focusing on root rot pathogens. Soybean production has been a Manitoba success story and will remain an important crop for farmers despite yield limitations in 2017; iron chlorosis, moisture deficit and aphids. This past year was also the first field season for the new applied soybean and pulse research program at the University of Manitoba which was initiated to increase capacity to study soybean and pulse production practices and cropping systems. Follow the lab’s activities on Twitter @kristenpodolsky.

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Post-harvest residue management impact on seed yield in intermediate wheatgrass. D.J. Cattani, Department of Plant Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg MB R3T 2N2. E-mail: [email protected]

Post-harvest stubble management and fertility influences on crop regrowth response and sustained seed productivity in intermediate wheatgrass. The nutrient requirements for seed yield in intermediate wheatgrass (Kernza ®), a perennial grain, are as yet unknown. Post –harvest regrowth is key to setting up next season’s seed yield potential. Nitrogen added immediately after post-harvest residue removal provides both a visual regrowth response and greater leaf area of newly produced leaves compared to plants in which N is applied only in the following spring. After harvest climatic conditions appear to be important in setting up yield potential for the following harvest. Late falls with good precipitation appear to compensate for fall fertility, however late falls are not predictable. High fertility leads to reduced seed production but higher biomass production. Fertility amounts and timings need to be determined for consistent seed production to be realized.

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A new tool for grass and broadleaf identification on cropland in Western Canada Jo-Anne Joyce, Doug Cattani, Rob Gulden; Dept. of Plant Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2. E-mail: [email protected] Grass and broadleaf identification keys are part of a free mobile application (Mobile-IPM) being developed by the University of Manitoba to help Canadian farmers identify crop pests and implement effective integrated pest management strategies. The application will have three components: 1) An interactive identification tool for crop pests (insects, weeds, and diseases), 2) A real-time pest monitoring and forecasting tool, and 3) A crop management tool. The interactive weed keys are designed to allow the user to identify the most common grassy and broadleaf weeds of cropland at any life stage (seedling, juvenile, maturity) on a mobile phone, while in the field, or with a sample in hand. Species included are the most common plants (200+) reported in the 2003-2014 weed surveys in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. Weedy Grasses of Cropland in Western Canada is available for beta-testing at: https://ipm-devl.ad.umanitoba.ca/identify. Live plant material will be available during the poster viewing for anyone wanting to test the app using their phone.

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Cultural Weed Control in Soybean: Does it Matter? Jonathan D. Rosset & Robert H. Gulden, Dept. of Plant Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2.

At the northern fringes of the North American soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) growing region lies the Canadian Prairies. Short-season soybean variety development has enabled producers in the eastern prairies to eagerly adopt the crop for primary grain production. During the last decade, the prairie region has seen over a six-fold increase in soybean production area. Current production recommendations have largely been appropriated from the warmer, long-season soybean growing regions of North America. Soybean production in these long-season areas have contributed to the selection of many herbicide-resistant (HR) weed biotypes. As part of a responsible, integrated weed management strategy, soybean production in the prairie region must adopt good agronomic practices to reduce selection pressure for HR weeds. Cultural weed management tools used to interfere with weeds and reduce selection pressure for HR weed biotypes include narrow row widths, high population densities, and competitive cultivars. This study evaluated the influence of row width (19 cm vs. 76 cm), population density (0.75, 1, and 1.5 times a recommended target density) and cultivar (erect, intermediate, and bushy) on the critical weed free period (CWFP) (i.e. the duration which a crop must be kept weed free to reach maximum yield potential) of soybean grown in the northern Great Plains region. Data from three experimental sites revealed that choosing narrow row widths or competitive cultivars can shorten the duration of the CWFP, while low population densities can lengthen the CWFP of soybean grown in the northern Great Plains region.

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How Are We Doing? Manitoba Nutrient Use Efficiency in Field Crops? Samuel Steinmann and Mario Tenuta, Department of Soil Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N2. Examination of N, P, K and S historic use rates and agronomic use efficiencies for those nutrients and major field crops in Manitoba.

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What Will It Take? Meeting Soil Nitrous Oxide Emission Targets in Manitoba for Field Crops? Mario Tenuta, Department of Soil Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N2.

Within the next decade, greenhouse gas reductions of 30% from agriculture need to be realized if developing countries are to hope to meet international obligations. This presentation reviews results of studies conducted by the University of Manitoba Soil Ecology Lab since 2004 into 4R Nutrient Stewardship practices that hold promise in achieving required nitrous oxide (N2O) reductions from cropped soils in Manitoba, Canada. The studies emphasized component 4R practices, with 9 studies for Right Souce, 5 for Right Rate, 3 for Right Placement and 3 for Right Timing. Of the practices examined, cropping with N fixing leguminous crops reduced emissions the most. Lowering ammoniacal N additions and subsurface placement of N were second most effective in reducing emissions. Application of N fertilizers late in fall prior to winter soil freeze-up surprisingly had lower emissions than spring fertilizer addition. Lastly, enhanced efficiency fertilizers applied to wet soils reduced emissions. The potential of 4R Nutrient Stewardship practices meeting short-term nitrous oxide emissions reductions from cropped soils will be summarized.

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Assessment of Fusarium Head Blight Resistance in Registered Spring Wheat Varieties under Natural Conditions in Manitoba, Canada Holly Derksen1, Pam de Rocquigny2, Anne Kirk1, & Craig Linde3 1Manitoba Agriculture, Carman, MB R0G 0J0 2Manitoba Wheat & Barley Growers Association, Carman, MB R0G 0J0 3Canada-Manitoba Crop Diversification Centre, Manitoba Agriculture, Carberry, MB R0K 0H0 Fusarium head blight (FHB) has been a major issue facing spring wheat growers in Manitoba since the first major outbreak in the province in 1993. Varietal resistance and foliar fungicides are the two main methods for managing this disease. FHB resistance ratings are assigned to varieties based on three years of testing in the Variety Registration Trials located across the Canadian prairies. The list of registered varieties available to Manitoba growers continues to increase each year with limited disease data available comparing older varieties to newly registered varieties. In 2009, this study was initiated to compare FHB levels in Manitoba Crop Variety Evaluation Team (MCVET) trials in various locations across the province under natural conditions. Harvested samples are collected and analyzed for fusarium damaged kernels (FDK) and levels of deoxynivalenol (DON). Using a mixed model analysis, mean levels of FDK and DON are determined and used to compare varieties adjusting for factors such as year, location, and interactions. The levels of FHB infection vary from year to year, but most of the varieties perform as expected based on their FHB resistance ratings given at registration. However, through this study a limited number of varieties show FDK and DON levels inconsistent with their FHB resistance ratings. The purpose of this post-registration assessment is to assist producers and agronomists in their selection of spring varieties to help manage this disease.

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Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences Mentorship Program for Women Siobhan Maas & Annemieke Farenhorst, Dept. of Soil Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2.

Women are involved in agriculture and food in many capacities. Women are crop and livestock farmers, university students and professors in agricultural faculties, as well as employers and employees in corporate agri-businesses. The Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences (FAFS) at the University of Manitoba has a newly established mentorship program for women which is unique in that it pairs each student mentee with two mentors: one academic mentor and one industry mentor. In its inaugural year (2017), the program accepted 20 student mentees and paired them with 40 mentors representing a broad range of organizations. The program gives mentees and mentors opportunities to network with each other, while also providing students with professional development training and insights into the wide range of agricultural career options. Mentoring relationships are an important way of gaining knowledge from a more experienced individual and can often lead to increased achievement of career goals and more professional connections. “This program has given me more confidence and greater clarity on my career, school and personal plans,” said one mentee. Mentors benefit in the program as it provides an opportunity to share their passion for their career, while playing an important role in the development of the next generation of leaders and employees. The program hosts four formal events per year, but is flexible in that mentees and mentors also meet at other times. “Mentorship can really be what you make of it – it’s proof that you get what you give. We have become a great group of unique strength that supports each other,” said one mentor. This program is made possible with the support of the Province of Manitoba (Agriculture), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the University of Manitoba.

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2017 Manitoba Fall Soil Moisture Survey Marla Riekman, Manitoba Agriculture, Carman, MB, R0G 0J0.

Soil moisture samples were taken just prior to freeze up, to a depth of 4 feet. Samples were taken from 105 locations across the province, representing all regions of agro-Manitoba. Maps of the 2017 fall soil moisture status (total moisture and percent of available water holding capacity) will be showcased in the poster. Data from this soil moisture survey can be used as a general information/planning tool for producers and agronomists and will also be used for flood prediction modelling in 2018.

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Elemental sulfur and gypsum as soil amendments: Can you really change soil pH and salinity? John Lee, Bob Deutsch, and John S. Breker, AGVISE Laboratories, Northwood, ND, USA 58267. Soils of the Northern Plains and Canadian Prairies frequently have high soil pH (>7.3) and high salinity (>1.0 dS/m). High soil pH can reduce the availability of nutrients such as phosphorus, and high salinity can limit crop growth and yield. Some agronomists and farmers wonder if soil amendments can permanently and economically lower soil pH and/or salinity to improve nutrient availability and crop growth. In 2005, AGVISE initiated a demonstration project to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of elemental sulfur and gypsum as soil amendments to lower soil pH and/or salinity in a calcareous Northern Plains soil with pH 8.0 and 1.5% calcium carbonate. To emphasize treatment affect, very high rates of elemental S (10,000 lb acre-1) and gypsum (5,000 lb acre-1) were applied. Amendments were tilled into 0-6 inch depth. Each fall, treatments were sampled and tested for soil pH and salinity. The changes in soil pH and salinity over 12 years are shown.

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