Making the grade
I had the opportunity to attend a grower information meeting this week in Dutton, just west of London. A group of approximately 25 growers were in attendance, plus local branch staff and industry representatives from two major crop protection companies. There were a number of areas covered during the meeting; however the main subject was this year’s wheat crop and protecting it. Wheat, corn and soybeans have been enjoying a rebound in price, certainly from the rock bottom values they hit these past number of years.
So why the special emphasis on protecting wheat this season you ask? It’s no secret that the wheat acres planted in Ontario this year are expected to be at or over record levels. So at harvest time the market will be flooded with wheat. A good number of growers have contracted their wheat at or around the $5.50 a bushel mark. This price would ensure a reasonable return on their investment. The catch is this – it must make grade. If it does not, they could possibly lose somewhere in the neighborhood of around $2.00 a bushel in a grading penalty and with it, any possibility of making a modest profit.
Growers must be on the lookout for two major problems, leaf diseases and fusarium, which is a head blight that attacks the wheat head, significantly affecting both quality and test weight. This is where crop protection products come into play. Wheat fields will have to be closely monitored and scouted to identify any of these potential problems. If not caught early enough, any one of these complications could lead to serious trouble. Farmers will have to act very quickly and apply the appropriate crop protection product. They were advised specifically on how and when to spray for these diseases, helping to ensure their wheat will make grade.
One might say farmers have an excellent contracted price for their wheat crop this season and they are assured of making a profit. The truth is they are only half way there. Harvesting the wheat and making grade are still huge obstacles that have yet to be overcome.
