Desiccation Timing/Staging or Pre Harvest Timing

Desiccation
Do you have questions about pre-harvest application on your pulse and flax crops? We have been getting a few calls and texts so I thought this email might be helpful.

The biggest issue I  will stress is to talk to your buyer about what they allow or do NOT want you using as a pre-harvest application as it may impact your markets.
Keep It Clean has some good information as well. https://keepingitclean.ca/

Staging Guides

• Syngenta has a good pulse guide for Reglone here
• Bayer has a new glyphosate staging app here 
• BASF has a Heat LQ (Saflufenacil) staging guide here
• TALK TO YOUR BUYER for all of the above products!

General Timeframes Spraying to Harvest:

• Diquat (Reglone) 3-7 days to harvest
• Saflufenacil (Heat) 6-10 days to harvest 
• Saflufenacil (Heat) + Glyphosate 7-10 days to harvest 
• Glyphosate 10-14 days to harvest 

Pea:

• Desiccation at 75% or more of the pods have turned colour
  • Reglone will make the crop more crispy and seems to help stem dry down 

Faba Bean:

• Swathing can be done at 75-90% of the pods turn back.
  • Swath on an angle of 10 degrees or more to the way it was seeded
  • We run the pivot at 100% to create a dew (or wait for dew) and swath at night
    • pods turn rubbery and do not shell out easily when wet
  • In areas where fall moisture is typically a problem swathing is not recommended
  • If the crop is 90% or more ripe it could be as short as 4 days to harvest but if greener it could need to be in a swath a week or more.
  • Faba beans swaths are resistant to blowing away
• Desiccation at 75% or more of the pods turned black average in the field
  • Reglone will make the crop more crispy and seems to help stem dry down 
  • Glyphosate seems to make the pods more rubbery and can help prevent over ripening and splitting (check with buyers)
• Faba beans if left to stand on their own without a harvest aid can over ripen on the bottom pods (potentially cracking open) and your tops of the plant and low areas will be greener
• Heat is not recommended on faba beans due to MRL's (Maximum Residue Limits)

 Lentil:

• Reglone is recommended, Heat is also registered on red lentils
  • Upper pods immature and green yet
  • Middle pods light green/yellow
  • Bottom pods will rattle

 Flax:

• Swathing can occur once 75% or more of the bolls have turned brown
  • Wind can blow away swaths. If the crop is thick and standing well and a swath roller is used, swaths withstand up to 70km winds.
• Desiccation can occur once 75% or more of the bolls have turned brown
  • Wind can cause bolls to break off once brittle
  • Glyphosate can sometimes leave the stems still tough and difficult to straight cut (talk to buyers)
  • Diquat (Reglone) can make the stem crispy and easier to harvest
  • Heat is not to be used on flax due to MRL's and registrations

Other tips: 

• 15-20 Gal per ac of water is required with Reglone and Heat. We use twin tip air induction nozzles that spray forward & backwards for increased coverage and use high pressure (70-100 psi)
• Heat should be sprayed in the heat of the day
• Reglone should be sprayed at dusk or at night.
• Saskatchewan Pulse Growers staging guide
• Beyond Agronomy strategy on pea desiccation here 
• Beyond Agronomy strategy on glyphosate pre harvest here
• Blog by Shane Thomas about differences in products blog by Shane 

Flax guidance:
https://flaxcouncil.ca/tips_article/swathing-desiccation-and-harvest/


Again, with sensitivity around pre-harvest applications talk to buyers and look at https://keepingitclean.ca/