Last Push for Fall Crops

We are over 90% harvested now (ahead of normal) and about 40% done seeding fall crops with the big push on for our last 2 fall crop varieties.
Our spring crop forage trial data is back and included below.
We just took our grain yield trials off for winter crop and spring crops so will need a week or two to get the grading and all of them into spreadsheets. 

Can I Seed Fall Crops Into Dry Soil?
We have some dryland acres that we planted fall rye and it is very dry. We plan to seed into dry soil at 3/4 inch and wait for rain or snow to come in october to germinate it. There is some risk doing this but we feel that a fall crop can tolerate dry conditions the best with good net returns. Even if little moisture comes it grows slow at this point of the year so does not need a lot.

Fall Crop Seeding Dates
We often are asked how late can I seed fall crops? AFSC crop insurance had a deadline in the past but now don't (details here) but we still generally follow the recommended practices like before. (Although if the forecast looks good we will stretch these a little bit.)

Recommended last seeding dates:

• Central & North AB & SK - Winter Wheat and Traditional Fall Rye Sept 20, Hybrid Fall Rye we suggest Sept 10-15 so it has time to fill in.
• Southern AB & SK - Winter Wheat and Traditional Fall Rye Sept 30, Hybrid Fall Rye we suggest Sept 15-20 so it has time to fill in.

Main fall crops for sale
AAC Wildfire winter wheat
KWS Serafino hybrid fall rye 

• We have tote bags of KWS Serafino prepared with 28 unit (35 ac) &40 units (50 ac) per bag.

KWS Propower hybrid fall rye
AC Hazlet fall rye
Metzger fall triticale

We can quote freight for you if needed.  

Fall Crop Net Returns
Thanks to a few customers we regularly get comparisons of fall rye to winter wheat and generally we see about a $50-$100 per ac advantage to the hybrid fall rye due to increased yields. There is some ergot risk with the rye as rye is more prone to having ergot but that can be mitigated with even & early seeding. I have some net return charts lower in this email as well as a rye buyers list, a lot of rye has been going to the feed market.

Cover Crops For Fall & Government Funding
Below in this email, Blair has compiled some key points from the On Farm Climate Action Fund and how to qualify.

Some people use traditional fall rye as a cover once hills are formed in potatoes by spreading on, others are seeding barley between their bean windrows and having good luck reducing erosion.

Rye, Winter Wheat, Barley, Daikon Radish, Clovers, Italian Ryegrass and more is available.
Let us help you plan a rotation/ cover that works for you and look below for some possible funding for seed.

University of Lethbridge Career Fair
Greg will be attending the U of L Career Fair this week on Thursday September 22nd so if you have family or friends attending tell them to stop in at our booth!

Corn Yield Trials
Blair has a number of grain and silage corn trials this season so expect to see trial data from him in a few weeks.

December Seed Update
We plan to host our fall seed update meeting December 1st with more details to follow.

For any seed bookings you can call Blair Balog at 403-634-4349 (calls & text)
Office: 403-739-2233
Email: [email protected]
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