A New Study Looks At The Best Agronomic Practices For Economic Returns For Lentil Producers

Jan 12, 2021

A newly released research study looks at the optimal agronomic practices that can provide the best economic return for lentil producers.

The study was done by Jessica Ens, the General Manager for the Western Applied Research Centre.

The project focused on evaluating the economic return in three areas seeding rates, weed control and disease management.

The study was conducted over three years from 2017 to 2019 in six different locations across Saskatchewan, Scott, Outlook, Indian Head, Swift Current, Yorkton and Saskatoon.

The Agronomy Manager for the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers, Sherrilynn Phelps has reviewed the data.

"The middle rate that Jessica used in this project was 190 seeds per square metre, so about 1 1/2 times the seeding rate. So. that was the most optimum seeding rate that gave the most yield, and then in combination with the residual herbicide option was the most economical."

She says disease pressure was low during the years of the study, so while there was a yield benefit from using a fungicide there wasn't enough to actually cover the costs.

Phelps notes other tips for increasing your return on investment means looking at your crop rotation, avoid or minimize the risk of root rot, look at your fertility and seed treatment options, but overall pick seed varieties suitable for your region.

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Video: Learning to Wrench From Dad the Hard Way

Harvest is a week out and the farm picked this week to fall apart. The truck needs a battery, the barn curtain's got a problem, and the corn and beans are telling us we're out of time to get it all fixed.

So it's a full day of wrenching. Tork supervises while I get the truck back running, then we're out at the hog barn where one rusted up part has the whole curtain system hung up. Ladder work, cable work, and a little dad-and-son disagreement about the right way to do it. We close it out walking the fields, shelling beans and checking corn, because whether everything's fixed or not, harvest starts when harvest starts.

Chapters: 00:00 Everything breaks the week before harvest 01:00 Tork supervises while I fix the truck 12:30 Out to the barn to find the curtain problem 14:30 One rusty part hung up the whole curtain 20:00 Running the curtain cable from the ladder 24:00 Walking the beans and corn before harvest 26:30 Wrapping up

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