Essex County Demonstration Farm. Annual Report

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1 Essex County Demonstration Farm Annual Report 2018

2 Essex County Demonstration Farm The Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) and partners from the agricultural community established the Essex County Demonstration Farm (ECDF) at Holiday Beach Conservation Area in Since then the project has received considerable support and interest from the agricultural community. The goal of the farm has been to demonstrate best management practices and innovative technologies that will conserve soil, maintain productivity, improve water quality and quantity, and illustrate that farming and the environment can coexist. Together with its partner organizations, the Essex Soil and Crop Improvement Association (ESCIA), Ontario Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Rural Affairs, Agri-Food and Agriculture Canada, and various private sector organizations, the ECDF has focused on demonstrating on-going issues and techniques within the agricultural community. In this respect, the farm has undertaken projects that were of interest to the agricultural partners as well as the farming community in Essex County. In addition, it has incorporated natural habitat demonstrations that reflect the diversity of ecosystems in the Essex region. It provides a forum for the agricultural community to work together and communicate innovative techniques to each other and landowners. By working as a team, ERCA hopes that information on agricultural issues, such as crop varieties, nutrient management, genetically modified products, and best management practices (BMPs) can be more effectively demonstrated and understood by farmers that deal with these issues on a daily basis. Therefore, the role of ECDF is to incorporate the ideas and projects of the partner organizations, to bind these organizations together resulting in effective communication between partners as well as with the agricultural community in the Essex Region. Contact Information Essex Region Conservation Authority Michael Dick, ERCA (519) ex 369 mdick@erca.org Essex Soil and Crop Improvement Association Walter McLean (519) Ontario Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Rural Affairs Adam Hayes (519) adam.hayes@ontario.ca Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Tom Welacky, Greenhouse and Processing Crops Research Centre (519) ex 469 welackyt@agr.gc.ca Tiequan (T.Q.) Zhang, Ph.D., Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada tiequan.zhang@agr.gc.ca

2017 Plot Summary Field A Organization: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Contact: Tom Welacky, Greenhouse and Processing Crops Research Centre Plot A1 - Ontario Soybean Variety Trials (AAFC) Plot A2

Essex Soil and Crop Improvement Association Contact: Michael Dick, ERCA Crop: Alfalfa Plot Size: 8.0 acres Row Width: 7.5 inch Variety: 1. Pioneer - 45Q32 2. Pioneer - 55V50 3. General - Quest 4.

Soybeans Previous Crop: Corn Plot Size: 7.4 acres Tillage: No till Hybrid/Variety: Various (variety plot) Planting Rate: 205,000 seeds per acre Row Width: 7.

4 2017 Plot Summary Field A Organization: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Contact: Tom Welacky, Greenhouse and Processing Crops Research Centre Plot A1 - Ontario Soybean Variety Trials (AAFC) Plot A2 - Soil Amendment & Crop Rotation Plot Crop: Winter wheat as a rotational crop Results: Published in the 2017 Soybean Variety Trials as the Malden Site Field B Alfalfa Demonstration Organization: Essex Soil and Crop Improvement Association Contact: Michael Dick, ERCA Crop: Alfalfa Plot Size: 8.0 acres Row Width: 7.5 inch Variety: 1. Pioneer - 45Q32 2. Pioneer - 55V50 3. General - Quest 4. General - Performer Planting Date: August 20, 2013 Field C ICAT Plot - Soybeans Organization: Essex Soil and Crop Improvement Association Contact: Michael Dick, ERCA & Adam Hayes, OMAFRA Crop: Soybeans Previous Crop: Corn Plot Size: 7.4 acres Tillage: No till Hybrid/Variety: Various (variety plot) Planting Rate: 205,000 seeds per acre Row Width: 7.5 inch drill Planting Date: June 5 Herbicide: Burndown - glyphosate, Eragon June 1 In crop - glyphosate - July 9 Harvested Date: October 17 Yield: Soybean yield for the farm averaged 46.0 bu/ac Results: Company Variety Moisture Weight Length Width* Yield % lb ft ft bu/acre Maizex Ballistic Pioneer P33T72R Dow DS268V Maizex Ballistic Dekalb DKB Pride PS Maizex Ballistic

through appropriate management of the ecosystem instead of using chemical controls.

5 Field C ICAT Plot Soybeans - continued Dr. Julia Mlynarek, field entomology research scientist at Agriculture Canada at the Harrow Research and Development Centre, is developing a research program around managing and controlling insect pests through appropriate management of the ecosystem instead of using chemical controls. She is looking at the edges and buffers between agricultural fields that have the potential to be good refugia and sources for natural enemies. Much is unknown about the potential these buffers concerning insect fauna and new best management practices may arise that reduce the number of chemicals we input into agroecosystems therefore conserving nature. Field D ISAT Plot - Corn Organization: Essex Soil and Crop Improvement Association Contact: Michael Dick, ERCA & Adam Hayes, OMAFRA Crop: Corn Previous Crop: soybeans Plot Size: 7.9 acres Tillage: No till Hybrid/Variety: Various (variety plot) Planting Rate: 32,000 seeds/ac Row Width: 30 inch Planting Date: May 29 Herbicide: Burndown - glyphosate, Marksman - May 10 In crop - glyphosate June 15 Harvested Date: November Yield: Results: Company Hybrid Moisture % field Moisture AGRIS Wet Weight lbs. Plot Length ft. Plot Width in. Wet Yield bu/ac Yield bu/ac Pop. '000 Stalks Deer/racoon Damage Lodged Bird Damage Dow DS08A %* 1.0 good Maizex 4676DBR good Country Farm CF good Dow DS08A good Dekalb DKC good Pride A8303G good Pioneer PO good Dow DS08A good DON ppm Weed Control Field E Water Quality vs Tillage Organization: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Contact: Tiequan (T.Q.) Zhang, AAFC & Michael Dick, ERCA Crop: Winter Wheat Previous Crop: soybeans Plot Size: 3.2 acres Tillage: No tillage & vertical tillage Fertilizer: Urea 250 lb/ac May 11 Planting Date: October 23, 2017 Planting Rate: 1,725,000 seeds per acre Row Width: 7.5 inch drill Hybrid/Variety: Pioneer 25R40 Herbicide: In crop - Infinity - May 2 Harvested Date: July 18

Field E Water Quality vs Tillage - continued Notes: Tillage - East side - RTS - 3 passes October 20, 2017 West side - no till. Results: Treatment Moisture % Wet Weight lbs. Plot Length ft.

9 acres Tillage: No till Planting Rate: 1,725,000 seeds per acre Row Width: 7.

6 Field E Water Quality vs Tillage - continued Notes: Tillage - East side - RTS - 3 passes October 20, 2017 West side - no till. Results: Treatment Moisture % Wet Weight lbs. Plot Length ft. Plot Width ft. Yield bu/ac Weed Control A. Tillage good B. No tillage good Field F Winter Wheat Crop: Winter Wheat Previous Crop: Soybeans Plot Size: 1.9 acres Tillage: No till Planting Rate: 1,725,000 seeds per acre Row Width: 7.5 inch Planting Date: October 23, 2017 Fertilizer: Urea 250 lb/ac May 11 Herbicide: pre plant glyphosate and Eragon Hybrid/Variety: Pioneer 25R40 Harvested Date: July 18 Cover crop: a cover crop of radish, oats and sunflower Sept 17 Field G Contributions of Soil Microbes to N Fluxes in Vegetated Landscape Features Organization: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Contact: Lori Phillips, AAFC & Michael Dick, ERCA Crop: Winter Wheat Previous Crop: soybeans Plot Size: 4.0 acres Tillage: No till Planting Rate: 1,725,000 seeds per acre Row Width: 7.5 inch drill Planting Date: October 23, 2017 Fertilizer: Pioneer 25R40 Herbicide: pre plant glyphosate and Eragon Hybrid/Variety: Pioneer 25R40 Harvested Date: July 18 Cover crop: a cover crop of radish, oats and sunflower Sept 17 Explanation: This project will determine 1) if long-term buffer vegetation increases the capacity of soil microbes to moderate N-fluxes, 2) how that microbial capacity changes when vegetated areas are converted to cropland, 3) what level of microbial biodiversity is required to maintain an optimal level of beneficial N-cycling functions,4) what potential perennial vegetation best supports this optimal microbial capacity, and 5) how these plant-soil-microbe interactions affect nutrient fluxes within vegetated landscape features in different agro-ecosystems

7 Acknowledgements Thanks to Josh Mailloux for supplying the Pioneer wheat seed for Fields E, F and G. Thanks to plot co-operators: Keith O Conner and Walter McLean. Thanks to the corporate sponsors: Cargill - Harrow. Maintenance and Improvements 2018 Native Species Shelterbelt - Front The front shelterbelt (next to Field D) consists of three rows: a center row of red cedar with a row of native shrubs on each side. The two rows of shrubs consist of red osier dogwood, nannyberry, alternate leaved dogwood, highbush cranberry, snowberry, silky dogwood and service berry 10 feet away from the cedar row, at a spacing of 7 feet between shrubs. The plantings were done November 15, 2006 using large stock. Mowing was done again this year on either side of the shelterbelt but not between the rows. This was done in an effort to reduce deer browse. Native Species Windbreak The windbreak (next to Field F) consists of a single row of cedars inter-planted with hardwood trees and shrubs. The planting pattern is as follows: red cedar; native shrub; hardwood tree; native shrub; red cedar. The shrubs and hardwoods were planted November 15, 2006 into the existing row of cedars using large stock. Mowing was kept up on either side of the windbreak and some of the invasive species were removed. Native Woodlot Demonstration The Native Woodlot area, along County Road 50, was inspected by ERCA s Forester, on July 16, As most of the tree species are Ash, it was suggested that the trees be pruned of the dead trunks and limbs as well as well as the shoots at the base on some of the trees, leaving one leader. The area could then be used to demonstrate how infected Ash trees can re-grow. Small Plot Demonstrations Two small plot demonstrations were added in 2009 near the entrance. They consist of a miscanthus grass plot with two varieties, Illinois and Macaro, and a two row switch grass plot. Identification signs were put up again this year. Arboretum Large stock trees were incorporated into the existing Ash planting, but only in every other row, leaving approximately 16 feet between rows. This was done to help facilitate mowing of the grass in the future.

Noteworthy Events Flyway Tracking Network: Determining landscape use of migratory animals in eastern Canada The Essex

The Flyway Track Network is joint project of Bird Studies Canada (BSC), Western University, Acadia University, and

The primary goal of the project is to establish a network of automated radio telemetry arrays throughout the Americas

Demonstration Farm Education Day The Essex County Demonstration Farm was host to a Essex High School education day.

8 Noteworthy Events Flyway Tracking Network: Determining landscape use of migratory animals in eastern Canada The Essex County Demonstration Farm was host to a Flyway Tracking tower again this year. The Flyway Track Network is joint project of Bird Studies Canada (BSC), Western University, Acadia University, and the University of Guelph. The primary goal of the project is to establish a network of automated radio telemetry arrays throughout the Americas that will allow the real-time tracking of flying migratory animals throughout the land and seascape. Demonstration Farm Education Day The Essex County Demonstration Farm was host to a Essex High School education day. Students learned about soil nutrient management, soil testing and soil health. Jerome Deslippe Memorial Tree Planting An oak tree was planted in the Arboretum in honor of Jerome Deslippe. A dedication service was held with friends, family and colleges on August 17.

GLASI GLASI. Priority Subwatershed Project. Great Lakes Agricultural Stewardship Initiative

GLASI GLASI. Priority Subwatershed Project. Great Lakes Agricultural Stewardship Initiative GLASI GLASI Great Lakes Agricultural Stewardship Initiative Priority Subwatershed Project Wigle Creek Priority Subwatershed Project Essex Region Conservation Authority Up to $75,000 per eligible farm business