More than 30 new corn and soybean varieties will be available for the 2018 planting season
By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content
Farms.com
DuPont Pioneer’s Agronomy Centre Day at a Brant County farm yesterday introduced Ontario corn and soybean producers to new on- and off-field tools they’ll be able to implement into their operations.
In terms of on-field tools, Pioneer introduced more than 30 new corn and soybean varieties.
Having so many new options is great for farmers but they should consider what’s worked for them in the past before deciding to incorporate a new variety, according to Scott Cressman, a Pioneer agronomist.
“Past performance has to be a big driver,” Cressman told Farms.com during the event. “Farmers have to look at what’s worked best on their ground and look at other attributes related to corn and soybean hybrids like insect protection.”
Cressman also suggests farmers consult local plot data to get an idea of what’s working in their specific region.
Seed treatments
And DuPont Pioneer shared more information about Lumivia, the company’s alternative to neonics in corn. (Ontario Government regulations state neonic usage must be reduced by 80 percent in 2017)
The product received Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) registration in 2016, giving farmers a new seed treatment.
“Having something like Lumivia, with all of the regulations surrounding neonics, is very important,” Dave Harwood, technical services manager with Pioneer, told Farms.com.
“(Lumivia) has a very similar pest spectrum and has many of the same benefits that neonics do, but with what’s deemed a better environmental profile. It proves as a pretty valuable alternative.”
DuPont also plans to introduce Lumiderm, a soybean seed treatment, to Ontario producers commercially in 2019.
Farmers in Western Canada are using the product on canola and are seeing favourable results.
“In canola, we use it in conjunction with a neonic insecticide and it enhances the flea beetle protection,” Harwood said. “In addition to that, (this seed treatment) provides protection against various cutworm species. Lumiderm is currently undergoing the PMRA’s regulatory approval process.”
Farm management software
Many farmers are transitioning their note-taking from pencil and paper to keyboard and online storage.
DuPont Pioneer announced its entering the field data storage sphere with Encirca.
The platform incorporates field mapping and NDVI imagery, and also comes equipped with unique features.
The crop modelling feature allows corn producers to input their planting datea, weather and zone boundary. Encirca then maps out the crop’s growth stages based on that information.
“You should have your variety in there as well,” Kaye McLagan, Encirca Services consultant for Ontario, told Farms.com. “It does take the Pioneer genetics into account and it judges the growth stages.”
There are future plans to include crop modelling stages for soybeans and wheat as well, McLagan said.
DuPont Pioneer is also working to close the acquisition of Granular, another piece of farm management software.
Granular allows farmers to input their invested dollar amounts and see their return on investment (ROI).
“Putting a price point on seeds and other inputs will be a good thing for growers,” McLagan said.
Encirca doesn’t discriminate between equipment manufacturers and there’s no cost for farmers in the 2018 growing season.