Burn or not to BURN!

[SASKFARMER3]

Seems to me this experiment with no till has some new issues that excess moisture has caused.
Disease is huge problem in most of western Canada. But along with the no till that we have been doing and all its positives, do we farmers have to go back and look at some old ways of doing things.
Last night in our area it was one of the best nights to burn excess wheat stubble. Yes these fields have been zero to min till since 1984 or a year or so earlier. Yes their is a huge amount of shit all over the fields and yes they are a sink for water. Even after the burn you can take the soil and make it into a mud ball any place on the field.
Why were doing the back to black route is very simple. Years of excess rain have caused problems beyond my imagination.
Burning is one of the things I hate to do but after the last few areas it has been noticed by me that these areas that were burnt by accident or by neighbour or by me have a higher yield.
Now not all areas are the same if your in a dryer area really burning probably isn't a option. But our black soil under no till or min stays cold and seed sits instead of a pop up effect. When their is a slightly cooler night in Saskatchewan in Early may we loose plants due to frost in some places. Their are lots of positives and negatives to this.
You can spot where the water is before your sunk.
It dry's out the top so you can seed.
It burns off some of the weeds.
It makes some weeds start growing so can get with after seed burn off or in crop.
Maybe a one in 5 or ten is needed it use to happen naturally on the prairies years ago maybe just maybe it has a place.
What are others doing.
Burn baby burn,

[furrowtickler]

Any burnt wheat stb sseded to pea had zero root rot issue's . Agree on the disease factory we have created .

[Hopperbin]

Not a chance. Only time I used burning in the past was when we could not get on the land even with a harrow. Or when have to burn flax straw. Its a dirty job. What about the environment? Just thinking I would do anything in my power not to burn first. Thought you had a special harrow to blacken your field. Whats up?

[bucket]

Didn't they say the Buffalo turned the soil black before they left?

What happened when they were no settlers and a lightning strike started a fire?

I think no till is a great thing but even nature cleaned it all out once in a while prior to us being here.

[BFW]

Seems like we cant even burn garbage in a barrel here in southern Alberta!

[SASKFARMER3]

I agree itt renews life! Happened nautilus here before man arrived! I also l agree with furrow on the disease problem!

[SASKFARMER3]

You have to infom the fire center to inform them that you are going to burn. You tell them your start time and your finish time and I believe to call again when it's done. It's a controlled burn. One problem with I speed distance etc. some lay the straw flat on the ground some bury the straw 1 inch down at the same level you're seeding in causing other issues.

[Hopperbin]

Thats what I thought about them harrows. A heavy or light would break up straw. Have to admit burned pops up fast Could be the reason less disease. Fast out Iis good. Could be a difference at harvest better or worse.

[Braveheart]

Burn it. Plow it. Go back to the old ways. The fence lines need more topsoil. Creeks and ditches need to be clogged with more dirt. Civilization doesn't need any more arable acres. Let it crumble.

Organic matter? Why not burn it? Soil can use more commercial fertilizer. Farm input cos need more profit.

One local idiot seeded wheat 3 weeks ago after fall tillage and spring heavy harrowing. He already has to reseed as 250 acres BLEW OUT!

[Klause]

A fire every now and then isn't that bad... but I think managing residue with conventional harrows and setting up a drill to do more disturbance is a better idea.


A big problem is disc and seedhawk/master drills... they don't move enough dirt to blacken things.

In the mid west they are strip tilling, this helps quite a bit... A guy doesn't need to get rid of all residue, but let's say on a 12" spacing a black band about 4-6" wide and plant in the middle of it. Best of both worlds.


Around here, zero till fields allow for far greater water infiltration than clean till... Side by side, we were chiseling oat stubble to put beans on it and the neighbour's summerfallowed field was mud and mush.

[SASKFARMER3]

Brave if you farm in a dry area no it doesn't work and if we go back to normal I won't either!

[tweety]

Or you could do a 4 or 5 year minimum rotation.

[blackpowder]

Couldnt burn here if we wanted to. Seldom necessary. I can definitely understand your points. Doubt many would do it for fun.

[freewheat]

I may burn a quarter as well this year of excessive canary stubble. I do not want to, but I see no other way this year.

Remember, burning one year, only removes the top material, the roots and root channels and soil structure stays intact so long as you do not till it as well.

This is not the open prairie either. Less wind, wet soils, tree lines and bushes. Never was wind erosion here. If I do not burn the field I have in mind, it will be a no go for this year. The canary was flat to the ground, tangled, and the straw is 4 feet long but flat to the ground after going through winter.

Klause you bring up some good points.

[furrowtickler]

We are going to try a slightly diff approach - A Gates coulter Harrow - should be here today or tomorrow.