Arable Food for Thought

[Hopalong]

Suspect that, something like genetic manipulation, monoculture is something that mankind has played around with since the dawn of agriculture.
Do not see polyculture going anywhere fast in own farm situation.

[burnt]

While poly-culture is too new and untried here to support any kind of impact statement, a recent OSCIA meeting I attended showed that there is very compelling evidence that supports the use of cover crops.

A panel of farmers, young and older, showcased their experiences to demonstrate the benefits they have documented. To be fair, it was mainly younger farmers, a fact which I found very encouraging.

While a simple, single choice of cover crop (like oats or cereal rye) can bring results, those who are going to multi-species blends are seeing marked improvements in many areas of soil biology - organic matter increases, tilth, biological diversity, improved harvest conditions, lowered compaction, better moisture retention, better soil warming, to name a few.

So, not surprisingly, several years of data indicate that better yields are following.

Some of the data was created with the use of GPS-yield mapping. Many have gone to strip tillage and inter-seeding cover crops, leaving the majority of the surface area untouched and growing a cover crop that persists after harvest.

Also, several of them are eventually harvesting the cover crop as forage, creating another commodity or feed source.

It makes me wonder why it took so long to develop an awareness of this very natural and beneficial practice.

[bucket]

It won't until someone ...sorry some big business. ....can figure a way to charge the shit out of primary producers for special blends.....

[sumdumguy]

Blaithin, it appears as though youare leaning toward Milpa farmingthat was practiced in the Yucatan Peninsula. Historically they plant in a hole, a bean or pea for nitrogen to feed a corn plant that in turn provided shade for a melon. A complete system, Interesting!

[grassfarmer]

Mixed farming is another concept that seems good in theory but is unworkable in practice. In central to northern AB there are only 50 days of good weather per year and both cattle and grain enterprises compete for the same time. All cattle producers here have pushed calving latter to get out of the harsh weather but that means the seeding equipment is not ready on time. A strait grain farm with a pulse rotation and a heated shop to do off season maintenance does work. Now that interest rates are not zero, can't trade equipment nearly as often. Another issue is manure. It is a disposal headache as it costs more in labor and fuel to move it to where it can do good than the nutrients are worth most of the time which is because it is not a great source of N. I think a plant based diet with animal products as more of a luxury item is more efficient.

I think there are solutions to these problems but they are not going to come from conventional thinking. Instead of owning cows maybe some farmers would be in a position to incorporate some alfalfa in their rotations, hay it, then bale graze with a ranchers cows over winter on a custom basis? Transferring the workload with the cows to the winter period when the farmer might have more time, getting the benefit of a break in rotation and returning the nutrients back to the soil in places where they are most needed with no mechanical manure hauling (or cattle ownership risk) involved. Late fall grazing of cover crops could be harvested by custom cows too.

It won't until someone ...sorry some big business. ....can figure a way to charge the shit out of primary producers for special blends.....

You're behind the times bucket - happened about 3 years ago. Plenty small businesses trying to "help other farmers" by selling them special blends in the $60-$70 range. Many of the young pioneering producers I know have tried these systems and moved on. I think they have merit but we need to have a better understanding of the complexities.

[farmaholic]

A big part of Western Canada is semi-arid, sometimes just enough moisture to support an annual crop let alone a cover crop that will use limited soil moisture up until the cover crop dies weeks after the annual crop is harvested. But imagine the drying benefits of areas or years when moisture was "surplus". It likely has a lot of merit when and where justified.

I think biological soil amendments will be a big thing in the future.

(Trying to offset the negative waves with positive ones)

[grassfarmer]

Two very good points Farmaholic.

[furrowtickler]

Your right about the soil biological amendments . That and herbicide / disease resistance that is marching across western canada is concerning.

[blackpowder]

Listened to a researcher the other day re biologics etc.
Micro nutrient availability (ph factors, S availability etc) aids or hinders conditions in the microryhzae (dont care how its spelled). Kind of a hand in hand thing.
One instance they were studying bacteria that countered salinity for some plants like wheat or peas.
Remember its a bacteria that grabs or breaks down N and everything else.

Now consider this company having difficulty with regulating.
Europe calls it a fert. We call it a herbicide. Years for any approval. Years behind in research.

Now i know everything needs rain and theres no money in wheat. Just wondering that if someday an eye toward soil capacity in all its functions wouldnt hurt.

[tubs]

Very interesting topic I am also investigating some different option as monoculture as that what Iam doing now. I believe the whole industry is not interested in this concept because they can not make money in that system. The problems I see with polyculture is weed control and timing of harvests. Our system we have now is giving 50 percent of our revenue to multinationals would be way better if can keep some of that. We also have to look at our nutrients in that kernel of grain. What we are doing now is going to hit a brick wall years from now our soils are not working properly now we get wet solutions tracks on tractors our forfathers just had little 2 wheel drive tractors look what the crops were like when the prairies were just broke up. At the same time I do not believe organic is the way to go, probably somewhere in the middle