Using winter canola and high-glucosinolate mustards to protect and improve soil resources and enhance on-farm profitability

Using winter canola and high-glucosinolate mustards to protect and improve soil resources and enhance on-farm profitability

Summary

Project staff have successfully completed establishment of research station and on-farm winter canola (WC) and high glucosinolate mustard (HGM) trials for the first year of the project entitled “Use of Winter Canola and High Glucosinolate Mustards to Protect and Improve Soil Resources and Enhance On-Farm Profitability”. In Maine, we planted five replicated WC agronomic studies: two planting date and seeding rate studies (Aroostook Farm and Rogers Farm); a soil management study (Rogers Farm- Orono), and two WC variety by potassium studies (Aroostook Farm and Rogers Farm). Anything planted in late July or August germinated well, and had very good early establishment. We planted our three on-farm HGM studies (one in late July, and two in early August and one in late August). Only one on-farm location fell through, and this will be corrected next year. Vermont partners have planted one on-station and one on-farm study related to high glucosinolate mustards, and four on-station WC trials. One field day was held in Vermont at an on-farm location attracting over 210 farmers, and 95 people attended a vegetable session at the Ag Trades Show in the second week of January 2013.

Objectives/Performance Targets

Forty oilseed growers will adopt WC production and report yield increases of 1000 lbs per acre, and acreage will increase from the current 2000 acres in Vermont and Maine to 5000 acres. By the end of the project yield and acreage increases will generate an additional $750,000 in total farm income in the region.

Twenty-five potato growers that adopt HGMs will report 50% less rhizoctonia, a 20% reduction in culls, and a 25% increase in sales. Potato price per pound varies based on production method and markets, but if yield average is 25000 lbs/ac, and if sold for an approximate price of $0.40/lb, gross returns to the farms on 100 acres of high value potatoes with a 25% increase in sales would be approximately $1,000,000 to the region.

Since we are only in our first year, we have nothing to report at this time toward reaching these milestones.

Accomplishments/Milestones

We will introduce 600 Maine and Vermont potato and vegetable growers to the concept of growing WC and HGM crops through presentations at conferences, production meetings, articles in newsletters, and visits to Extension
websites.

In Vermont, Heather and Hannah led a field day in August with over 200 producers present, showed the WC emerging in the experiments, discussed what our goals are, and provided early results. Also, the UVM Extension oil seed website (www.uvm.edu/extension/cropsoil/oilseeds) was visited 889 times.

Fifteen of the 20 current ME and VT spring canola growers will attend oilseed producers meeting and learn about WC production opportunities.

An oilseed growers meeting is planned for March 2013.

Of the 600 ME & VT vegetable and potato growers that learn about HGM production, 50 growers will seek further information about HGM growth and management by December 2013.

A presentation was made to 95 vegetable growers on HGM benefits at the Ag Trades Show (1/8/2013).

Two hundred growers will have attended a field day session (on-station or on-farm) in the two states and learned about WC and/or HGMs crop production opportunities by December 2013. Of these, 40 growers will have planted WC or HGMs by October 2014. Of these, 25 growers will document reduced pest populations, increased yields, and improved profitability.

The oilseed producer group, including farmers, extension staff and agricultural sales personnel, will grow from 20 to 40 growers by December 2014 in each state.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

High Glucosinolate Mustard Biomass Production by Planting Date
We have collected excellent data on HGM biomass production information based on planting dates and environments. The utility of this is that we will be able to provide fairly clear guidelines on the amount of possible biomass lost by not planting by a specific date: 8/1, 8/15/ 9/1 etc. Guzzi Farm was planted 7/29/2012, Thomas 8/1/2012, Heleba 8/16/2012, and York 8/24/2012. There is a significant decrease in biomass production when planting later than August 1.

Winter Canola Management Study
We have also collected data that reflect the relationship of soil management to WC and HGM establishment and early season yield. We found that no packing left significantly (p< 0.1) lower plant stands, but the WC is fairly plastic and will spread to take advantage of space. The other advantage of packing is a more uniform stand.

• Effect of soil management on stand density
• Effect of plant density on yield
• Effect of planting date on mustard yield
• Orono planting date influence on mustard yield

Collaborators: