b'Better Managed Moisture is Step One for Improving EfficiencySCOTT GRAHAMRaw development agronomy managerManitoba with J.R. Simplot Co.simplot.comIF YOUVE BEENin agriculture for aprecision technology investment.the plant shifts from tuber growth to while, youll remember industrys shiftOptimizing irrigation to drive potatotuber maturation. Exactly when, after an towards autosteer. Though GPS-guidedyield and lock in quality means applyinginch or two of rain, does a grower need positioning and arrow-straight rowswater based on the crops growth stageto switch back on irrigation to ensure are givens now, it took some years forand following evapotranspiration and soilthose soil moisture rates? Soil moisture farmers to decide that hand-steered,moisture monitoring. During the high- probes operating through the Simplot mostly straight rows werent gooddemand stages of tuber initiation and tuberSmartFarm support program remove enough; that GPS really could prevent thebulking (typically the second to third weekirrigations guesswork by delivering at-a-skips and overlaps that cost real money.of June through the beginning of August),glance, real-time irrigation management Moving from good enough to precisea potato crop uses 2/10 - 3/10 of waterrecommendations right to ones smart is happening all over agriculture. Thatseach day. Significant moisture shortagesphone. On top of optimizing yield, taking a great thing for the environment, forthrough this period produce gnarly, smallirrigation from good to great improves agricultures social license to operate, andtubers with pointy ends, or no tubers at all.fuel, fertilizer, water, and labor efficiency. for farmings profitability. Some farmersWhile the impact of good but not greatBeing successful in farming today is choose to jump all-in with precisionirrigating is harder to see at a glance, makeabout optimizing what you have. By agriculture. If you prefer a slower, simplerno mistake: overall yield and quality willcarefully monitoring irrigation scheduling start consider soil moisture probes. Givenalways be compromised when irrigationand crop water demand through the that water is the most limiting resourceisnt optimized. growing season, one can ensure the in most agricultural fields, optimizingPotato plants need available soilbest possible environment for growing moisture management to ensure plantsmoisture at 70 to 80 per cent throughpotatoes whichall else going wellget exactly the right amount at exactlythe major growth stages, then 60 to 65can translate into better quality and more the right time offers the biggest return onper cent from early August onwards asprofitability.A Disease Management Plan that Includes Reduced TillageCHAD HUTCHINSONGlobal director of potato research and market supportTriCal Groupstrikefumigants.comTHE PUSH FORsustainabilitythe country, farmers are weighing thesummer or fall chloropicrin application, in agriculture today has garneredequation between disease managementreducing erosion and supporting mainstream attention. Were shiftingand improved sustainability (especiallysoil structure and fertility. On top of towards seeing and valuing regenerative,reduced tillage), not realizing they cansupporting more environmentally soil-health promoting practices, and thatsactually have it both ways. beneficial production practices, good for the long-term viability of theThe selective soil fumigant chloropicrinchloropicrins reviving of tired soils industry. Cover crops, reduced tillage,(aka Strike) aligns with both reducedproduces better yields and increased planting into more residue to reducetillage and soil life. Chloropicrin is row- returns: also, critical components of erosion, and choosing more sustainableapplied in fall after tillage and hilling.sustainable production.chemical inputs are priorities for ourFreezing and thawing through theOne of the highlights of this years whole industry. But is there a way to do allwinter/spring keeps the ground friable,Canadian Spud Congress was a roundtable that while controlling disease and stayingmeaning thatin many casesplantingdiscussion about sustainability that profitable too? can happen in spring without additionalspecifically focused on reduced tillage. To For years, most potato farmers haveground preparation. Chloropicrin isthose who have moved to reduced tillage relied on the same products and practicesnot only highly effective against keypractices, I applaud the great work being to control disease. These practices requirenematodes and disease pathogensdone in improving sustainable potato fall tillage, then spring ripping and hillingincluding verticillium, rhizoctonia,production. For those who feel held back before planting: the opposite of reducedblack dot, and common scab, it activelyand conflicted by the choice of disease tillage, a key component of sustainabilitypromotes saprophytes, the microbialmanagement vs sustainability, know goals. Some pre-plant soil-appliedgood guys that recycle nutrients andchloropicrin can help reach both goals.products negatively impact soil biology,build health in soil. Cover crops can be leaving the soil less productive. Acrossplanted immediately following a late SPUDSMART.COM Summer 202241'