Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 6032 GERMINATION.CA MARCH 2017 Here, experts from across the industry will discuss issues that are top-of-mind, share technical advancements, talk about tips for success and provide perspective on policy. IN 2016, MUCH of Western Canada experienced cool, wet conditions after seeding, which favours seedling disease development in soybeans. With soybeans being grown more frequently in rota- tions, soybean disease inoculum is building up in soil in many different areas. With this and with the right environ- mental conditions, growers are now beginning to notice more seedling disease and more plants dying off at the time of emergence. People often call me to say, “I’m using a seed treatment and I’m still seeing seedling disease. Why?” A seed treat- ment gives you three to four weeks of protection from the date of seeding, but many factors can affect seed emer- gence, like soil temperature at seeding, planting depth, soil compaction and more. You want your seeds coming out of the ground as soon as possible to realize the maxi- mum value of your seed treatment. What diseases are the culprit here? Pythium, rhizocto- nia, fusarium and early season phytophthora are always a concern. They all look similar when present on plants that are very small. Overall, it’s hard to say what one single disease is on the rise. When it comes to phytophthora specifically, genetics play a big part. The majority of resistance to phytophthora is based on the seed you choose. Crop rotation is another big issue. There are more beans-on-beans in some areas because the returns are currently favourable, but over the long term, this can put you at risk of building up disease pathogens more quickly. From a seed treatment perspective, it is important to choose products that have activity on a broad range of disease and insects. And there continues to be new pests along with new innovations in soybeans. There’s no magic bullet, but with enough knowledge, growers can protect their soybean seedlings as best as possible. SEED TREATMENT SEEDLING DISEASE IN SOYBEANS: NO MAGIC BULLET Nathan Klassen Bayer Canada SeedGrowth Specialist nathan.klassen@bayer.com • cropscience.bayer.ca HOW CAN CANADA remain viable as one of the world's largest agricultural exporters? Producers have options to maintain profitability in the immediate economic environ- ment and over the long haul. Kristjan Hebert of Hebert Grain Ventures advocates following the “5 Per Cent Rule” — or, paying attention to both productivity and efficiency. Using the 5 Per Cent Rule The “golden rule” of farm management: a five per cent improvement in productivity (e.g., yield gains on a canola farm), plus a five per cent increase from marketing sav- viness, plus a five per cent gain in efficiency (lowered production costs) does not equal a 15 per cent gain to the bottom line. It’s a 117 per cent improvement to the bottom line. Ways to get there: Use the “right blend” of inputs to maximize yield growth; invest in education to understand futures or basis contracts and improve marketing; make mechanical improvements (e.g. overlap difference on auto-steer). Productivity and Efficiency: Two Ways to Remain Competitive Efficiency improves profits by using the right combination of inputs to minimize costs. Productivity, on the other hand, often requires investments that won’t pay off imme- diately, but can provide competitiveness in the longer run. In 2016, global trade declined and political changes disrupted markets further, throwing into question the future shape of globalization. Despite these developments, the trade of ag commodi- ties and agri-food will continue to increase, even as rates of growth slow. To maintain Canada’s current leadership role as an exporter, a focus on minimizing costs and maximizing future returns will help Canadian producers and agribusinesses stay competitive. Read more from the FCC Ag Economist team at fcc.ca/ AgEconomist. BUSINESS & FINANCE TO STAY COMPETITIVE, USE THE 5 PER CENT RULE Martha Roberts FCC Economic Research Specialist martha.roberts@fcc.fac.ca • fcc-fac.ca