Allan Williamson, August, 2019
The Energy Division is very busy. A late spring has resulted in a busy June and July, a special thanks to our dedicated drivers for keeping up with the demand.
As summer progresses, we will be turning our focus to regulatory requirements such as petroleum tank inspection and propane 10 year inspections. These types of inspections can sometimes uncover deficiencies that require alterations or upgrades to bring your installation back up to code. If we uncover any deficiencies in your installation, one of our energy staff will reach out to you so that we can work together for a solution.
The completion of all of these inspections will take considerable time to complete. If you believe you have equipment that needs attention sooner rather than later, please contact us.
Common deficiencies that we find are related to fuel tank location and protection, so please review the requirements below. If you feel your tanks do not currently meet these requirements, please take some time to think about where they could be relocated in order to meet the regulatory requirements.
Diesel tanks must be 3 ft from a building, gasoline tanks must be 10 ft from a building.
All above ground fuel tanks have the following requirements:
Vehicle Protection should be as follows:
Despite the slow start, corn and soybeans in the area are looking good. With the wetter weather so far, many growers are considering a fungicide application on corn and soybeans. For corn, industry’s long-term research indicates a 7-8 bushel per acre yield advantage with applying a VT (tassel) fungicide, and NWC side by side trials, growers with a high fertility field, have seen 15 bushel + response. On silage corn, the results have been even more consistent. Not only does a fungicide application give you more silage yield, it also helps reduce toxins, and extends your harvest window. It is strongly recommended that growers with a good, healthy crop of corn, in a high fertility field, apply a fungicide at VT. For the 2019 season, NWC will have two high clearance ground applicators to apply the VT corn fungicide.
For soybeans, if the wet weather continues, white mould pressure could be high. If the summer proves to be hot and dry, applying Priaxor fungicide + KP Plus, has shown to alleviate stress in the soybean plant, resulting in less flower abortion and higher yields. If you have a white mould prone field, we would suggest sticking with the proven white mould suppressant fungicides such as Stratego Pro. If you have any questions about fungicide on corn or soybeans, or you would like to book your acres, please contact your NWC Crop Specialist.
In 2018, Western Bean Cutworm (WBC) pressure was minimal in NWC’s trading area but it is still a pest that should be scouted. Despite its name, we are mostly concerned about WBC affecting corn yield and quality. It affects corn by laying its eggs in the upper leaves of the corn plant just prior to tassel. The eggs then hatch and the young larva feed on the pollen and silks of the corn. If left uncontrolled, WBC will continue to feed on the corn cob, which will then cause yield loss and a high chance of fusarium infection to set in. NWC field staff and crop specialists will monitor this pest throughout the corn tasseling period. If you have any questions, concerns or would like to be shown how to scout your fields, contact your NWC Crop Specialist.
Looking to plant a cover crop after your cereal harvest? NWC carries a wide range of cover crop options. Whether you are wanting some extra forage or want a crop to plow down or leave throughout the winter, we’ve got you covered. Please contact your NWC Crop Specialist to go over which cover crop will work best on your farm.
Contact your NWC Crop Specialist to book in your farms for soil sampling. Taking samples after your cereal crops are off is often the best time to do it. It is advised to take soil samples from your fields every 3 years.
When starting a new garden bed or adding to an existing one, look for inspiration – this can be found just about anywhere! Take note of the things you like in a neighbour’s yard, leaf through magazines and books for landscape ideas, new plant varieties and trends. There are always lots of ideas to be found online as well. It is always helpful to bring some of these pictures into the Garden Centre too!
The next step is take a close look at the landscape location itself – what kind of sun does it get? What condition is the soil in? Does it have good or bad drainage? Is it high traffic? Do you have time for a high or low maintenance garden? And what type of winter conditions does it receive? If you know this information, our Garden Centre staff will be much better able to help you find the right plants for your landscape.
The possibilities are endless when it comes to plant combinations! For shady areas, try using different foliage textures and colours instead of looking for something flowering. Add the texture of some ferns, lungwort’s, foam flowers and variegated Jacob’s ladder, and you will have a shade garden that will not disappoint!
There are even more options for sunny gardens. Most perennials can take a full-part sun, which suits most landscapes. Now is the time to get peonies, irises, campanula, daylilies, echinacea, butterfly bush, salvia, rudebeckia, Shasta daisies, red hot pokers, liatris, and gallardia in so you enjoy the full show through July and August.
Many of these plants have tons of great new colours and varieties, so be sure to try something new in your garden this year! Many of these plants also attract lots of birds and butterflies – if you plant them, they will come! Plant all these great items into a garden bed full of top soil, peat moss and compost or manure, add a good dose of bone meal, and you will have a garden that you will enjoy for years to come.
Luke Hartung, June 5, 2019
Many of you have started using sulphur (S) on your alfalfa crop, and for good reason – because it pays! Research has shown that for every tonne of forage removed, 5lbs of sulphur is needed to replenish lost nutrients. As a result, we are recommending a minimum of 25lbs of sulphur per year to be applied to your hay fields. Some farmers use manure on their hay ground and this is a great source of sulphur, but for those that rely on fertilizer, here are some sources of sulphur:
Although a great source of sulphur, elemental sulphur is not readily available to the alfalfa/grass as it needs to be oxidized and transformed into the readily available form. This process takes 3 to 6 months, so applying elemental sulphur in the fall ensures it is available for next year’s crop. Another advantage to elemental sulphur is that it also happens to be the cheapest form of sulphur. We at NWC recommend 50lbs of elemental sulphur with a fall phosphate and potassium application for best results.
Overall, there will be an economic response to adding a minimum of 25lbs of sulphur per year to your alfalfa or grassy hay stand. If you have any questions contact your NWC crop specialist.
Our region has received above average precipitation for the month of May, and as a result we have likely lost a great deal of Nitrogen (N). Nitrogen can be lost due to leaching (washing out of the soil profile), denitrification (converting to gas form of nitrogen in saturated soils) and volatilization (nitrogen converting to gas form nitrogen on soil surface).
In order to maximize your corn yields, it is important to know if you have enough available nitrogen to meet your crop’s needs. To help determine the true level of nitrogen in our customer’s soil, NWC has purchased a Soil Scan 360 nitrate testing machine. Using several core samples from your farm, the Soil Scan 360 is able to generate a soil nitrate report in seconds, giving you real-time information about whether you have enough nitrogen to finish the corn crop. If the nitrogen test results are low, NWC is able to apply more nitrogen to the corn crop with our Over-the-Top Vector custom applicator. If you are interested in finding out if you have enough nitrogen to meet your crop’s needs, talk to you NWC Crop Specialist and sign up for a Soil Scan 360 test today.