The best tool to manage crops in 2023? Your shadow.

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Optimal nutrition for your cattle starts from the ground up.

Producers are constantly looking for ways to manage and improve the outputs from their operation, and that can include cereal crops for feeding purposes. Rory Cranston, North America Technical Development Manager for Cereals and Pulses at Bayer, has three tips for producers to get the most out of their cereal feed crops.

1. Know your field(s) and history

The most effective way to get the most out of your field, according to Cranston, is to know what is in the field and where it is at. Keeping detailed records on seeding and application histories, by using a program like FieldView™ to track your decisions year-over-year, allows you to establish a strong field management system that employs integrated pest management strategies to reduce, in particular, the risk of weed resistance in the field. Awareness of where patches of weeds are prevalent, or have increased in population, also ensures that you are able to be proactive when it comes to controlling weeds of concern.

Foxtail species, for example, cause detrimental effects to both cereal crops and in livestock production. It reproduces through vast quantities of air-dispersed seeds, easily carried by the wind from nearby areas. The stiff, sharp awns of foxtail barley create a hazard for livestock, as they can become lodged in their digestive system, giving rise to infection, reduced feed intake, and loss of gain. Managing foxtail species through Integrated Pest Management strategies is key to reducing populations long term. 

“The chief concern for many is how they can continue to battle weeds of concern that have an annual presence. Working with a Bayer Territory Sales Manager can be an easy way to establish a lasting expert relationship, and comprehensive strategy, that ensures a great yield in 2023 that won’t limit your ability to get a great yield in 2024, or beyond.”

Rory Cranston, North America Technical Development Manager for Cereals and Pulses, Bayer

2. Choose crop protection products strategically

Bayer offers a comprehensive crop protection portfolio that is well-suited to mixed farming operations. With easy-to-use formulations and wide windows of application, Cirray™ herbicide and TilMOR™ fungicide are strong tools for cattle producers to consider use of in producing high-quality feed grains. As a wheat and barley herbicide, Cirray provides top control of competitive grass weeds in-crop. Quality of the feed grain is a high priority for cattle producers in addition to yield. TilMOR yields excellent results as a fungicide on silage and grain crops – applied from flag leaf up to head emergence and flowering stages, to comprehensively protect cereal crops from leaf, stem, and head diseases.

Simplifying the tools used to manage the field gives you more time to focus elsewhere. With effective yet flexible herbicide and fungicide tools that can be used across your cereal crops, it’s easier than ever to increase yield potential and crop performance.

3. Get your timing right

Ultimately, the best thing to put on your field, aside from quality crop protection tools like Cirray and TilMOR, is your shadow. Getting your boots on the ground in the field so you know the stage of the crop and what its needs are is the best practice to maximize yield potential and performance.

With the right field management strategy, producers have the best opportunity to increase the yield potential of their feed crops and provide cattle with the best nutrition, right from the start.

Producers are encouraged to talk to their local Bayer representative to learn more about the comprehensive crop protection portfolio for mixed farming operations or visit CropScience.Bayer.ca.

Services and products offered by The Climate Corporation are subject to the customer agreeing to our Terms of Service. Our services provide estimates or recommendations based on models. These do not guarantee results. Before making financial, risk management and farming decisions, agronomists, commodities brokers and other service professionals should be consulted. More information at https://climatefieldview.ca/legal/disclaimer/. FieldView™ is a registered trademark of The Climate Corporation. Used under license.

ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. Bayer, Bayer Cross, Cirray™, and TilMOR™ are trademarks of Bayer Group. Bayer CropScience Inc. is a member of CropLife Canada. ©2023 Bayer Group. All rights reserved.

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This article was first published in Volume 3 Issue 1 of ABP Magazine (February 2023). Watch for more digital content from the magazine on ABP Daily.