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Farmers in Alberta continue to adopt direct seeding as the favored seeding system. In 2001, approximately 63 percent of all seeded acres were direct seeded, with the remaining 37 percent considered conventional systems.
“According to Statistics Canada, approximately 27% of direct seeded acres in 2001 used no-till or zero-till seeding systems, while 36 percent used some tillage, retaining most of the crop residue on the surface,” explains Peter Gamache, Team Leader of Reduced Tillage Linkages in Edmonton. “These statistics are almost the complete reversal from 1994 data, where 63 percent were under conventional seeding systems and 37 percent were direct seeded. These are very impressive changes.”
Gamache notes that the Statistics Canada results are very similar to results released by Monsanto Canada from a recent Ipsos Reid Market Research survey. Monsanto Canada divides the direct seeded acres into a high disturbance seeding system (HDS) and a low disturbance seeding system (LDS). An HDS system is described as seeding with no spring tillage prior to planting with high disturbance equipment such as shovels, sweeps, discers and harrow packing. Fall tillage is allowed. LDS systems are seeding with no spring tillage prior to planting with low disturbance equipment, such as no-till drills or seeders with a narrow opener. Fall tillage is allowed. “Monsanto Canada 2001 results show 29 percent of direct seeded acres as HDS and 34 percent as LDS,” says Gamache.
“Growers in southern Alberta are adopting direct seeding at an increasing rate, with some areas as high as 73 percent, according to 2001 stats,” says Don Wentz, Reduced Tillage Agronomist in Lethbridge. “After two years of severe drought, with very little residue remaining, growers are convinced that direct seeding, in particular low disturbance systems, is key.” Growers using low disturbance seeding systems and air drills are finding greater advantages than with higher disturbance systems.
“There is a general trend towards direct seeding because it offers several advantages besides just maintaining residue,” explains Wentz. “Direct seeding systems give growers a greater efficiency of time during the narrow window of seeding opportunities.” This spring was a great example, where much of the south received about 11 inches of rain just prior to seeding. Growers with direct seeding systems were able to take advantage of the narrow seeding window much easier than those requiring seedbed preparation operations. Eliminating pre-working also maintains more uniform moisture in the seedbed.
“Most growers using direct seeding systems also tend to diversify their cropping rotations, which is very critical for the whole system,” says Gamache. By rotating crops and herbicides, growers can rely on a variety of management tools to maximize production.
“We’re also encouraging growers, especially in the south, to take a serious look at fall seeded cereals, particularly winter wheat,” says Wentz. “A lot of new varieties of winter wheat have come into the system in the past couple of years, and the number of acres is expected to increase.” Seeding winter cereals spreads out the workload, and with a wet spring like this year, would have been a welcome component to any growers rotation.
“The trend towards direct seeding is continuing in southern Alberta, and across the province,” says Wentz. “The estimates are a moving number, and after this year we expect more growers to look seriously at switching to air drills and low disturbance seeding systems.”
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