News > Day One > Don't be afraid to try something new Working with the 4-H philosophy of Learn to do by doing, Matt Gosling, a southern Alberta crop consulting agrologist, urges producers to not be afraid to try new techniques, and to experiment with strategies to improve crop production on their farms.

Speaking at the opening day of the 2010 Farm Tech conference in Edmonton this week, Gosling, who operates Premium Ag Services at Strathmore, east of Calgary, advised producers to get out of the "34-17 rut."

Matt Gosling of Premium Ag Services urged farmers at Farm Tech to keep trying new ideas on their fields. -- Lee Hart photo

"In my stint as an ag retailer, at one time, I received calls from dozens of producers daily in the spring asking for 34-17, 34-17, 34-17 -- one call after another, from producers who lived on opposite ends of the county," he says.

"Some producers were growing wheat on wheat, others growing wheat on peas, and still others growing wheat on chemfallow. Finally I started asking, 'Why 34-17?' and quite often the answer was 'Because that's what my grandpa and dad used.'"

But there's more to life -- and there are more crop production options than simply following the practices of previous generations, Gosling says.

"In my career I have seen a lot of practices and worked with many different products and technologies," he says. "Some work, some do not, but the key is in the trying. The 4-H motto is 'Learn to do by doing'. If it works, try more. If it does not work, ask questions why, and then try something different, but keep trying."

Gosling reminded producers to start with the basics. It only takes a few minutes to do a 1,000 kernel weight on cereal seed to ensure the proper seeding rate and aim for optimum plant density. Soil-test fields regularly, to ensure you're applying the proper nutrient rate for the intended yield, and buy good-quality, vigorous, germination-tested seed.

Pay attention to seedbed preparation, and apply a pre-seeding burnoff -- or, if conditions and management warrant, a post-seeding burnoff prior to emergence can be effective too.

"And spend a few minutes following the seeder to be sure it is doing what you want it to do," says Gosling. "At that time of year, and especially if people are working alone, you may feel you don't have time, but it is time well spent, to check every so often to make sure seed and fertilizer is being placed where it is supposed to be."

Apply the proper rate and blend of nutrients to not only ensure the crop has what it needs to optimize yield, but to replace in the soil what the crop is removing.

And he stressed the importance of not trying to cut corners, and the value of trying new approaches, such as comparing broadcast applications of fertilizer to incorporation, using different forms of nitrogen, trying slow-release nitrogen products such as ESN, trying manure, and applying in-crop foliar treatment of macro- and micronutrients to observe a response.

"Practicing crop production the way Grandpa used to farm isn't cutting it anymore," he says. "New practices, technologies and non-traditional ideas are quickly making their way onto the marketplace. Not every idea will work on your farm, but you need to keep trying, to see what does make a difference."

-- Lee Hart is a field editor for Grainews in Calgary.