OCPA Research Projects

OCPA Research Projects
By Ken Hough, Director, OCPA Research and Market Development

The Ontario Corn Producers’ Association (OCPA) has allocated about $440,000 in grants (from our in-house research budget and the corn portion of the Safety Net R&D program) for 20 research projects and some project related activities for 1999. Virtually all of these projects are continuing from previous years. Monitoring of the soybean-adapted variant of corn rootworm, an expanded effort in corn’s tolerance to cooler temperatures during grain filling, and a major review of nitrogen research knowledge to identify priorities for further N research, are among the new initiatives undertaken this year.

OCPA’s research grants are leveraged with partnership funding from other commodity groups (crops and livestock), agribusiness input suppliers (seed, fertilizer, machinery companies), corn processors, major research granting agencies (CanAdapt; OMAFRA’s Ontario Rural Jobs Strategy Fund and Food Systems 2002; AAFC’s Matching Investment Initiative-MII and Ontario Research Enhancement Program; National Soil and Water Conservation Program) and the AAFC and U. of G./OMAFRA ‘A-base’ research resources. In total, the investment from all sources in these OCPA sponsored projects is conservatively estimated at over $3.75 million in 1999, providing a leverage of better than 8.5:1 on the OCPA directed research grants. With a combination of short, medium and long-term research projects focused to provide competitive advantage for Ontario’s corn farmers (i.e. cold tolerance, Fusarium resistance, reduced grain drying, grain quality, efficient production systems, etc.), the anticipated benefit from this research investment projected is in the millions of dollars, annually.

Brief project descriptions are provided here. More detailed information on the projects can be obtained by contacting the OCPA office, or visiting our web-site at www.ontariocorn.org.

Weed Management and Sprayer Technology
Spatially-Variable Sprayer for Precision Weed Control
F. Tardif, R. Brown, U. of G., Guelph

Field test the spatially variable sprayer system featuring injection of the spray solution at the nozzle, fully variable spray dosage, and computer control system integrated with site specific weed mapping to regulate spray dosage.
Test the weed control efficacy and accuracy of the variable rate sprayer using the site specific weed maps in corn and soybeans, compared to conventional broadcast spray applications.
Monitor the dynamics of weed patch growth and spread under sustained spatially-variable herbicide management.

OCPA Contribution: $13,000
Year 3 of 5-year project.
Also supported by OSGMB @ $8,000 and FS2002 @ $16,000.

Economic Benefit and Potential Risk of Publication 75 and HADSS Recommendations for Weed Management Strategies in Corn and Soybeans
A. Hamill, AAFC Harrow

Evaluate field performance, economic benefits, and potential production pitfalls of weed management using full, 3/4, 1/2, and 1/4 Publication 75 herbicide rates, and economic threshold rates from a computerized, decision support program (HADSS)

OCPA Contribution: $13,000
Year 1 of 3-year project.
Also supported by OSGMB @ $13,000; CanAdapt @ $30,000; IFAO; AAFC-MII.

Control of New/Exotic Weeds in Field Corn
P. Sikkema, U. of G., Ridgetown

Assess new and existing herbicides for control of new/exotic weeds in no-till production systems, and disseminate information on effective control options for these weeds.

OCPA Contribution: $15,000
Year 2 of 3-year project.
Also supported by OSGMB @ $10,000; herbicide manufacturers; Pioneer.

Evaluation of Advanced Sprayers
M. Crutchley, U. of G., Ridgetown

Complete comparison of air assist, electrostatic, shrouded between-the-row detector sprayer, and conventional boom sprayer with post-emergent herbicides for weed control efficacy, crop tolerance, efficiency of spray targeting and potential to reduce herbicide rates.
Evaluate drift reduction nozzles for weed control efficacy, drift reduction, and spray efficiency

OCPA Contribution: $5,000
Year 4 of 4-year project.
Also supported by OSGMB @ $5,000; FS2002.

Nitrogen Utilization Efficiency
New Test for Improved Prediction of Available Nitrogen (N)
E. Beauchamp, U. of G., Guelph;
B. Curnoe, U. of G., Kemptville;
C. Drury, AAFC, Harrow

Develop improved soil N testing methods for predicting N available from mineralizing soil organic matter and forage legume residues, to minimize N fertility costs, maximize crop productivity, and minimize potential N loss to environment.
Assess in-field variability (across area and over time) in N availability due to variable soil, crop and crop rotation conditions.
This project is conducted in close collaboration with Dr. Bev Kay’s project, and complements the Goss and Gregorich projects.

OCPA Contribution: $30,000
Year 4 of 4-year project.
Also supported by CanAdapt @ $73,358 and AAFC-MII.

Interpreting Yield Variation from Soil Structure and Soil Water Parameters
B. Kay, U. of G., Guelph

Investigate the relationship between corn yield (and N availability) and soil structural characteristics, soil propertiesand soil water relations, across a range of soil and management conditions.
Develop a cost-effective sampling strategy to characterize the spatial variability in soil structure and water regimes within a field.

OCPA Contribution: $30,000
Year 3 of 3-year project.

Improved Tests for N Availability to Corn From Animal Manures
M. Goss, U. of G., Guelph

Evaluate several extraction techniques for reliable prediction of available N from soils and manures (includes laboratory and field studies).

OCPA Contribution: $20,000
Year 3 of 3-year project.
Also supported by Ontario Pork @ $11,000.

Dynamics of N Availability in Soil with Various Nitrogen Amendments
E. Gregorich, AAFC, Ottawa

Improve the reliability and timeliness of predicting soil nitrate availability for corn from previous legumes (soybeans, alfalfa) and composted/non-composted dairy and liquid hog manures, through soil and plant analyses techniques.
Develop recommendations on N and P banding, and managing mycorrhizal soil fungi to increase N use efficiency.

OCPA Contribution: $15,000
Also supported by AAFC-MII.

Review of N Research
OCPA Contracted Consultant

OCPA plans to review the full spectrum of N research information available and pertinent to Ontario, to identify significant information gaps, and determine priority research needs for further N utilization efficiency research.
funding undetermined at present (3-6 month contract).

Tillage and Cropping Systems
Effect of Tillage System Continuity on Crop Yield and Soil Parameters
K. Janovicek, T. Vyn, U. of G., Guelph; C. Topp, AAFC Ottawa; B. Curnoe, U. of G., Kemptville; C. Drury, AAFC, Harrow

Evaluate the effect of intermittent tillage on yield and soil quality, within an otherwise no-till system.
Develop recommendations on yield expectation for reduced tillage systems relative to the length of time in no-till, and conventional tillage yields.
Improve recommendations for no-till corn production through identification of production limiting, soil-related parameters under no-till.

OCPA Contribution: $25,000
Year 4 of long-term project.
Also supported by AAFC-MII.

Enhancing Corn Productivity Through Zone-Tillage on Heavier Textured Soils
K. Janovicek, T. Vyn, U. of G., Guelph; C. Drury, AAFC, Harrow; D. Young, U. of G., Ridgetown

Evaluate the effect of zone tillage on corn productivity, nitrogen use efficiency and soil quality following soybeans, wheat alone or underseeded to red clover (coordinated across a variety of production and crop rotation systems and soil types).
Overcome limitations to reduced-till (i.e., zone-till) production of corn on heavier textured soils, to improve Ontario farmers’ long-term competitiveness and environmental sustainability.

OCPA Contribution: $40,000
Year 3 of 4-year project.
Also supported by CanAdapt @ $94,500; OSGMB @ $14,000; AAFC-MII; and several machinery companies.

Zone-Tillage for Corn on Lighter Textured Soils
R. Bayaert, AAFC, Delhi

Evaluate corn productivity (emergence, development, dry matter accumulation, yield stability), soil moisture retention, and soil conservation, for zone-till, no-till and conventional-till corn production on lighter textured soils.

OCPA Contribution: $5,000
Year 3 of 3-year project.
Also supported by AAFC-MII.

Improved Seed Soil Interface in No-till Corn
G. Stewart, OMAFRA/University of Guelph

Develop an artificial medium to coat/inject with corn seed to enhance seed/soil contact in no-till planting systems, to overcome limitations to early planting of corn in cool, wet, reduced-till soil conditions.

OCPA Contribution: $6,000
Year 2 of 2-year project.
Also supported by National Soil & Water Conservation Program.

Grain Quality, Drying and Storage
Improved Marketability and Competitiveness of Ontario Corn for Quality-Based Markets
Art Schaafsma, Scott Jay, U. of G., Ridgetown; R. Brown, E. Lee, U. of G., Guelph; L. Reid, J. Fregeau-Reid, AAFC, Ottawa

Support breeding and evaluation of white and yellow food grade corn adapted for south-western Ontario.
Develop strategies for pest management and ear mold/mycotoxin mitigation.
Complete development of sophisticated, user-friendly dryer control and storage monitoring systems to minimize energy consumption and maximize grain quality preservation.
Investigate drying characteristics and drying management of food grade corn, and evaluate novel drying technologies.
Improve grain quality evaluation and testing techniques, for practical application by farmers and processors.
Encourage investment in new or expanded corn processing facilities in Ontario.

OCPA Contribution: $42,000
Year 3 of 5-year project.
Also supported by Rural Jobs Strategy Fund & industry (corn processors and seed companies).

Cold Tolerance
Genetic Engineering Enhancement of Cold Tolerance during Grain Filling in Field Corn
J. Simmonds, L. Reid, L. Dwyer, AAFC, Ottawa; T. Tollenaar, E. Lee, P. Pauls, U. of G., Guelph

Develop reliable techniques to assess tolerance of corn hybrids/inbreds to chilling during grain filling, and determine if chilling tolerance during grain filling is correlated to early season cold tolerance.
Investigate genetic engineering opportunities to enhance plant defense mechanisms, modify chloroplast membrance composition, and/or modify carbohydrate levels under low temperature conditions, to improve resistance of corn to low temperatures during grain filling.

OCPA Contribution: $25,000
Year 2 of 2-year developmental project.
Also supported by MII program; Novartis; Pioneer; (OCPA anticipates additional industry support).

Management of Ear Molds, Mycotoxins and Corn Pests
Fusarium Resistance and Genetic Improvement in Ontario Corn Through Biotechnology
J. Singh, S. Gleddie, L. Harris, L. Reid, AAFC, Ottawa; P. Pauls, K. Kasha, U of G, Guelph

Develop, through genetic engineering, Fusarium (Gibberella) resistant and/or mycotoxin-free corn inbreds for use by seed companies for production of Ontario-adapted hybrids.
Develop genetic engineering technologies for use in corn, such as gene identification and isolation, plant transformation/regeneration systems, gene control systems, and molecular markers, for application to genes providing particular advantage to corn inbreds/hybrids adapted for Ontario’s corn growing areas.

OCPA Contribution: $60,000
Year 3 of 4-year project.
Also supported by CanAdapt @ $210,000; Ont. Pork & several seed/biotech. companies; AAFC-MII; OREP; U of G and AAFC base funding.

Fusarium and Pest Management in Field Crops: Corn
(project also includes wheat, soybeans and edible beans)
A. Schaafsma, U. of G., Ridgetown

Determine the source and movement of Fusarium (Gibberella) spores in Ontario wheat, corn and soybean fields and how these factors relate to Fusarium infection and epidemics, and effects of weather and soil conditions, and agronomic practices.
Study pests, agronomic and climatic factors associated with poor stand establishment in reduced and no-till corn, and determine pest management strategies to improve crop establishment.

OCPA Contribution: $5,000
Year 3 of 5-year project.
Also supported by CanAdapt and a broad coalition of commodity and industry groups.

Monitoring Soybean-adapted Corn Rootworm Variant
A. Schaafsma, U. of G., Ridgetown

Develop molecular markers to differentiate ‘soybean adapted’ and normal corn rootworm populations.
Study egg-laying and emergence, migration patterns, and population levels of normal rootworms, and monitor for presence of the ‘soybean-adapted’ rootworm variant.

OCPA Contribution: $5,000
Year 1 of 3-year project.
Also supported by FS2002; Pioneer.

Ontario Agri-Food Technologies
Grower/Industry/University/
Government Joint Initiative

Focus agri-food biotech research activity to ensure maximum economic and competitive advantage for Ontario, and solicit new private investment in agri-food research and development in Ontario.
Assist in commercialization of results of research and development activity.

OCPA Membership: $2,500 (on-going)

Corn Breeding
Development of Fusarium and Multiple Pest Resistance in Corn
L. Reid, AAFC, Ottawa

Support existing AAFC breeding program for Fusarium (Gibberella) ear rot resistance, including understanding mechanisms of resistance to Fusarium.
Select and breed for resistance to other corn diseases (stalk rot, eyespot, leaf blight, rust) and insects (European corn borer, corn rootworm).
Improve grain quality for both feed and food products, primarily through reduced contamination of mycotoxins and lower damage from other insects/diseases.

OCPA Contribution: $45,000
Year 3 of long-term project.
Also supported by Ontario Pork @ $25,000; AAFC-MII.

Guelph/Ridgetown Breeding Program for Longer-Season Maturities of Ontario Corn
E. Lee, U of G, Guelph

Diversify the 2800-3400 CHU corn breeding genetic base, to enhance the rate of corn hybrid improvement, lessen the genetic vulnerability of corn to biotic and environmental stresses, and enhance quality for food, feed and/or industrial uses. (This project is closely integrated with the corn quality research program).
Complement commercial corn breeding programs, and collaborate with U.S. public corn breeding programs.

OCPA Contribution: $20,000
Year 3 of long-term project.

University of Guelph Corn Breeding Researcher
E. Lee, U of G, Guelph

Cost share in support of corn breeder faculty position at Guelph with 82.5% of faculty position dedicated to corn breeding and research activities.
Conduct field corn breeding program to release commercially-useful, Ontario-adapted inbreds which complement the commercial/industry breeding programs (focusing on toxin reduction, grain quality, and introduction of novel genes, etc.).
Improve breeding methods, breeding germplasm, and understanding of genetics.
Teach/train graduate and undergraduate students in corn breeding and genetics.

OCPA Contribution: $14,000
Year 2 of long-term commitment.