Research
More OCPA Research Funded by Cord Program
by Ken Hough, OCPA Director of Research & Market Development

In late November OCPA recommended the following projects be funded out of the balance of the Canada-Ontario Research and Development (CORD) program funds available for corn research. The CORD program is sponsored jointly by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food (OMAF). The CORD III program provided a total of $9 million to Ontario agricultural groups for the three-year period from April 1, 2001 through March 31, 2004, with approximately 30% each for the horticultural, red meat and field crops sectors, and the balance going to tobacco, other crops and program administration. Of the $2.64 million shared by the field crops sector, OCPA was allocated $765,165 to be spent on eligible projects.

A total of 15 projects had been previously approved and initiated, with summaries of these projects provided in the July and Aug./Sept. issues of the magazine. (CORD program funding was acknowledged in general, but not identified with individual projects in those articles.)

The CORD program funding in support of the following projects totals $138,000 over 2003. Since many of the projects continue in 2004 and 2005, OCPA will provide subsequent funding of about $117,000 assuming the research progresses as planned. Overall, when all sources of funding are factored in over the life of the projects, the total research value is estimated at $1,064,000 providing a leverage ratio of 7.7 to 1 for the CORD funds.

Enzyme to Detoxify Mycotoxin in Corn and Other Grains
Joshua Gong, AAFC Food Research Group, Guelph
Objectives:
• Screen chicken gut microflora for the ability to detoxify vomitoxin.
• Screen and isolate microorganisms able to detoxify vomitoxin.
• Characterise the isolated microorganisms.
• Optimise the culture conditions for the best microbial growth and enzyme activity.
• Isolate and characterise the enzymes responsible for detoxification.
• Determine ‘treatment environment’ conditions under which maximum detoxification occurs.
OCPA requested CORD III funding $30,000 for 2002, 2003.
Total Project cost = $300,000

Corn Pest Research in Eastern Ontario
Wendy Asbil, Kemptville College, U. of G.
Objectives:
• Evaluate weed management practices based on the weed spectra, soils, climate and hybrid characteristics of eastern Ontario. These practices will include herbicide testing as well as cultural/mechanical methods to reduce weed pressure.
• Identify new or increasing weed problems in eastern Ontario and develop control methods for them. The identification aspect will be done as part of a larger weed and insect survey already in place for field crops across eastern Ontario.
• Identify losses from and develop management strategies for wildlife damage to corn crops in eastern Ontario.

Requested Funds:
Herbicide Efficacy and Corn Tolerance $3,800 /yr x 3 yr - $11,400
Identification of New and Increasing Weed Problems: On-Farm Surveys
$5,000/yr x 3 yr - $15,000
Cultural and Mechanical Weed Management Practices
$3,500/yr x 3 yr - $10,500
Total: $12,300/yr x 3yr - $36,900
OCPA requested CORD III funding $12,300 for 2003.
Total Project cost = $93,300

Multi-location Evaluation of a Simple ‘Amino Sugar Nitrogen Test’ for Determining Corn Nitrogen Requirements
Bill Deen, U. of G., Guelph
Objectives:
• Evaluate the amino sugar nitrogen test’s ability to determine soil’s nitrogen status and corn nitrogen requirements for a variety of locations in southern Ontario.
• Compare variability of results obtained using the recommended hot plate (West Bend griddle) versus a more expensive hot plate that is better able to maintain the required temperature range for sample analysis.
• Compare variability and accuracy of results obtained using a manual titration method to that obtained from an automatic titrator.
Requested Funds:
• Expand assessments – additional approximately 1500 soil samples (20 sites * 2 zero nitrogen treatments * 4 replications * 3 times * 3 sub-samples per sample) - $18,000 total
(With existing funding, doing analysis on 160 samples from Elora long-term rotation/tillage study, and 108 samples from N benchmark study, 6 sites)
OCPA requested CORD III funding $18,000 for 2003.
Total Project cost = $25,000

Development of Corn Starch-based Inks
Lorama Chemicals, Milton
Objectives:
• Resolve technical issues related to ink pigmentation, ink solubility and ink transfer using starch-based resins.
• Explore opportunities for further ‘value-added’ research and development of corn-based products.
OCPA requested CORD III funding $15,000 for 2003.
Total project cost = $215,600

Impact of Reduced Herbicide Rates on Weed Control and Yield of Corn and Soybeans
Peter Sikkema, U. of G., Ridgetown
Objectives:
• Determine the effect of reduced herbicide rates on weed control and yield of corn and soybeans.
Deliverables:
• Guidelines will be developed identifying those situations when there is a high probability of success with reduced herbicide rates.
• Herbicide programs that have the potential for success with reduced herbicide rates will be identified.
• Herbicide programs where weed control and crop yield is compromised with reduced herbicide rates will be identified.
Project Budget:
22 herbicide treatments * $250/treatment * 2 crops = $11,000/site
5 sites/year * $11,000/site = $55,000/year
Annual budget: $55,000
Three year budget: $165,000
OCPA requested CORD III funding $13,750 for 2003.
Total Project cost = $165,000

Biology, Competitiveness and Control of Waterhemp in Corn and Soybeans
Peter Sikkema, U. of G., Ridgetown
Objectives:
• Determine the emergence pattern of waterhemp under Ontario climatic and agronomic conditions.
• Determine the competitiveness and seed production of waterhemp in corn and soybeans.
• Determine the most efficacious soil-applied and postemergence herbicides for control of waterhemp in corn and soybeans.
Project Budget:
Emergence Pattern: $2,000/site/year * 2 sites = $ 4,000
Competitiveness: $5,000/site/year * 2 sites = $10,000
Herbicide Efficacy: $6,000/site/year * 2 sites = $ 12,000
Annual budget: $26,000
Three year budget: $78,000
OCPA requested CORD III funding $6,500 for 2003.
Total Project cost = $78,000

Prevention of Herbicide Resistance: Criteria for the Development of Herbicide Mixtures with Synergistic Action
Francois Tardif, U. of G., Guelph
Objectives:
• Identify three-way herbicide mixtures that will provide additive or synergistic action when applied at below normal use rates.
Requested Funds:
• MSc graduate student - $16,500/yr
• field and growth room fees and transport - $2,000/yr
Total: $18,500 per year.
OCPA requested CORD III funding $18,500 for 2003.
Total Project cost = $18,500

Development of Agronomic Research Databases
Greg Stewart, OMAF, Guelph
Hybrid Performance Trials
• Gather all hybrid performance data from Ontario trials since 1980, breaking all data down into individual site/years.
• Design a database to store this data and be the repository for all future data. This database would allow for the call-up of 2-5 hybrids at a time and would display indexed yields, moistures and broken stalks. This summary would come from all sites where the selected hybrids appeared together across multiple years.
• Build a calculator program into the database to allow growers to insert seed costs, seeding rates and drying costs in order to further evaluate hybrids.
• This database, aside from preserving useful historical data, would provide a tool for studies, such as determining how hybrids in a given heat unit zone respond in different parts of the province.
Requirements: 6 months; estimated at $25,000

As funding permits or becomes available, other databases will be developed as follows:
• Plant Population and Row Widths
(6 months; $25,000)
• Tillage Systems (12 months; $50,000)
• Crop Rotations (12 months; $50,000)
OCPA requested CORD III funding $23,950 for 2003.
Total Project cost = $150,000