Research Projects 2007

By Ryan Brown, Production Issues Manager, OCPA

For the 2006/2007 research project year, and for the third straight year in a row, OCPA has funded several new research projects, with some coming to completion. This is made possible as a result of two primary funding mechanisms. First and foremost, the backbone of the OCPA budget is provided by OCPA membership; as has been the case for roughly the last decade, OCPA has budgeted $160,000 to spend from the check-off. A second important ‘top-up’ is provided as a result of the $35 million that was announced a couple years ago to fund the Canada-Ontario Research and Development (CORD 4) program. OCPA’s allotment of this money totals roughly $1.1 million, which needed to
be fully allocated to projects this spring. The program funds need to be spent by December 1, 2007 to meet the early spring 2008 program wrap up. OCPA was successful in allocating all their funding under this program to relevant research projects.

Secondary sources of funding are provided through programs such as Agriculture and Agri-food Canada’s (AAFC) ‘Matching Investment Initiative (MII)’, the AAFC-funded CanAdvance program offered through the Agricultural Adaptation Council (AAC) and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) funded New Directions Program. Grant monies are accessed for three OCPA projects through the AAFC/Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) research partnerships program. There is also support from the OMAFRA/University of Guelph contract, as well as AAFC base research budget funding.

Another important secondary source of funding is provided by industry. Pioneer and Syngenta have consistently donated dollars and infrastructure to some of the longer term projects. Hyland and Monsanto need also be mentioned as targeted project sponsors. Other seed and chemical companies are indirectly involved in some on-going projects, as well.

The OCPA selection process for research projects is fairly straight forward; in addition to fitting into five categories which include Agronomics, Germplasm, Handling, Market Development and Business Environment, OCPA’s Environment, Technology and Research committee solicit and choose research proposals which provide benefit to the ‘grass-roots’ membership. Other primary considerations for OCPA support include significant competitive advantages for Ontario producers with a combination of short, medium and long term timelines. OCPA strives to provide results from our sponsored projects on an on-going basis, through articles in this magazine as well as the research poster display at the joint Soybean, Wheat and Corn Annual General Meeting.

This year, the OCPA funds are being allocated to 20 different research projects. Additionally, funding is targeted to support the University of Guelph corn breeder program, the Ontario Corn Committee trials and the Greg Stewart Corn Extension Specialist position. Descriptions for these projects and positions are provided below. If you are interested in more detailed information, please feel free to contact the Guelph office. As always, feedback on research priorities from our members through your local or regional OCPA Director, or directly to the OCPA office in Guelph, is welcomed.

AGRONOMICS

Long Term Effects of Herbicide Reduction Strategies in Field Crop Rotations
A. Hamill, AAFC, Harrow
OCPA Contribution: $500 (in kind)
6 Year Project (2002 – 2008)
(also supported by Ontario Soybean Growers)
To evaluate the sustainability of various herbicide reduction strategies for field crops by measuring weed populations, crop yields, net returns and the amount of herbicide applied over time. Also want to conduct further evaluations of HADSS software. Lastly, to determine the feasibility of using spring seed bank sampling techniques to predict weed populations and improve the cost-effectiveness of weed control
recommendations.

Regional Impacts of Genetically Modified Herbicide Tolerant Cropping Systems
C. Swanton, U of G, Guelph
OCPA Contribution: in kind
3 Year Project (2006 – 2008)
This project will develop approaches at the rural regional scale, from which long-term environmental effects that may be caused by the rapid adoption of these cropping systems, may be estimated.

Identifying/Correcting Causes of Uneven Red Clover Stands Underseeded to Winter Wheat
W. Deen, U of G, Guelph
OCPA Contribution: $30,000
3 Year Project (2005 – 2007)
(also supported by CORD IV Funding, OSCIA, Ontario Forage Council and Ontario Wheat Board)
To identify the causes of mortality of red clover that is underseeded to winter wheat. Identify management strategies that improve uniformity of stands of red clover underseeded to wheat and that also maintain winter wheat yields and provide dependable nitrogen carry-over credits for following crops.

The Effect of Cumulative Stresses on Crop Performance
P. Sikkema, U of G, Ridgetown
OCPA Contribution: $10,000
3 Year Project (2005 – 2007)
(also supported by CORD IV Funding, Dupont, Bayer CropScience, Monsanto and BASF)
To determine if corn previously stressed by injury from herbicide drift is more susceptible to injury from in-crop herbicides. Specifically, this study will determine the impact of glyphosate drift from Roundup Ready soybeans on the tolerance of conventional corn to Ultim Total and Option, plus Pardner plus atrazine.

The Effect of Time of Day on Herbicide Efficacy
P. Sikkema, U of G, Ridgetown
OCPA Contribution: $10,000
3 Year Project (2005 – 2007)
(also supported by CORD IV Funding)
To determine the effect of time of day on herbicide efficacy for specific weed species. Six herbicides (Atrazine, Accent, Distinct, Liberty, Pardner and Roundup) will be applied at three-hour intervals from 6:00 am to 12:00 midnight.

Weed Management Approaches & Reduced Rates in Corn, Soybeans & Wheat
P. Sikkema, U of G, Ridgetown
OCPA Contribution: $10,000
3 Year Project (2005 – 2007)
(also supported by CORD IV Funding, Ontario Soybean Growers and Ontario Wheat Board)
To determine the effect of different weed management strategies (expert opinion plus 75, 50 and 25% of the expert opinion, economic threshold based on weed seedling density and economic threshold based on weed seed bank density) on weed control, crop yield and net returns to the grower.

Weed Control Decision Making Tools for Profit Maximization in Corn
M. Cowbrough, OMAFRA, Guelph
OCPA Contribution: $38,125
2 Year Project (2006 – 2007)
(also supported by CORD IV Funding)
This project will develop and deliver a 'grower-friendly' computer based decision support program for selection of profit maximizing weed control strategies and incorporate and/or identify research that would improve the decision support program.

Weed Management in Corn
P. Sikkema, U of G, Ridgetown
OCPA Contribution: $60,000
2 Year Project (2006 – 2007)
(also supported by CORD IV Funding)
A number of weed management issues (including effect of interaction between herbicides, corn tolerance to herbicide applications & changes in efficacy) affect Ontario corn producers for which there is little/no current information. Experiments will be conducted to address these issues and provide information to Ontario corn producers to help them minimize crop injury while maximizing weed control, yield & net return per acre.

Evaluation of a Flexible Weed Management Program in Roundup Ready Corn
C. Swanton, U of G, Guelph
OCPA Contribution: $10,062
1 Year Project (2007)
(also supported by CORD IV Funding)
To develop and evaluate the agronomic/economic performance of a flexible weed management strategy in corn. This program will incorporate strategic use of reduced rate pre-emergence herbicides with post-emergence herbicides on an if-required basis. This strategy will improve flexibility of weed management by widening the window for herbicide application. It will also reduce the risk associated with weed management, optimize crop yields and provide the potential to reduce herbicide use.

Assessing the Impact of Fungicides on Corn Yield
C. Swanton, U of G, Guelph
OCPA Contribution: $8,000
1 Year Project (2007)
(also supported by CORD IV Funding)
A number of weed management issues (including effect of interaction between herbicides, corn tolerance to herbicide applications & changes in efficacy) affect Ontario corn producers for which there is little/no current information. Experiments will be conducted to address these issues and provide information to Ontario corn producers to help them minimize crop injury while maximizing weed control, yield & net return per acre.

GERMPLASM

Late-Season Cold Tolerance in Corn
M. Tollenaar, U of G, Guelph
OCPA Contribution: $24,000
6 Year Project (2001 – 2007)
(also supported by NSERC, Syngenta, Pioneer)
Reliable techniques will be developed to assist the 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. It will also investigate genetic engineering opportunities to enhance plant defense mechanisms, modify chloroplast membrane composition, and/or modify carbohydrate levels under low temperature conditions, to improve resistance of corn to low temperatures during grain filling.

Management of Corn Rootworm in Ontario
A. Schaafsma, U of G, Ridgetown
OCPA Contribution: $20,000
6 Year Project (2005 – 2010)
(also supported by CORD IV Funding in 2005-2006)
This study will look at determining the frequency and extent of the corn rootworm rotation variant (CRW-V) in Ontario, the impact of the CRW-V on corn economics, the adoptions of CRW-resistant Bt corn and insect resistance management (IRM) for CRW.

Delivering Value-Added Technology in Corn Directly to Ontario Corn Farmer
E.A. Lee, U of G, Guelph
OCPA Contribution: $65,000
2 Year Project (2006 – 2007)
(also supported by CORD IV and New Directions)
To address the issues involved in capturing more value for the Ontario corn producer by putting emphasis on pursuing the development of a value-added feed technology (high carotenoid corn) that can be directly delivered to the Ontario corn producer through several options of supplymanagement.

Development of an In Vitro Mutagenesis/Selection System for Future Germplasm Development
L. Kott, U of G, Guelph
OCPA Contribution: $46,250
2 Year Project (2006 – 2007)
(also supported by CORD IV, Ontario Pork Producers and Hyland Seeds)
To develop a protocol to induce immature corn pollen grains in vitro into embryos that ultimately germinate into corn plants. Once developed and streamlined, the protocol will be further modified for in vitro mutagenesis of pollen by exposing the single celled microspores to a mutagen (UV) radiation to induce minor genetic changes.

Molecular Approaches Toward Improving Fusarium Resistance in Corn
K. P. Pauls, U of G, Guelph
OCPA Contribution: $96,000
2 Year Project (2006 – 2007)
(also supported by Pioneer, Syngenta, CORD IV)
Previous work on resistance of corn ear’s infection by F. graminearum identified several regions in the corn genome that contain genes for resistance to ear rot. This study will focus on the identification of the genes underlying the previously-identified Fusarium resistance QTLs; results could lead to the development of transgenic plants with enhanced resistance and reduced incidence of fungal toxins in corn products
and feeds.

HANDLING

Standardization of Sampling and Analytical Procedures for Vomitoxin Testing in Grain Corn
G. Stewart, OMAFRA, Guelph
OCPA Contribution: $12,500
1 Year Project (2007)
(also supported by CORD IV, Agricorp)
In trying to define and standardize a testing protocol for the industry, the study will focus on three major sources of testing error or viability: 1) sampling error, 2) variability associated processing of the sample, and 3) error that can occur in the mycotoxin analysis. In each area the amount of variability will be identified, the causes for this variability, and the potential techniques for reducing or eliminating the variability.

MARKET DEVELOPMENT

Novel Processes and Formulation Strategies to Improve Aquaculture Sustainability and Profitability
G. Vandenberg, Laval University, Quebec
OCPA Contribution: $20,000
3 Year Project (2005 – 2007)
(also supported by NSERC)
To produce cost-effective plant-based fish feeds that result in lower effluent P from fish culture operations by investigating novel processing methods for corn gluten meal to remove pigments and increase its value as a feed ingredient for salmonid fish; examining the efficacy of pigment extracts from corn gluten meal for the enrichment of lutein and zeaxanthin contents of chicken eggs; comparing the effects of regular, white and depigmented corn gluten meals on growth performance, fillet quality and waste outputs of rainbow trout grown to market
size.

BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT

Ontario Farm Input Monitoring Project
K. McEwan, U of G, Ridgetown
OCPA Contribution: $1,000
Ongoing Annual Project
The information supplied by this project has been crucial in efforts to assess the competitiveness of farm input prices in Ontario relative to neighbouring American states. Individual farmers have benefited from having public data on input price ranges across Ontario and adjacent states.

Economic Importance of Ontario’s Corn Sector
R. Vyn, U of G, Ridgetown
OCPA Contribution: $16,850
1 Year Project (2006)
(also supported by CORD IV in 2006-2007)
To provide an overview of the corn sector in Ontario; model the direct and indirect impacts of corn on the Ontario Economy, estimate the induced impacts that the corn sector has on the economy and quantify the total impact that the corn sector has on the economy, in terms of dollars and jobs.

Expanding Sustainable Nitrogen Fertilizer Use by Promoting and Refining New Nitrogen Recommendations for Corn
G. Stewart, OMAFRA, Guelph and G. Brown, Director Business Development, Agricorp, Guelph
OCPA Contribution: $75,620
2 Year Project (2006 – 2007)
(also supported by CORD 4, Agricorp)
This project will test and promote the concept of fertilizing for maximum economic returns rather than maximum yields, and test whether general government recommendations derived almost exclusively from small research plots can be supported by full field scale comparisons
and finally, move forward with implementing better farming practices that benefit the environment and society.

MISCELLANEOUS (Research initiatives which extend beyond research projects)

Hybrid Performance Trials
Ontario Corn Committee
Annual Support of $1,500
2007 will mark the 71st year for the corn performance trials. In 2006, over 400 different hybrids were tested and the results are distributed through the Ontario Corn Producer magazine and posted on the GoCorn.net website.

Corn Extension Specialist
G. Stewart, OMAFRA, Guelph
Annual Support of $25,000
OCPA supports Greg Stewart's role as Corn Extension Specialist with OMAFRA and the University of Guelph. Greg provides information and suggestions on production practices through the Ontario Corn Producer magazine, GoCorn.net website and local producer meetings. He also undertakes specific extension projects aimed at providing practical information for Ontario corn producers.

Improving Corn Hybrid Management in Ontario
G. Stewart, OMAFRA, Guelph
OCPA Contribution: $25,000
2 Year Project (2006 – 2007)
(also supported by CORD IV)
The proposed Corn Hybrid Management trials will provide additional, valuable information to corn industry stakeholders. Whereas performance trials fill an important role in identifying hybrid characteristics of yield, harvest moisture, broken stalks and test weight, these trials will add specific management information across a diverse sampling of corn hybrids to increase the efficiency of corn production and utilization relevant to Ontario.

Guelph Corn Breeder Program
E.A. Lee, U of G, Guelph
OCPA Contribution: $18,000
OCPA cost-shares a corn breeder faculty position at the University of Guelph. This position is important for the research and development of new, innovative breeding methods including biotechnology procedures for potential use by commercial corn breeders. This position also works with graduate and undergraduate students in corn breeding and genetics.