PROJECT OVERVIEW

Efficient and Environmentally Sustainable Grain Corn Production:  Response to Manitoba's Expanding Animal Industry (Hogs) and Ethanol Production

Theresa Bergsma/Dr. Loraine Bailey

Manitoba Corn Growers Association

(204) 745-6661

ARDI Project:

Total Approved:

Date Approved:

Project Status:

#04-590

$40,000

November 22, 2004

In-Progress

Manitoba has the potential to produce over 250,000 acres of grain corn.  Current production ranges between 150,000 and 180,000 acres.  In the past grain corn yields and grain quality have fluctuated, but in recent years yields have tended to be more stable as a result of continued evaluation of hybrids for the cool and short growing season and the development and extension of sustainable agronomic technology.

This project will continue to develop and evaluate agronomic technology that would increase grain yield and nutritional quality of new hybrids and thus provide for a more sustainable and economically viable industry.  It will allow for the evaluation of new fertilizer sources; new herbicides with low environmental risk from diverse groups to mitigate weed tolerance development and to meet PMRA minor use requirements.  It will also provide new information on the impact of climate change such as changes in temperature, moisture, sunshine hours and corn heat units on corn production.  It will provide Manitoba grain corn producers with information on the nutritional and distillation qualities of the crop, thus providing them with an "edge" in a highly competitive market with imported corn. 

The applicant has identified four specific goals within this project:

1. Improved selection of corn hybrids for the cool/short growing season of Manitoba.  Selection to be based on number of days to silking and physiological maturity.

2. Identify the optimum row spacing and plant population for the new generation of early maturing grain corn Hybrids.

3. Evaluate new environmentally low risk herbicides with effective broad spectrum weed control designed for Zone 5 and selected from several different herbicide groups.

4. Evaluate application methods and fertilizer products that would improve the yield and quality of grain corn in Manitoba, with reduced risk to the environment and economically sustainable to the farming enterprise.

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