Ontario Grain Farmer December 2023 / January 2024

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tend to think drainage is only really helpful in a wet year, but it's even more helpful in dry seasons." What Johnson means is that, in general, crop plants in drained soil will grow their roots deeper, and they are, therefore, better prepared for drought. "In Ontario, we have full recharge of the soil moisture over winter," he explains, "so if your roots are deep, they will be able to access that moisture. It's there. There's a perception that tiles remove groundwater, but they don't. I very much encourage appropriate draining. Some sandy soil areas might not need tile outside the low-lying areas, for example, but all farms need tile installed, and a licensed contractor will advise." The second course of action Johnson recommends to prepare for dry spells is to minimize compaction. "As we well know, it

CLIMATE CHANGE On a final note, some opportunities may present themselves with climate change, but caution is indicated. For example, farmers in Ontario are now able to grow longer-season crops, partly due to new genetics but also due to more heat units. However, Johnson says research from Agriculture and Agri food Canada shows that we've only gained one additional frost-free day every four years for the last 50 years, "so decisions about varieties need to consider that. Some growers swear by shorter-day hybrids no matter what, but four out of five years, they could have benefited from longer-day hybrids. My advice isto not push the envelope too much, no more than 20 per cent of your fields — and if you're risk-averse, don't do any of it. In dealing with potential extreme weather and everything else, a big part of farming is knowing your fields and knowing yourself." l

prevents water infiltration and curbs root growth," he notes. "Our knowledge around minimizing compaction has really grown, so there's little excuse not to put this knowledge into practice. Follow your field patterns, use a tire inflation system, use tracks, use other tire technologies, and so on. You can also plant alfalfa to break up compaction." Thirdly, Johnson advises another look at your rotations. "It's quite clear that good rotations help with soil resiliency and protect yield, and this becomes especially evident under drought conditions," he says. "There will be a presentation by Dr. Amélie Gaudin, UC Davis, on making the most of your rotational options at the 2024 Ontario Ag Conference in January that everyone should see." Lastly, Johnson recommends minimizing tillage and growing cover crops to help preserve and build soil aggregate stability.

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