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Essex County
Demonstration
Farm
2014
Annual Report
Essex County Demonstration Farm
The Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) and partners from the agricultural community
established the Essex County Demonstration Farm (ECDF) at Holiday Beach Conservation Area in 1996. Since
then the project has received considerable support and interest from the agricultural community. The goal of the
farm has been to demonstrate best management practices and innovative technologies that will conserve soil,
maintain productivity, improve water quality and quantity, and illustrate that farming and the environment can
coexist.
Together with its partner organizations, the Essex Soil and Crop Improvement Association (ESCIA),
Ontario Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Rural Affairs, Agri-Food and Agriculture Canada, and various
private sector organizations, the ECDF has focused on demonstrating on-going issues and techniques within the
agricultural community. In this respect, the farm has undertaken projects that were of interest to the agricultural
partners as well as the farming community in Essex County. In addition, it has incorporated natural habitat
demonstrations that reflect the diversity of ecosystems in the Essex region. It provides a forum for the
agricultural community to work together and communicate innovative techniques to each other and landowners.
By working as a team, ERCA hopes that information on agricultural issues, such as crop varieties,
nutrient management, genetically modified products, and best management practices (BMPs) can be more
effectively demonstrated and understood by farmers that deal with these issues on a daily basis. Therefore, the
role of ECDF is to incorporate the ideas and projects of the partner organizations, to bind these organizations
together resulting in effective communication between partners as well as with the agricultural community in the
Essex Region.
Contact Information
Essex Region Conservation Authority
Michael Dick, ERCA
(519) 776-5209 ex 369
mdick@erca.org
Essex Soil and Crop Improvement Association
Jerome Deslippe
(519) 736-2674
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Tom Welacky, Greenhouse and Processing Crops Research Centre
(519) 738-2251 ex 469
welackyt@agr.gc.ca
Dr. C. S. Tan, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
519-738-2251 ex 475
tanc@agr.gc.ca
Ontario Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Rural Affairs
Adam Hayes
(519) 674-1621
adam.hayes@ontario.ca
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2014 Plot Summary
Field A
Organization:
Contact:
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Tom Welacky, Greenhouse and Processing Crops Research Centre
Plot A1 - Ontario Soybean Variety Trials ( AAFC)
Results:
Published in the 2014 Soybean Variety Trials as the Malden Site
Plot A2 - Soil Amendment & Crop Rotation Plot
Crop:
Oats, rotational crop
Field B
Alfalfa Demonstration
Organization:
Contact:
Crop:
Plot Size:
Row Width:
Variety:
Planting Date:
Essex Soil and Crop Improvement Association
Michael Dick, ERCA
Alfalfa
8.0 acres
7.5 inch
1) Pioneer – 45Q32
2) Pioneer – 55V50
3) General – Quest
4) General - Performer
August 20, 2013
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Field C
ICAT Plot - Corn
Organization:
Contact:
Crop:
Previous Crop:
Plot Size:
Tillage:
Planting Rate:
Row Width:
Planting Date:
Fertilizer:
Herbicide:
Essex Soil and Crop Improvement Association
Michael Dick, ERCA & Jerome Deslippe, ESCIA
Corn
Soybeans
7.5 acres
No till
32,000 seeds/acre
30 inch spacing
May 29
Broadcast:
5.1-24-32.3 – 215 lb/ac May 26
Starter:
6-24-6-0.2 Zn in 2x2 (9.0 US gal/acre) at planting
Sidedress:
138 lb actual N as 28% UAN - June 26
Burndown - Weathermax & Marksman – May 26
In crop – Weathermax – drop nozzles – July 4
Harvested Date:
Results:
Company
Hybrid
Croplan
Pride
Hyland
Dekalb
Croplan
Country Farm
Maizex
NK
Pioneer
Croplan
Croplan
Field D
6175VT
A8220G2
8695RA
DKC61-89
6175VT
CF 747
5562DBR
N61P-3000GT
PO216AM
6175VT
6175VT
Moisture Wet Weight Plot Length
Plot
%
lbs.
ft.
Width in.
28.0
25.6
29.0
30.0
27.2
26.4
26.9
28.5
23.4
27.5
26.8
6105
6005
6700
6875
6095
6165
6040
6470
5950
6515
6890
930
930
930
930
930
930
930
930
930
930
930
360
360
360
360
360
360
360
360
360
360
360
170.2
167.4
186.8
191.7
169.9
171.9
168.4
180.4
165.9
181.6
192.1
Yield
bu/ac
Test
Pop. '000 Stalks
Weight lbs
Lodged
144.18
146.54
156.03
157.85
145.54
148.83
144.82
151.74
149.49
154.93
165.43
28.5
27.5
28.5
27
25.5
28
27.5
20.5
27
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ISAT Plot - Soybeans
Organization:
Contact:
Crop:
Previous Crop:
Plot Size:
Tillage:
Planting Rate:
Row Width:
Planting Date:
Essex Soil and Crop Improvement Association
Michael Dick, ERCA & Jerome Deslippe, ESCIA
Soybeans
Corn
7.9 acres
No till
190,000 seeds/acre
7 inch twin rows @ 30 inch spacing
June 10
5
Deer/racoon
Damage
some
Bird
Damage
Weed
Control
good
good
good
good
good
good
good
good
good
good
good
May 26 – Weathermax, 2,4-D and Canopy Pro
July 11 - In crop - Weathermax
October 30
Herbicide:
Harvested Date:
Results:
Essex County Demonstration Farm - Holiday Beach
Field D
ICAT Soybean Variety Trial
Company
Variety
Country Farm
CF60
Dekalb
32-61
Pride
PS2393
Country Farm
CF60
NK
S31-L7
Hyland
HS27RYS34
Pioneer
92Y83
Country Farm
CF60
Moisture
Weight
Length
Width*
Yield
%
14.1
14.0
14.2
13.8
14.0
13.6
13.4
13.2
lb
1070
2060
2560
2560
2210
2205
2185
1140
ft
683
693
693
693
693
693
693
693
ft
20
40
40
40
40
40
40
20
bu/acre
56.9
54.0
67.0 *
67.0 *
57.9
57.8
57.2
59.7
* possible electronic scale error
Additional: Field D - wheat planted on November 3, 2014.
Weathermax supplied by Monsanto.
Flyway Tracking Network: Determining landscape
use of migratory animals in eastern Canada.
The Essex County Demonstration Farm was host to a
Flyway Tracking tower. The Flyway Track Network is
joint project of Bird Studies Canada (BSC), Western
University, Acadia University, and the University of
Guelph. The primary goal of the project is to establish a
network of automated radio telemetry arrays throughout
the Americas that will allow the real-time tracking of
flying migratory animals throughout the land and
seascape.
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Harvested
Previous Crop: Corn
Planting Date: May 26 2014
Seeding Rate: 190,000 seeds/acre
7" Twin rows @ 30" spacing
No Till
Field E
Controlled Drainage
Organization:
Contact:
Crop:
Previous Crop:
Plot Size:
Tillage:
Planting Date:
Planting Rate:
Row Width:
Hybrid/Variety:
Fertilizer:
Irrigation:
Harvested Date:
Results:
Treatment
1. Controlled Drainage
2. Conventional
Essex Soil and Crop Improvement Association
Michael Dick, ERCA & Jerome Deslippe, ESCIA
Corn
Wheat
3.2
No till
May 29, 2014
32,000 seeds/ac
30 inch
various
5.1-24-32.3 – 215 lb/ac broadcast May 26
6-24-6-0.2 Zn – 9.0 US gal/ac at planting.
28% – 46 gal/ac – June 26.
Controlled drainage was used on one side to restrict tile water flow.
Installed April 30; removed Sept 18.
November 13, 2014.
Moisture
%
Wet Weight
lbs.
Plot Length
ft.
Plot Width
in.
Yield
bu/ac
Weed
Control
27.6
25.8
8405
8100
405
405
1080
1080
152.78
150.89
good
good
Field F
Crop:
Previous Crop:
Plot Size:
Planting Date:
Tillage:
Planting Rate:
Row Width:
Hybrid/Variety:
Fertilizer:
Harvested Date:
Explanation:
Corn
Wheat
1.9
May 29, 2014
No till
32,000 seeds/acre
30 inch
various
5.1-24-32.3 – 215 lb/ac broadcast May 26
6-24-6-0.2 Zn – 9.0 US gal/ac at planting.
28% – 46 gal/ac – June 26.
November 13, 2014
This field was not used as a trial this year.
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Comments
main tile plugged in spring
Field G
Alfalfa Demonstration
Organization:
Contact:
Crop:
Previous Crop:
Plot Size:
Row Width:
Hybrid/Variety:
Essex Soil and Crop Improvement Association
Michael Dick, ERCA
Alfalfa
Alfalfa
4 acres
7.5 inch
1) Country Farm – Dura Green
2) FS 7-99 (1acre)
Planting Date:
September 6, 2006
Explanation: This field was sprayed with roundup/diamba on October 10, 2014 to prepare for
corn in 2015.
Western Bean Cutworm Monitoring
The Essex Demonstration Farm participated in the 2014 Western Bean Cutworm trapping
program. A pheromone trap was set up adjacent to Field D. The trap was checked 3 times per week
from June 9 to September 15. Counts were reported on line to the Canadian Corn Pest Coalition
website every Monday with a total 201 moths reported.
Acknowledgements
Thanks to plot co-operators: Jerome Deslippe and Tim Stratichuk.
Special thanks to Jerome Deslippe for all his time and expertise.
Thanks to the corporate sponsors: Cargill – Harrow
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Maintenance and Improvements 2014
Native Species Shelterbelt - Front
The front shelterbelt (next to Field D) consists of three rows: a center row of red cedar
with a row of native shrubs on each side. The two rows of shrubs consist of red osier dogwood,
nannyberry, alternate leaved dogwood, highbush cranberry, snowberry, silky dogwood and service
berry 10 feet away from the cedar row, at a spacing of 7 feet between shrubs. The plantings were done
November 15, 2006 using large stock.
Mowing was done on either side of the shelterbelt but not between the rows. This was
done in an effort to reduce deer browse.
Native Species Windbreak
The windbreak (next to Field F) consists of a single row of cedars inter-planted with
hardwood trees and shrubs. The planting pattern is as follows: red cedar; native shrub; hardwood tree;
native shrub; red cedar. The shrubs and hardwoods were planted November 15, 2006 into the existing
row of cedars using large stock.
Mowing was kept up on either side of the windbreak and many trees were restaked.
Native Woodlot Demonstration
The Native Woodlot area, along County Road 50, was inspected by ERCA’s Forester,
on July 16, 2008. As most of the tree species are Ash, it was suggested that the trees be pruned of the
dead trunks and limbs as well as well as the shoots at the base on some of the trees, leaving one
‘leader’. The area could then be used to demonstrate how infected Ash trees can re-grow.
Small Plot Demonstrations
Two small plot demonstrations were added in 2009 near the entrance. They consist of a
miscanthus grass plot with two varieties, ‘Illinois’ and ‘Macaro’, and a two row switch grass plot.
Identification signs were put up again this year.
Arboretum
Large stock trees were incorporated into the existing Ash planting rows last year but
only in every other row, leaving approximately 16 feet between rows. This was done to help facilitate
mowing of the grass in the future.
Additional staking of the trees was done this fall.
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