Agronomy Update

Being a Member Pays 

2023 was another successful year for Horizon Resources with net savings of $19,258,806. This means you, our member owners, will see another year with outstanding patronage. This year the board of directors made the decision to issue $14,752,765.96. This decision was emphasized by issuing 50% cash and 50% equity, making this the 4th largest cash distribution since 2006. Patronage rates by business unit and grain class are: 
 

Business Unit
Agronomy	7.58%
Energy	5.12%
Feed	6.18%
Merchandise	7.43%

 

Grain Class
Durum	26.15¢ per bushel
Spring Wheat	24.91¢ per bushel
Yellow Peas	24.26¢ per bushel
Canola	25.13¢ per cwt

Since the inception of Horizon Resources in 2006, we have now issued nearly $80,000,000 in cash patronage and over $148,000,000 in equity certificates, meaning our total patronage program has eclipsed $227,658,000! This wouldn’t be possible without you, our member owners, so thank you for your support in 2023 and we look forward to an even better 2024! 



     

Monitor Pulse Crops For Root Diseases

Soil-borne pathogens (Aphanomyces euteiches and Fusarium species) can begin to infect pea and lentil seedlings upon germination. Seed applied fungicides will provide protection against Pythium, Rhizoctonia and Fusarium pathogens but we do not have any active ingredients that can provide effective protection against Aphanomyces. This spring, the summer intern Abby and I sampled fields for root pathogens and submitted the soil to the National Agriculture Genotyping Center (Fargo, ND). This lab can test for the DNA of Aphanomyces, and two Fusarium species which cause root rot in pea and lentil: Fusarium avenaceum and Fusarium oxysporum. The fields we tested were being planted to pea or lentil this coming season, and we sampled them pre-plant. We are still determining how best to use these test results, but I am most concerned when Aphanomyces or both Fusarium     pathogens are present and at higher levels. Root rot typically is most severe when multiple root rot pathogens co-infect.

With the wet spring there is the possibility we will see Aphanomyces root rot during the seedling stage.What you will see is that the plant will emerge, but then the pathogen infects causing stunting, yellowing and under severe disease plant death (image below). In the past we have seen large bare patches in fields. If you observe this in your fields it is important to get a diagnoses to rule out other potential causes. Reach out to us so we can take a look at the field and collect samples for diagnosis.   

While there isn’t anything that can be done in season if the test comes back positive for root rot pathogens, this information will help you plan ahead. The presence of these organisms in your field mean you need to extend pea and lentil  rotations out to allow the pathogen populations to decrease. In combination with early planting and seed treatments, crop rotation is the primary means by which we manage this disease until resistant varieties are available.  

Dr. Audrey Kalil, Agronomist/Outreach Coordinator 

 

What is the Best Herbicide for the Job? It’s Complicated

So many options, no easy answers. Russian thistle, kochia, buckwheat, bindweed and green foxtail have emerged (pictures below are from fields scouted 5/20) and I was asked to give some general advice on how to kill these common weeds. I could name about 20 herbicide options, but each one will have a specific rate for a certain weed size with specific rotation restrictions. There are several combinations of products that together will kill multiple weed combinations but there are no silver bullets that will kill everything. That really muddies the water up fast and shows that we don’t have a canned answer for any certain weed.
 

In my mind it makes more sense to start with the questions we need to ask before we give a recommendation.

1) What are the weeds you are trying to kill and how big are they?
Most herbicides are effective on small weeds less than 4” in height or diameter. Once they are larger than that, we have problems getting a total kill. If you don’t totally kill a weed and it produces seed, that seed will be even more tolerant to the herbicide and that is when resistance begins.

2) What are you planning on rotating to next year?
Many herbicides we use have rotation restrictions planting back to canola and pulse crops. If you spray one of these and then plant the wrong crop the following year, you might not have a crop to harvest. I can give you names of many herbicides that will kill our most problematic weeds, but we really need to start with questions before we give you answers. After selecting the products, use best management practices to get the best bang for your buck. Do not use the same products year after year, do not cut water and rates, and do not settle for the cheapest generic you can find. Come in to one of our Agronomy locations and ask for help if you need it. We have some of the most qualified people in Western ND and  Eastern MT that are crop scouting many thousands of acres for our customers and we can help with weed control, rotations and record keeping.  

John Salvevold, Agronomy Division Manager 

 

Will 2024 be an insect year? 

With an open winter and mild temperatures, it certainly has the potential to be. We are already seeing flea beetles feeding on canola and our neighbors not far into Montana are reporting plenty of grasshoppers hatching. Here are a few pointers to keep in mind that might make scouting for insects in your fields a little more systematic: Canola seed treatments as a rule of thumb provide protection against flea beetles for 21 days. If you are past 21 days post-seeding, make sure you are keeping an active eye on those fields. Any fields that border canola stubble from a previous season should also be paid close attention to.  

Grasshoppers are emerging (picture to the right is from Eastern MT) and populations are worrisome in Montana and NW ND (see hazard map below). There is a higher probability that they laid eggs in fields that were green last in the fall. Think of crops that stay green later into the season like corn, sunflowers, chickpeas, and later seeded wheat. Those fields are likely where the grasshoppers were last, as they were the last green areas to feed on, and will likely have more eggs laid in them. Similarly, fields next to pasture land may be at greater risk. 

This isn’t a perfect science but using some knowledge of last year’s crop rotation will help you identify the areas that are likely to be impacted first if we do have an insect year.  

Kyle Okke, Crop Consultant