b'CROP ROTATIONSDo Economics AlwaysTrump Agronomics?Is it possible to improve rotations and make money? The answer is yes, say the experts.ALTHOUGH PRODUCERS IN the Canadian Prairies havefeed barley crop nets far more than a 40-bushel canola crop evolved beyond continuous wheat or wheat-fallow croppingbecause the cost of canola is so much higher than any other crop.systems, simple wheat-canola rotations are still common. ThisJust because somethings worked for the past 10 years, does lack of diversity is risky, as it can result in herbicide resistance,not necessarily mean its going to continue to work, especially increased disease and insect pressure and soil degradation.with trade issues, says Brook. Understandably though, economics often trump agronomics.Today, markets are unpredictable at best. Saudi Arabias Industry experts offer recommendations to improve rotationspurchases of barley have stopped. India has reduced purchases while still allowing growers to make money.of lentils and peas. China has stopped purchasing canola from Most producers know what a good rotation is, but for financialCanada, and Italy has been using country of origin labelling to reasons, most do not follow a good rotation, says Harry Brook, areduce purchases of Canadian durum wheat. The trade issues crop specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry.seem endless when examined closely, and this has an obvious Work done by Murray Hartman, a retired oilseed specialisteffect on rotation.with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, revealed a largeThe benefits of lengthier rotations are often percentage of Alberta farmers, particularly in north-centralunderemphasized, says Brook. Alberta and the Peace region, followed a rotation that includedLonger rotations generally interrupt insect, disease and canola and just one other crop, mostly wheat or barley.weed life cycles that, in turn, allow for a wider variety of crop The reason being, of course, was financial, says Brook.protection tools to be used. More complex crop rotations When youve got canola over $10.50 to $11 a bushel, thats reallydefinitely assist in managing the build-up of pesticide resistance pushed the rotation and squeezed it. because, typically, different groups of crop protection products However, since Canada has been faced with trade issues,are used on different crops.canola prices have dropped, making these tight rotations lessThis is part of the reason why we have a problem with defendable.clubroot in Alberta, says Brook. We grow canola so frequently Despite the trade issues, canola acreage in 2019 was still high,that its allowed for a rapid increase in the number of spores says Brook. The thing about Roundup Ready or Liberty Linkproduced in a field. Before you know it, you have a field where canola is theyre easy. People like easy. canola is no longer profitable because the clubroot is removing And yet, last year, Brook spoke with Alberta producers who50 per cent or greater of the yield potential.said their biggest money maker was feed barley. A 100-bushelIf its not clubroot, its blackleg. And while resistance genetics 44seed.ab.ca'