Elwin G. Smith

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a major food source supplying nutrients required for adequate human nutrition. Changing fertility and cropping practices could alter the concentration of essential elements in wheat grain. This study utilized two long-term field experiments to determine the effect of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilization and cropping system on the concentration of N, P, potassium (K), sulphur (S), calcium (Ca), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) in wheat grain. Fertilizer P increased P (18%), K (6%), Mg (4%), and Mn (7%) concentrations, but decreased Zn (26%) and Cu (22%). The grain concentration of P, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, and Zn declined as crop yields increased in response to N fertilization or more favourable growing conditions. A cropping system with alfalfa hay increased the wheat grain concentration of N (10%), S (17%), Cu (20%), Mg (18%), and Zn (50%). The cropping systems with wheat alone had only minor effects on human nutrient concentrations in wheat grain, depending on the frequency of fallow. Changing wheat production systems, especially fertilizer application, could suppress the availability of essential micronutrients Cu and Zn if the concentrations were already low, but most other elements were generally adequate.

Core Ideas: Diversified rotations are more productive and profitable than cereal only rotations. Fallow rotations are less profitable than continuous cropping in the Northern Plains. Continuous cropping is riskier; however, it is preferred when averse to risk. Crop production in the semiarid Northern Great Plains has historically been limited to wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), with fallow every second or third year. In response to current prices and new production technologies, these cropping systems have been replaced with reduced frequency of fallowing and inclusion of oilseed and pulse crops in the rotation. This study examined the long‐term changes that producers can expect in their production levels and economic returns for five wheat‐based rotations with different fallow frequencies, use of an annual legume green manure to partially replace fallow, and a continuous diversified rotation of cereal–oilseed–cereal–pulse crops. The findings were based on the last 11 yr of a 28‐yr (1987–2014) crop rotation experiment performed at Swift Current, SK, Canada. Despite the higher grain yield on fallow versus stubble, total grain production increased as fallow frequency decreased. The continuous wheat rotation produced 21% more wheat than the rotations with fallow. Wheat protein was highest for the rotation containing the legume green manure. Since its establishment in 2003, a wheat–canola (Brassica napus L.)–wheat–dry pea (Pisum sativum L.) rotation was more profitable than the traditional wheat systems. Participation in a crop insurance program reduced the financial risk from low crop yields, particularly for continuous cropping. We concluded that under current economic conditions and production practices, producers can indeed enhance production levels and farm profitability with adoption of more intensive (reduced fallow) crop rotations, particularly those that also include oilseed and pulse crops.

Profitable malting barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) production systems are required to reverse the decline in area seeded to malting barley in western Canada. Systems that could increase the profitability of growing malting barley considered the previous crop, nitrogen (N) rate, and fungicide application. The net return (NR) and risk for these systems were computed from western Canada field data. Analysis of variance was used to evaluate the impact of systems on NR over 21 site-years of field data. Risk was evaluated with a stochastic simulation model. NR was higher and risk lower for malting barley when the preceding crop was field pea (Pisum sativum L.), when fungicide was applied at the flag leaf stage for leaf disease control, and when N was 50% of the recommended N rate. Therefore, malting barley should be grown on field pea stubble at a lower N rate, with fungicide applied when there are leaf diseases.

Over the last decade, the level of competition in the Canadian apple industry has been affected by growing competitive pressures from increasing imports and the availability of other fresh fruits. In response to intensifying competition, the industry has introduced new apple varieties that are more desirable to consumers in terms of eating quality and improve growers’ profitability. British Columbia (BC) apple sales data were employed to examine the implicit value of apple attributes for apples sold in several metropolitan areas of western Canada (Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, and Winnipeg). Linear hedonic price functions were estimated to determine price premiums paid for newer varieties, higher grades, and larger fruit size. In addition, the price effects of cold storage and seasonality were considered because of their association with apple quality. Wholesale prices were significantly influenced by apple fruits of newer varieties, grades, fruit sizes, and metropolitan area. Wholesalers also distinguished between Canadian and BC grades of different varieties. Wholesale prices varied across urban centers; they were relatively higher in Winnipeg and Saskatoon than in Vancouver [EconLit Classifications: Q110, Q130].

Tree‐based intercropping (TBI) integrates tree production within annual grain cropping. The system is widely used in tropical regions, but is not common in temperate regions. This study evaluates the annualized return from TBI systems in southern Ontario, Canada against annual grain crop production. The TBI systems include hybrid poplar, Norway spruce, and red oak. The annualized return for all TBI systems is less than for annual cropping using the base prices; however, when tree prices are high and grain prices low the hybrid poplar TBI system has a higher return than annual cropping. Grants for planting trees, technologies to reduce the cost of establishing and maintaining trees, and improving the returns from tree production will be required for producers in temperate regions to adopt TBI systems.Un système de cultures intercalaires (SCI) intègre la production d’arbres dans la culture annuelle de céréales. Ce système est largement utilisé dans les régions tropicales, mais peu courant dans les régions tempérées. La présente étude évalue le rendement annualisé des SCI dans le sud de l’Ontario, au Canada, par rapport à celui de la production annuelle de céréales. Les SCI intègrent le peuplier hybride, l’épinette de Norvège et le chêne rouge. Le rendement annualisé des SCI est inférieur à celui des cultures annuelles si l’on utilise les prix de référence. Toutefois, lorsque les prix des arbres sont élevés et que les prix des céréales sont faibles, le SCI qui intègre le peuplier hybride obtient un rendement supérieur à celui des cultures annuelles. Pour que les agriculteurs des régions tempérées adoptent les SCI, il faudra offrir des subventions à la plantation d’arbres, offrir des technologies qui permettront de réduire les coûts de plantation et d’entretien des arbres et améliorer les rendements/revenus de la production d’arbres.

The high cost of hybrid (HY) canola (Brassica napus L.) seed has some producers considering F₂ generation hybrid farm‐saved seed (HY‐FSS), or open‐pollinated (OP) varieties (both certified and farm‐saved seed). The net return (NR) of different varieties, genetic backgrounds, seeding rates, seed treatments, and seed sizing was evaluated from three experiments over eight site‐years of field data from western Canada. One set of experiments included variety, genetic background and seeding rate, while another included seed treatment, genetic background and seed sizing. The experiments used randomized complete block designs. The NR accounted for yield, green seed price discount, seed costs, and other production costs. Analysis of variance indicated certified F₁ hybrid seed (HYC) was more profitable than HY‐FSS (15%, P = 0.0057) and OP (22%, P = 0.0001). With delayed weed control, NR was lower for HYC and not statistically different than HY‐FSS. Higher seeding rates and seed sizing for HY‐FSS did not increase NR compared to HYC. The findings of this study support the use of HYC canola seed, especially at high canola prices. Canola producers will not increase their NR by using HY‐FSS or OP seed to reduce their seed cost because the lost value of production exceeds the higher cost of HYC seed.