New for the 2020 growing season, BASF is packaging InVigor® canola with a specific count. This will be a first for canola, but packaging seed by numbers of seed is the norm for corn and soybeans.
Each bag of InVigor will contain 4.25 million seeds and seed 10 acres based on the recommended seeding rate. To accomplish the consistency of seed count in the bag, seed will be sorted by thousand-kernel weight (TWS) ranges and packaged in one of four TWS ranges – another first for Western Canadian canola growers.
The new InVigor RATE packaging has four different TSW ranges – A, B, C and D – based on seed count rather than bag weight. Each of these four packaging options are the same price and contain enough seed to plant 10 acres at the recommended seeding rate. The weights range from 42.2 pounds (A) to 56.7 pounds (D) per bag.
“The ranges are fairly tight,” said Stewart Boyd, PAg, Co-op Regional Grow Team Advisor. “You aren’t going to get extremely large or extremely small seed sizes – and no matter what size you choose, each bag will contain the same amount of seeds and perform similarly in the field.”
What are the benefits to canola growers?
The InVigor RATE packaging is designed to help growers achieve a target plant population of five to seven plants per square foot. Each range of seed features a seeding rate recommendation designed to help growers both target their ideal plant population and optimize their yield potential. If growers want to refine their seeding rates even more, the TSW of each range is displayed on the bag’s seed tag.
“One of the things that’s great for growers is that they’ll have the seed ranges A, B, C or D, and the recommended seeding rates for those ranges pre-calculated, right there on the bag,” said Boyd. “If they use the same seed size, they won’t have to recalibrate – they can just go knowing their seed size is going to be consistent.”
What are the agronomic benefits?
This target plant population maximizes the crop’s water and nutrient use. In addition, InVigor RATE is the optimum balance between too-high and too-low plant density within a defined area. Ensuring a plant density that is not too low will improve weed competition, fungicide timing and maximize SBU. Ensuring a plant density that is not too high will increase survivability and stress tolerance and minimize competition and lodging.
“BASF has put a lot of time and effort into doing field trials to evaluate if there are any differences in performance between the four ranges,” said Boyd. “And their trial data is showing that there’s not.”
For more information on InVigor RATE canola, speak with your local Co-op Grow Team member.