Can We Close the Yield Gap on Wheat?

**furrowtickler** · May 2, 2012, 23:53

Until now there has been no reason to.

**agstar77** · May 3, 2012, 09:44

It is not the yield gap ,it is the profit gap we have to worry about. Large yields do not necessarily mean profits for farmers, but are good for grain companies and railways.

**dave4441** · May 3, 2012, 09:52

Well you will be able to keep land costs lower with that type of thinking Agstar.

**agstar77** · May 3, 2012, 10:02

More and more land to offset dropping margins. How is that working for you?

**shaney** · May 3, 2012, 10:04

Do any of you have info on the price difference for
European vs North America on wheat. The video
shows an incredible yield difference which made me
think this is more of a yield issue. Interesting.

**agstar77** · May 3, 2012, 11:34

Europe is a whole different situation . Subsidies for production, less shipping costs etc.

**shaney** · May 3, 2012, 11:53

But what is the net price to the farmer in, all things considered?

**freewheat** · May 3, 2012, 12:11

I believe that half the yield gap is
winter vs. spring crops. In europe they
have the growing season length to only
grow winter wheat, generally. The other
half of the gap is varieties and
agronomy. Europeons are three times more
intensive than your average western
Canadian farmer. They tissue test as a
general rule. They give the crop what it
needs as a general rule. They spray
fungicides as a general rule. We are
just beginning to emulate some of their
techniques here in canada. Look at wheat
in Iowa vs. western Canada as well. They
take it way more seriously than we do.
Subsidy is part of it, but watching
agtalk is interesting. If they think
their wheat needs an extra shot of n
they feed it, they don't hem and haw
like we do here, worrying constantly,
and rightly so about if the extras given
the crop, will extend its growth to
long.

I think the gap is as simple as that...

**dave4441** · May 3, 2012, 17:05

OK Agstar, lets get everyone to sign a form that says they won't use inputs, likely no rotation, you know, farm like Agstar and we will get 20 bu per acre at $30 per bushel. We will get farmers from all over the world to sign up for it and market it all thru CWB3. Who wants to organize it?

Can We Close the Yield Gap on Wheat?