Wheat and barley producers can optimize the profitability and sustainability of their operations by taking a closer look at new approaches to farming with Integrated Crop Management (ICM), says Dr. George Clayton, an ICM researcher at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Lacombe Research Centre.

ICM is essentially a "knowledge-based" strategy for how to farm, says Clayton. It asks producers to look at all their production goals and challenges as a whole, and to draw on the best combination of available knowledge and tools to maximize their success.

"The approach is basically common sense, but we're asking producers to take a harder look at their decision-making process," says Clayton. "Often, we see a problem and we immediately look for the easiest short-term solution. If we were to look at the bigger picture and think about how we can be the most productive, cost-efficient and environmentally responsible over the long-term, we would manage our production much differently. That's what ICM is about - taking a more sophisticated, broader look at things, in order to make better choices."

Clayton's advice on how producers can maximize their success with ICM is the subject of a feature article in the new February 2004 edition of Western Grains Research Magazine, available on the Western Grains Research Foundation (WGRF) Web site: www.westerngrains.com. Western Canadian wheat and barley growers are major investors in wheat and barley breeding research through the Wheat and Barley Check-off Funds, administered by WGRF. The Research Magazine offers "Ideas and issues for farmer research investors."

ICM has been around for a long time, and is often associated with the terms "holistic agriculture" or "alternate agriculture," says Clayton. But in recent years, its status has risen greatly in the scientific community and in a growing number of public and industry circles. "We've made tremendous leaps in our understanding of farming as a biological system. Applying the ICM approach is the best way to translate that knowledge into more productive and sustainable farming systems."

New varieties that boost crop health and add to genetic diversity are a valuable tool for ICM, says Clayton. "Improved crop varieties are an excellent way to increase farming success. They allow more productivity without major added cost. Genetic improvements in yield, pest resistance and other important traits make us less dependent on manmade inputs, and the overall impact of improving our genetic diversity gives us more options in crop rotations and variety selection."

ICM does take more strategy and work than simpler approaches, says Clayton. But easy does not always mean best. "There are many options producers can look at to improve their operations without relying on what I call 'big hammer' or 'bullet' solutions, which are typically more costly and less sustainable. The ICM approach takes more effort, but when the result is a more productive, profitable and sustainable operation, many would agree the extra effort is worth it."

Clayton's tips for better farming with ICM include: focusing on crop health, taking advantage of biological processes, championing diversity, rotating not just crops but varieties too, increasing the intensity of hands-on management and tapping new knowledge.

"The rule of thumb is that if you use a multi-tool approach to attack a problem, you've got a greater chance of success than if you use only one tool. The other key is to always diversify - always keep things off balance."

Western Grains Research Foundation is funded and directed by Western crop producers, and allocates approximately $5 million annually to research through the Wheat and Barley Check-off Funds and a separate $9 million Endowment Fund.