Forage Report – May 15, 2013
Alfalfa and grass are growing well and will respond quickly to moisture and heat. The May 14th frost did very little damage to established alfalfa and new seedings. (“Frost Damaged Alfalfa” http://fieldcropnews.com/?p=6812) Grass stands have responded very well to early applied nitrogen with sig... Continue reading
Apply Nitrogen To Grass Stands To Increase Yields
Applying nitrogen (N) to productive grass hay fields can substantially increase yields. With tight forage inventories and high hay and land prices, spreading nitrogen on grass hay fields is a simple and cost effective strategy to increase much needed forage supplies. It is usually more economical in... Continue reading
Posted in Forage Production
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Winchester Ag Breakfast Meeting, May 14th, 2013
From May 1st to 12th, accumulations of 15 to 30 mm of rain and 220 Crop Heat Units (CHU) were recorded. The long term average for this same period is about 130 CHU. There was frost on May 14th across eastern Ontario with a low of -2o to -3o C. Little damage expected as the corn growing point was sti... Continue reading
Posted in Cereals, Corn, Forage Production, In-Season Crop Reports, Pest Management, Soybeans
Tagged 2013, alfalfa, corn, forages, soybeans, wheat
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Exeter Agbiz Breakfast Minutes, May 14th, 2013
Synopsis: Corn planting is 85% complete, with 10% of soys planted. Wheat has progressed rapidly, with earliest wheat pushing the flag leaf stage: soon beyond herbicide applications. A great deal of sulphur deficiency is showing in wheat. Fortunately frost was a near miss with little damage. Glyp... Continue reading
Posted in In-Season Crop Reports, Pest Management
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Ready, Set, Variable Rate Population Here We Go!
May 7, 2013 ~ Variable Rate Corn Population:
Yesterday was a sunny and successful variable rate planting day at Blythe Brae Farms in Oxford County. Greg Stewart and I created a normalized multi-year corn yield map (6 corn years in total) and then simplified the normalized yield map into 3 zo... Continue reading
Posted in Precision Agriculture
Tagged corn planting, planting progress, populations, seeding rate, variable rate, yields
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Spring Frost Damaged Alfalfa
Alfalfa frost damage can sometimes occur in the spring after growth has started, resulting in damaged growing points. Some wilting can be visible about 24 hours after frost or some yellowish or brownish discolouration 3 or 4 days later. The top of the stems will typically bend over with a “shepher... Continue reading
Posted in Alerts, Forage Production
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Ridgetown Ag Breakfast Meeting May 7, 2013
Synopsis: Tremendous activity on the lighter textured soils (south of Hwy 401) with 80% corn planted on lighter soils. Planting on clay soils is just starting. Just a few soybeans planted but many growers gearing up if weather allows. Manganese and sulphur deficiencies are evident in the wheat c... Continue reading
Posted in Cereals, Corn, Forage Production, In-Season Crop Reports
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Frost Injury in Corn at the spike stage
I took this video in 2010 when a lot of corn was planted in mid April and had emerged nicely only to be hit with a frost in May. Although the injury looked bad at the time, because the growing point was below the ground the crop made a complete recovery and 2010 saw record high provincial corn yield... Continue reading
Quiz Series: Quiz 3 Field Border Weeds
The following photos were taken this week to display common weeds (some familiar, a few are tricky). The quiz shows distinguishing plant features to help you identify weeds in the field. Test your knowledge, and learn from the tips and hints after you submit your answers.
... Continue reading
Posted in Pest Management, Weeds Team Training
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Simcoe Ag Breakfast Meeting Notes – May 8, 2013
Synopsis: Amazing how so much fieldwork can be accomplished in 1 week of ideal weather.
Light textured soils are 90+ % planted for corn, while heavy textured clays of Haldimand and Wentworth are just getting started with about 10% planted; Niagara (Wainfleet area) about 30%. On the Haldi... Continue reading
Posted in In-Season Crop Reports
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PALMERSTON CROP CONSULTANTS MEETING MINUTES – MAY 7TH
Synopsis: Most nitrogen has now been applied to wheat. Many abandoned plans for split application. Corn planting ranges from 10% - 50% complete. Availability of rental fertilizer spreaders, custom application and accessing of UAN are creating bottlenecks. Growers are beginning to use packers... Continue reading
Posted in In-Season Crop Reports
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Forage Report – May 8, 2013
Alfalfa winterkill is particularly severe in the Ottawa Valley and New Liskeard areas. There are many options to consider for emergency forage, depending on the calendar date, urgency for short term feed, and forage yield and nutrient quality requirements. Refer to “Forage Options When Alfalfa Win... Continue reading
Posted in Forage Production, In-Season Crop Reports
Tagged fertility, K, P, winterkill
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Forage Options When Alfalfa Winterkill Strikes
It is always difficult to know what to do when winterkill completely takes out your alfalfa stands or leaves them patchy and unhealthy. There are many options to be considered, depending on the calendar date, timing, urgency for feed, and forage yield and nutrient quality requirements. Forage ... Continue reading
Posted in Forage Production
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Cool, Wet April Means Good for Pests, Bad for their Enemies
It is rare to experience back to back armyworm outbreak years. This is usually because the natural enemies (particularly parasites and entomopathogens) build up in an outbreak year and are in good supply the following year to keep up with the armyworm. However, armyworm outbreaks do tend to occu... Continue reading
Posted in Baute Bug Blog, Pest Management
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Quiz Series: Quiz 2 weeds in winter wheat
Test out your knowledge on a handful of weeds found in winter wheat. Answers are provided after you submit all your answers.
... Continue reading
Posted in Pest Management, Weeds Team Training
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