Synopsis: Rainfall over the weekend varied from 25-75 ml. Several areas report receiving over 7.5″ rain in past 2 weeks. Corn emergence is generally good. Soybean planting is generally 75% complete but varies from 20-100%. Growers in north Dufferin and south Simcoe have had particularly difficult time completing field work due to wet conditions. Most crops escaped serious frost injury. Flea beetles above threshold(25% leaf feeding) in some canola fields. Serious soil erosion issues again this spring, highlight the need to re-evaluate tillage practices and the need for more attention to reduced tillage systems that manage residue and leave the minimum 30-40% residue cover. Armyworm in winter wheat has been reported in southwestern Ontario.
Corn: Emergence has been excellent in many areas, thanks in part due to moist (wet) soil conditions. Corn that had tissue damage from frost is recovering. Numerous calls where pre-emerged herbicide applications were missed. Pre-emerge herbicides providing good weed control. Weed control should be the priority as the crop moves through the critical 3-4 leaf stage.
Soybeans: Planting is 75% complete, but varies widely. A few replants on heavy clay soils, crusting, or tight soils. Plant populations have been better and more uniform in no-till/min-till systems due to less erosion and crusting. In thickening up existing stand in cotyledon-unifoliate stage, plant on angle to extisting stand. . If there are more than 100,000 plants/acre, leave the stand. (100,000 plants/acre is equivalent to 16 plants in a 36 inch hula hoop, 14 in a 33 inch hoop, or 11 in a 30 inch hoop.) The exception to this rule is in very heavy clay soils, where a minimum 120,000 healthy plants/acre should be present. Do not change maturity on soybean varieties if replanting now. Several reports of seedcorn maggot damage and chaefer(sandy soils). Quite a few no-till IP soybean fields did not receive a burndown treatment and are going to be a challenge to control weeds.
Forages: Alfalfa now in bud stage. Weevil pressure has been below threshold in most areas, and is easiest to control by harvesting the field. Grasses are much more advanced in maturity than alfalfa.
Winter Wheat: Many fields now in flag leaf stage. Powdery mildew and septoria present in lower canopy. Significant number of fields did not receive herbicide application due to timing and weather. These fields may require pre-harvest herbicide application. Weed control has been good where a fall burndown using glyphosate + Eragon was used following beans prior to wheat planting. Some armyworm reported in southwestern counties.
Canola
Emergence has been variable due to heavy rains and soil erosion. Do not replant where average plant stand is 4-5 plants/sq ft. Flea beetles are abundant and need to be monitored every few days. Threshold is 25% leaf feeding. Heaviest pressure is in field perimeter and in some cases only this area requires treatment. Foliar insecticides provide contact activity so are best applied in heat of day when beetles are most active. Water volumes above 10 gal/ac improve coverage and control. The same applies when applying Liberty herbicide. Weed control is priority in many fields. Critical weed period is prior to 4 leaf stage. Swede midge populations have been low to date.
Agricorp.
- Planting deadlines info-sheet (attached). 2013 AGRICORP PLANTING DEADLINES
- Agricorp received large number of damage calls 868 provincially in past week. Most were related to frost damage to corn, soybeans and winter wheat or large areas with ponding of water. In most cases corn and soybeans recovered. Winter wheat damage minimal where head was not emerging.
- Unseeded Acreage Benefit: is meant for situations where grower cannot plant by planting deadline for that crop (eg corn), and switching to another crop is not an option. Agricorp will pay USAB, and grower may still plant that crop(eg corn) past the planting deadline, but there is no crop insurance coverage for the crop in that field. If grower switches to another crop(eg soybeans) which is not past deadline, USAB does not apply. June 15th deadline to report unseeded acres.
- Extending planting deadline is on case by case basis and only consider where reasonable that crop may be planted within a few days of the current planting deadline. Canola deadline is June 5th (Southern Ontario).
- On line reporting of final acreage is encouraged and can reduce fustrations of calling during high volume times. Please encourage growers to not leave phone reporting to last day-JUNE 30th.
Other
- Shortages of herbicides, fertilizer and other inputs this spring is reminder that growers needto pre-plan and make suitable arrangements. Input suppliers are carrying less inventory than they once did.
- Merge or suitable surfactant needs to be used with Eragon for best results as pre-plant burndown
Southwest Crop Diagnostic Days Ridgetown: July 3 and 4, 2012 (U of Guelph– Ridgetown Campus). www.diagnosticdays.ca
Ontario Forage Expo: Bruce County. July 10th. Host Ikendale Farm, 358 Concession 12, Greenock, RR4 Walkerton. West of Huron Tractor on Township Road 2. 10 am to 3:30 pm. Admission is free. http://www.ontarioforagecouncil.com/programs/ontario-forage-expo.html
Ontario Canola Growers Association Canola Crop Tour, July 9th, 10 am to 3 pm, at Holmes Agro, 473088 Dufferin County Road 11, Orangeville. Trial tour will include variety, swede midge control treatment, seeding rate. Lunch provided. Also Modified combine header demo. Contact: Carrie James 519-986-3519
July 11: FarmSmart Expo: Elora Research Station
CropLine – 1-888-449-0937
CropPest Website –www.omafra.gov.on.ca/croppest
Please direct any questions, comments you may have to:
Brian Hall, OMAFRA, Stratford 519-271-0083 or brian.hall@ontario.ca
Ian McDonald, OMAFRA, Guelph 519-824-4120 (ext 5-6707) or ian.mcdonald@ontario.ca