Greg Stewart, Peter Johnson and Ian McDonald, OMAF & MRA Background In 2014 the OMAF & MRA field crops team once again surveyed a range of corn fields to determine the impact that this springs weather has had on the level of residual soil nitrate. This year April was cool with less growth than […]
Conditions: Crop Heat Units from the May 1st are right about the 30 year normal. Winter wheat: In the case of highly uneven fields, spraying is recommended when about 25% of heads are emerged for 5 days (and head past ligule). The idea is that the first 25% are probably the better heads anyways and […]
The next meeting will be held at the Huron Research Station. Breakfast will be provided at 7 am. There will be a short tour (1 hour). Please bring any suggestions for future research that should be conducted. Synopsis: Considerable field work was possible over the weekend and Monday, especially further south where they were further […]
The recent registration of Permit (active ingredient: halosulfuron) in Ontario provides a nice tool for the management of yellow nutsedge in corn. Permit will also provide residual control of certain broadleaf weeds. For those two reasons, many growers will consider tank-mixing glyphosate and Permit for use in glyphosate tolerant corn. Here are 5 key points to consider when […]
With some dry weather and delayed alfalfa maturity, some high quality 1st-cut hay, haylage and baleage has been made. Yields are quite variable, with some very disappointing yields being reported in western Ontario, but closer to normal yields in the east. Sulphur Deficiency Some alfalfa is showing the sympton of uniform yellowing, indicating sulphur […]
Low levels of armyworm, cereal leaf beetles and grass sawflies have been spotted in various wheat fields over the last week. Scout to make sure these don’t get out of hand. With any of these, protecting the flag leaf is most important. Armyworm and grass sawflies clip the wheat head off too. Armyworm feed at […]
May 1 to June 4Norfolk/Haldimand/Niagara 2014 2013 Rainfall + 120 mm + 85 mm Crop Heat Units ~ 440 ~ 520 Growing Degree Days ~ 295 ~335 Some field work on the weekend ended with another dose of precipitation June 2. Highly variable, most areas received between 5 and 25 mm; with the lower amounts […]
Synopsis: Finally significant planting progress in corn and soybeans! Rainfall over the last two weeks varied from 0.5” to 3”. Early corn is at 4 to 5 leaf stage while the majority of the corn is emerging to 2 leaves. The most advanced wheat is heading. Weed control is becoming the order of the day. […]
Synopsis: Rainfall Monday evening-Tues varied between 0- 1.25 cm(0.5″). Excellent progress in planting and field work in past week. Clay soils have gone from being too wet, to hard and dry in surface layer. Corn and canola planting is essentially complete, soybean planting ranges from 50-90% complete, edible bean planting has started. Some growers waiting on rain […]
First-cut dairy haylage is in full swing the first week of June, with some farms finished. Harvest has been delayed by slow forage crop growth, and also corn and soybean planting on some farms. Yields are quite variable, depending on location and management, but most are below normal. Alfalfa growth and maturity is considerably delayed, […]
As temperatures warm up, flea beetles are emerging and on the move. Feeding damage is evident in early emerged canola. Peak emergence from overwintering sites occurs once soil temperatures reaches 150 C (60 0 F). Depending on temperatures, flea beetles can take up to 3 weeks for all adults to emerge. Adults emerge overwinter in […]
First-cut dairy haylage is delayed and just starting in southern Ontario, but should be in full swing the week of June 2nd . With the cooler spring weather, grass growth and maturity is more advanced relative to the alfalfa. Alfalfa is more than 10 days behind normal, but grasses are heading. Yields are quite variable […]
Many horse owners are finding it increasingly challenging to find and purchase suitable “horse quality” hay at a price they can afford. Low hay yields due to dry weather in 2012 were followed by poorer quality hay as a result of rainy haying weather in 2013. However, there are also long term economic factors in […]
An uncommon scene the morning of May 21 was ponded water in fields of the Norfolk sand plain, where soils have saturated hydraulic conductivity in excess of 9 cm per hour. Some areas including north Oxford received more than 2.5” of rainfall May 20-21; many areas (Niagara, west Elgin) received just under 1”. Patience waiting for […]
Forage crop growth is delayed about 7 – 10 days behind normal. First-cut yield expectations are quite variable, with some winter injured, older, and fall harvested stands showing reduced yield potential. There is concern beginning to develop in some areas about producing adequate forage to meet livestock requirements. Grass stands have responded very well to […]