Thank you to Pride for sponsoring breakfast. Peter Johnson chaired this meeting. Thank you to the Malibu Restaurant for hosting the meeting. Synopsis: Rainfall varied on Monday June 20th with some areas receiving between 0.5 and 1.0 inches of rain and others receiving none. Conditions are getting extremely dry particularly in the Niagara and Haldimand […]
We have all heard, or seen firsthand, the devastating effects of high populations of swede midge. Research continues on the pest, but at this time there are not many advancements to report that will provide big steps forward in swede midge control. Managing this pest requires investment in pheromone traps and possibly multiple insecticide treatments, […]
There is still a lot of field activity happening, but the real busy rush is starting to slow down. Accumulated heat units are shown in the table below. Thanks Bill Brown and FS Partners for sponsoring breakfast. The June 14 meeting was the last of the year at Mt Forest, and we thank everyone for participating. […]
Breakfast Sponsor: Thanks from the group to “Stephanie Divitaris – Syngenta“ Synopsis: The quote of the week comes from Jason VanMaanen “Just because you have the best soil doesn’t mean you have the best management.” following comments on the poor looking corn crops in Dover Township. The weather this spring has had an impact on […]
Co-Authored with Ian McDonald, OMAFRA and Ken Janovicek, University of Guelph OMAFRA Field Crop Unit staff have traditionally conducted a Pre Sidedress Nitrogen Test (PSNT) survey across Ontario at the beginning of June each year to examine the natural soil nitrate available. In the past, 80-100 samples would be collected from fields across the province […]
Exeter Agribusiness Minutes June 7, 2016 Malibu Restaurant, Exeter Thank you to Pioneer for sponsoring breakfast. Robert Moloney chaired this meeting. The final meeting will be on June 24th starting at 7:00 am for breakfast (meeting starts at 7:30) at the Malibu. Synopsis: Rainfall varied over the weekend (June 4-5) with most areas receiving between […]
Windbreaks can increase crop yields up to 15 per cent, more than making up for the amount of land they use. How? Windbreaks improve a field’s microclimate by reducing wind speeds, increasing temperatures and reducing the amount of moisture loss. Have you considered planting a windbreak? Windbreaks can also: reduce soil erosion decrease odour and […]
Past research in Ontario and abroad has demonstrated the importance of uniform emergence for maximizing corn yield. At the Southwest Ag Conference in January, Randy Dowdy, 2014 National Corn Growers Association yield contest winner from Georgia proposed the “flag test” – returning to a plot every 12 or 24 hours and flagging every newly emerged plant using a different coloured flag for each […]
The 2016-2017 version of OMAFRA Publication 812, Field Crop Protection Guide, and can be downloaded here or by clicking on the the book cover thumbnail below. Publication 812 is the source of pest control information for field crops. The easy to read tables provide information and comments on insect and disease control products for the major field crops […]
Corn Many areas of the province saw a much needed rain over the weekend ranging from 15 mm to 50 mm in. Overall corn is progressing well and is at the 4-7 leaf growth stage. Minimal corn replants have been reported to date. Sidedressing is underway in some areas and will likely be in full […]
Ridgetown Ag Breakfast Meeting Minutes – May 31, 2016 Breakfast Sponsor: Thanks from the group to “Chris Robson, DuPont-Pioneer“ Synopsis: The quote of the week comes from Alan McCallum, “How can the clays be so dry and wet at the same time!” Rains have been very sporadic since the last meeting which ranged from none\trace […]
Synopsis: Close to a carbon copy of last spring. Cracks in heavy clay soils resemble August conditions and underline the need for rain. Crops are planted and for most part into good conditions. Some emergence issues on heavy-textured soils. Wheat is starting to head and fungicides are being applied. Dry conditions are resulting in some […]
Thanks to Jack Legg, SGS Labs for chairing the meeting and sponsoring breakfast. The next meeting will be Tuesday, June 7th starting at 7:00am for breakfast and 7:30 for the meeting. Corn Corn planting is essentially complete in the area with the exception of fields that will go in after an early forage/hay harvest […]
Corn Depending on planting date, corn is at the spike to 5 leaf stage and progressing well with the warm weather. Most corn acres received adequate rainfall for good emergence and an acceptable stand. However, dry conditions have prevented activation of pre-emergence herbicides on many acres. The high heat in the past week has caused […]
Group consensus is that for the most part everything is excellent, one of the best starts to a crop year in a long time. The only real large concern is the future need for rainfall as fields while in good shape currently, could turn around without some moisture shortly. This is especially true further […]