Winchester Breakfast Meeting – June 20, 2017

Weather

Overnight rainfall ranged from 1 to 10 ml in the region. From the 1st of May, the area has accumulated about 825 Crop Heat Units (CHU), which is only about 25 CHU behind normal. Heat this last week has brought us closer to normal. Long range forecast is for cooler temperatures, so less CHU accumulation in the coming weeks. Rainfall is still almost double the normal rainfall since May 1st.

Forages

About 80% of the early 1st cut alfalfa has been harvested. Good yields and quality have been reported. Some growers reporting their first cut this year is the same amount they got off in all cuts combines last year. The odd sign going up with hay for sale is a good indication that growers are having good yields.

Corn

In the Napanee, not as much corn was planted as intended. These acres have being switched to soybeans. Some still soybeans yet to be planted. Nitrogen soil tests are coming back with lower nitrate levels for this point in the year as compared to the same time last year. Depending on this year’s yield potential and current nitrogen rates, growers may need to increase by an additional 30 pounds of nitrogen per acre. About 25% of the side-dress nitrogen is done. Herbicides, especially pre-emerge sprays are working well. Still the odd field that was left for a post-emerge herbicide program and due to wet soil conditions, has not been sprayed yet. Fields planted wet with seed slot open are a danger for phenoxy type herbicides if that herbicide gets into that seed slot. This year may be a good year to be as safe as possible with recommendations in terms of leaf stage and when to apply. Very little reports of cutworm, the odd one found. Some in a few fields near Lanark, but not significant enough for replant.

Soybeans

Still some to be planted, but mostly done. Soybeans planted on the May 28 weekend are struggling as soil conditions were not in good shape. Some soybeans planted from May 16 to 20, needed to be replanted due to planting to heavy rains. Lots of inconsistency, soil structure playing a role. Tillage also showing a big difference. ‘Less is more’ this year; those that no-tilled or did very little tillage have far better stands. Agricorp had 100 damage reports as of this past Friday; some claimed as unseeded acres and some claims for replanting due to crusting, wet soil, etc. Many growers were not looking for the poor emergence and so damage reports came in late for reseeding. Overall, less than 5% of the soybean acres had to be replanted, mainly in low, wet areas of the field. Final soybeans stands population are about 124,000 plants per acre. Dicamba drift has been reported in some US states resulting in talk about a ban of applying dicamba products at certain times of the year. This is a reminder for us to be careful with dicamba product applications. Some growers are deferring to other herbicide options.

Winter wheat

Most of the fusarium head blight fungicides were applied at the correct stage of the wheat just before the rain started on the weekend. Cereal leaf beetles/larvae showing up.

Spring Cereals

April planted spring wheat will likely be heading in about 7 to 10 days. Foliar fungicides being applied this week. Aphids being found in spring wheat, so potential for barley yellow dwarf virus to occur. A few fields have been sprayed. Aphids pressure in some fields. The Aphid threshold prior to the heading stage is 12 to 15 cereal aphids per stem and up to 50 aphids per head once headed. At this point, no army worm pressure found in the area. Only pocket has been reported south of Montreal area.

Edible beans

Only a small number of intended edible bean acres in the Winchester area have been planted. Some still to be planted in Napanee area.

Market update

The commodity markets seem to be trading weather and crop conditions. December corn has dropped 15 cents in the past week between a combination of fund shorts being squared away and timely rains over some of the Corn Belt. Despite the drop in futures our local basis values are holding fairly strong. The US crop is rated at 67% good to excellent vs 75% last year. November soybeans have lost some of their momentum and our high Canadian dollar at $0.7541 to the US dollar (CAD/USD) has eaten away at our basis values. Both Kansas and Chicago wheat markets are pushing new highs providing some excellent wheat prices to take advantage of. We will look towards the June 30th USDA report to provide some insight on further price direction.

Agricorp

Soybeans planting deadline is June 30th. After June 30th, growers can seed a cover crop.

Winchester Research Station

Plot trials are all planted and being sprayed. Drainage has been working well, everything has emerged. A few tours booked through the summer. Dundas Soil & Crop Improvement Association – Summer Tour on August 2nd, 2017. If others wish a tour of the Winchester Research Station, contact Holly Byker at hbyker@uoguelph.ca.

Upcoming Field Days:

Southwest Crop Diagnostic Days – July 5-6 (Ridgetown College) – diagnosticdays.ca

FarmSmart Expo – July 13TH (Elora Research Station) – farmsmartconference.com

Eastern Ontario Crop Diagnostic Day – July 19TH (Winchester Research Station) –    eocdd.eastontcropconference.ca

Canola Crop Tour – July 14TH – 10 am to 3 pm, (Barclay Dick & Sons Farm Supply, 4139 AB Highway 60, Douglas) – https://www.ontariocanolagrowers.ca/

Soil Management DayAugust 10, 2017 – Vernon, Ontario. NEW!

NEW – Agronomy Guide for Field Crops – Publication 811 – How to Order A pdf version is available. http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/pub811/811pdforder.htm

Thank you to Stephanie Nanne, P.T. Sullivan Agro for taking notes for this morning’s meeting.