Winter wheat can often be found to survive short freeze thaw events throughout the winter. However, there are concerns about crop damage and survivability, particularly in those fields that were planted late last fall and those fields that were covered in ice for prolonged periods. When making assessments for winter survival, fields are typically walked after a week or two…
This past fall brought challenges for many growers. Prolonged wet weather delayed soybean harvest and pushed winter wheat seeding into late October and early November for some. Before the snow fell, many fields had not yet emerged. While the seed did germinate and vernalize, the late planting meant no tiller development. As a result, nitrogen management will be important in…
Fall 2017 Planting Planting conditions started off well and continued through to mid-October with little disruption. Rainfall around Thanksgiving weekend halted soybean harvest and subsequently winter wheat planting but once conditions dried up planting continued through to November. Approximately 906,000 acres of winter wheat were seeded which is slightly down from the previous year’s 910,000 acres. The proportion of hard…
This is the question that Mark Burnham near Coburg and several other growers across Ontario are trying to answer. It can be a challenge for many grain growers to justify the returns of winter wheat in a cash crop rotation, so these innovative growers are experimenting with different ways to continue growing wheat profitably. Several growers are experimenting with…
The 2018 growing season had its challenges with a cool, wet spring followed by hot, dry weather during the critical grain fill period. The weather had a negative impact on yield for many while others were pleasantly surprised with yields pushing well over 100 bu/ac. So what did growers who fared better than others have in common even in a year with variable moisture?…
There have been many reports of cereal leaf beetle adult activity over the last few weeks. Adults do some feeding but also lay eggs that give rise to the real issue – cereal leaf beetle larvae. Eggs will be hatching within the next week or so. With daily growing degree days accumulating more quickly than usual, the populations and feeding…
This article was written by Peter Johnson, Agronomist, Real Agriculture. Can we grow record-breaking wheat here in the Great Lakes Region? NO! will be the resounding answer from most, but don’t give in so quickly. The world record set by Eric Watson of New Zealand stands at 249.7 bu/ac. In 2016, a well-calibrated yield monitor in Ontario touched 240 bu/ac…
Co-authored with Albert Tenuta, Pathologist, Field Crops In 2016 the milder winter conditions resulted in early leaf and stripe rust infections in Tennessee and Kentucky. This resulted in rust spores being blown into Ontario earlier than we typically see. By mid-May 2016, stripe rust was prevalent in most areas of southwestern Ontario. Growers who selected tolerant varieties or applied a…
Before long, the 2018 winter wheat crop will be seeded across the province (Figure 1). Long-term research at the University of Guelph’s Ridgetown campus shows that winter wheat in rotation provides an additional 10 bushels per acre to corn and 5 bushels to soybeans. At current crop prices, that means an extra 107 dollars per acre over a rotation. What…
True armyworm have been found in a few fields this weekend. Cereals, corn (especially, though not exclusive those fields planted into rye) and mixed forages are at risk and should be scouted every three or four days over the next three weeks. True armyworm identification was covered in a previous blog this spring (here). Scouting Guidelines: The best time to…
When we think about getting the highest yields and the best quality out of our winter wheat crop we tend to think about management practices such as timely planting, variety selection, nutrient management (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulphur), as well as timely fungicide and herbicide applications. However, one management practice that can often be overlooked or forgotten about in terms…
Two more pests deserve our attention over the next month. Cereal leaf beetle (CLB) is starting to show up in some fields in Ontario. Levels are still low but both adults, eggs and/or larvae are being found by scouts at various locations during routine scouting trips. A few locations tend to experience a higher frequency of infestations including fields near…
Crop yields have increased significantly since fertility recommendations were developed in Ontario. Crop nutrient uptake and grain nutrient removal have increased proportionately. A study was initiated in 2011 with funding from the Grain Farmers of Ontario to evaluate a corn-soybean-wheat rotation on four sites with relatively low soil test P and K levels. Areas within each test site were built…
The updated Organic Field Crop Handbook is now available for purchase on the Canadian Organic Growers’ website.
Co-written by Joanna Follings, Cereal Specialist Should you use 2,4-D to emerged wheat in the fall to control weeds? The short answer is no. First, the label clearly states under the “Application Timing” section: “Do not apply to seedling winter cereals in the fall.” Second, there are other labelled and less injurious herbicide options that provide equivalent or better control of…
