Ridgetown Ag Breakfast Minutes, April 22nd, 2014
Synopsis: It is National Soil Conservation Week! Wheat survival is extremely spotty. Estimate 10-15% will be replanted. Nitrogen applications are gearing up. Corn and sweet corn planting have started: excellent uptake of Fluency Agent by growers. Sugar beet and pea plantings are underway. Soils are drying nicely. Western bean cutworm is not expected to have […]
What Pests to Expect for 2014
Many people are assuming that pests won’t be a problem this year given the long and very cold winter we had. Though overall there could be a reduction in pest populations, this is not necessarily true for all of our key pests. Some of them are quite tolerant to harsh winters and deal with it […]
2013 Grain Corn Ear Mould and Vomitoxin Survey
Co-Authored by: Albert Tenuta, OMAF & MRA Field Crop Pathologist The OMAF and MRA Field Crops team has recently completed a survey of the 2013 Ontario corn crop to determine ear mould incidence as well as the occurrence of mycotoxins in the grain. These mycotoxins, particularly vomitoxin (DON) produced primarily by Gibberella/Fusarium ear moulds can […]
Bugs That May Start Bugging Us this Week
Soybean aphids – Eastern Ontario and the thumb of Michigan have been battling soybean aphids for some time now. This is ideal weather for them so I expect to start to see fields in SW ON noticing populations climb. That said, I have not given up on the natural enemies. I just want everyone to […]
It’s a Lepidoptera Summer!
The butterfly enthusiasts had a good spring this year with the early arrival of the red admiral butterfly and large flights of other species. Unfortunately for us, that also meant some pests also arrived in great numbers. Speaking of pests has anyone seen this caterpillar in soybeans? This is the larval stage of the painted […]
Exeter Breakfast Meeting Minutes – Huron Research Station, June 26, 2012
Minutes taken by Dan Docking. Issues Raised. lack of alfalfa regrowth, fungicide on corn, cutworm, leaf hoppers on edible beans, armyworm spraying, yellowing of new growth in soys, adzukis, hail damage in corn – fungicide application and timing, soybean aphids, double cropping soybeans. Alfalfa Regrowth Based on the tough, dry spring many alfalfa plants lack […]
Ridgetown Agribusiness Minutes, June 5th, 2012
Included: Weed control, armyworm, corn field notes, double crop soys and more. Synopsis: Rainfall varies widely across the region, from 0.5 to 4.5”. Most areas have excellent moisture now, with a few dry pockets and a few waterlogged areas. Crops remain well ahead in development, with a suggestion that Michigan Sugar will open the plant […]
Simcoe Ag Breakfast Minutes – May 23, 2012
Synopsis: In the past 2 weeks general rainfall has been less than 15 mm and about 200 chu have been accumulated – 300 from May 1. Conditions are dry for the middle of May. A gentle, all-day rainfall would be welcome to help with pre-emerge herbicide activation, crop emergence and crop growth. Corn planting is […]
WBC Trapps, Grubs and More! Is this really May?
The weather is certainly warming up and it looks like the forecast is for more of the same. Things are getting busy and I’ve got a few things to talk about this week. The first is the start of the Western Bean Cutworm Trapping network. Traps should be set up this week and the data […]
Ridgetown Ag Breakfast Minutes, May 22, 2012
Included: Stripe rust in wheat, fusarium control (to do or not to do), aphids above threshold (wheat), corn replants and adding to thin stands, bugs in bins and more. Synopsis: Spotty rainfall across the region, from almost nil to 3″+. Many “last 50 acres” switched from corn into soy with price rally. Limited replant corn and soy […]
Simcoe April 25, 2012 Agribusiness Breakfast Meeting Notes
Key messages: Ensure at least 2 modes of action are used in all herbicide applications as part of the resistance management strategy. Where weed escapes from burndown treatments require additional glyphosphate, we need to send the message of combined modes of action as good weed management stewardship, even for in-crop applications. With glyphosphate resistant fleabane […]
Simcoe Agribusiness Breakfast Minutes, April 11, 2012
GENERAL: The relatively mild winter and early start to the spring season means that there will be a re-evaluation of many “normal” practices. Early break of dormancy for forage, wheat and tree crops, opportunity for early application (or split application) of nitrogen to wheat crops, germination of many weeds, and more tillage than previous years […]
This Week’s Insect Activity
There is a lot happening out there. I am sure I am not aware of half of the infestations that are going on but at least I will report on what I do know. Western bean cutworm – Hot spot egg mass locations continue to be in the Bothwell area with now fields in the […]
Bothwell Area – Some Fields at WBC Eggmass Threshold – SCOUT
There are a few fields in the Bothwell/Cairo area that are already above threshold for western bean cutworm. The fields we are finding most of the eggs in are those that are the most advanced in growth stage for that area. The fields we have found eggs in so far have all been transgenic […]
WBC Moth Look A Likes
There is a bit of confusion out there amongst our trap participants who are trying to identify their catches. Western bean cutworm (WBC) has a few look a likes. Plus Large Yellow Underwing moths are flying around this year which is confusing matters. Pay extra attention to the details that are on the wings. Here […]