Ontario Field Crop Report – August 24, 2017

With the delay in growing degree day accumulation and crop maturity, many fields are still in the ideal growth stages that put them at risk of some of our later season pests and diseases. Western bean cutworm (WBC) Peak moth flight for western bean cutworm has finally passed for all regions of the province. Central […]

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Ontario Field Crop Report – August 17, 2017

Figure 1: Western Bean Cutworm Pod Feeding

Parts of southwestern Ontario remain dry, while eastern Ontario continues to have frequent rainfall and saturated soils in many areas. While yields have been good, making dry hay continues to be a struggle for many growers under the later conditions. Winter wheat harvest has continued this past week in eastern Ontario. Most fields in the […]

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ONTARIO FIELD CROP REPORT – August 10, 2017

western bean cutworm feeding on edible bean pods. brown lesions on beans.

Western Bean Cutworm Update Western Bean Cutworm continues to be a concern for pollinating corn in areas with high trap counts.  Peak moth flight has occurred in some of the counties in the southwest but counties east and north of Middlesex and those in Central and Eastern Ontario have not reached peak yet.  Moths will […]

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Ontario Field Crop Report – July 27, 2017

Northern Corn Leaf Blight

General Another large hit of rainfall in eastern Ontario has put a stop to field work in the area again. Other parts of the province were slowed down by smaller amounts of rainfall over the weekend and overnight Thursday; however combining and hay harvest have started again. The two week forecast is showing some real […]

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OMAFRA Field Crop Report – July 20, 2017

Red clover at 7 days after an application of MCPA Ester (left) compared to an un-treated strip. Note the curling of the leaves giving a slightly grey appearance

Cereals Winter wheat harvest has begun throughout southwest Ontario but intermittent rainfall has caused delays. Some farmers in Essex County have finished harvest and initial word is that the quality and yield of the crop has been good. Harvest progress is likely 7-10 days behind what was observed in 2016 but comparable to the 2015 […]

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Crop Report – July 6, 2017

Western Bean Cutworm moth in corn leaf collar

Western Bean Cutworm Western bean cutworm (WBC) traps have been set on corn and dry edible bean fields across southern Ontario, and low numbers of moths are being caught. Traps are used to monitor moth activity (Figure 1.) and indicate when scouting is required, and are not intended to determine when to spray insecticide. Up […]

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Mt. Forest Ag Breakfast Meeting Minutes – June 13, 2017

2017 Mt Forest Ag Breakfast Meeting Notes 2017-jun-13  General While still dealing with some impacts of wet and cooler conditions, almost all the crops are planted. Some areas may not get planted as persistent rains prevent that heavier ground from drying out. Consensus was that things looked way better than the previous meeting two weeks […]

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2017 Ridgetown Ag Breakfast Meeting Minutes – June 13, 2017

Breakfast Sponsor: Thanks from the group to “Michigan Sugar – Wayne Martin” Quotes of the week – It was a stellar morning for great quotes.  Here is a selection of some of the ones we can remember! “The coffee shop should only be drive-thru in the spring – Al McCallum “Good thing about mistakes is […]

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2017 Ridgetown Ag Breakfast Meeting Minutes – May 30, 2017

Breakfast Sponsor: Thanks from the group to “C & M Seeds – Alex Zelem” Quote of the week – “We don’t want to create a sense of panic but create a sense of urgency” from Roger Bourassa in reference to the need to control weeds in planted fields. Synopsis: The wet weather continues to keep […]

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2016 Corn Seasonal Summary

Spring Cool but dry conditions prevailed for the start of the corn growing season as May transitioned from a cooler than average April. May remained dry, with few precipitation events to delay planting.  A few localized pockets in Southern Ontario were the exception, which received regular rainfall during the first half of the month. Planting […]

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2016 Grain Corn Ear Mould and Vomitoxin (DON) Survey

Co-Authored with Albert Tenuta The OMAFRA Field Crops team conducted its annual vomitoxin survey to assess the presence of corn ear mould and grain vomitoxin in the 2016 corn crop. Vomitoxins can be produced by Gibberella and Fusarium ear moulds and can be disruptive when fed to livestock, particularly hogs. A total of 121 samples […]

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OMAFRA Field Crop Report – July 27, 2016

OMAFRA Field Crop Report –July 27, 2016 By: The OMAFRA Field Crop Team Cereals Winter wheat harvest is winding down and yields have been above average in the majority of areas with good quality and very little Fusarium/DON reported.  The dry conditions did however, impact winter wheat yields in very sandy or sand gravel bottom […]

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Ridgetown Ag Breakfast Meeting Minutes – June 14, 2016

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 […]

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Ridgetown Breakfast Meeting Minutes – April 21, 2015

Synopsis: Rainfall across the region was variable 0.3” in Essex, 0.7” to 1” in Chatham-Kent, 0.3” to 0.5” in South Lambton, Elgin and the rest of Lambton about 1”. A small amount of corn went in on the weekend; most are planning to start planting around the 25th. Some spring cereals were seeded on the […]

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2014 Grain Corn Ear Mould and Vomitoxin Survey

Greg Stewart, OMAFRA Corn Specialist Albert Tenuta, OMAFRA Field Crop Pathologist The OMAFRA Field Crops team has completed the survey of the 2014 Ontario corn crop to determine ear mould incidence and the occurrence of mycotoxins in the grain. These mycotoxins, particularly vomitoxin (DON) produced primarily by Gibberella/Fusarium ear moulds, are grading factors and can […]

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