Field Crop News is a resource for Ontario field crop production. It is managed by the Field Crop Unit of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). Browse our library of information by:
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Frost Seeding Forages FAQ
Frost seeding is a popular way to renovate an existing forage stand and is most effective in fields where patches of bare soil at least the size of a loonie are visible. With spring around the corner, many producers have questions about how to best use this technique to improve their hay fields and pastures.…
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Winter Canola in March 2025: How did the BIG growth survive a harsh winter?
Warm weather and early planting are some of the factors that contributed to big winter canola plants heading into winter in December 2024. There was a lot of foliage and raised growing points. View the December 2024 video here. Did the canola survive the winter? Check this field with me in March 2025. […]Read More…
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Why do I see nutrient deficiencies in my crops, even with moderate soil test levels?
Nutrient deficiencies occur regularly in Ontario and can be the cause of substantial yield loss depending on the type, severity and timing. Their presence is particularly frustrating when soil test levels show adequate levels of fertility. The simple answer Nutrient deficiencies can appear in soils testing moderate or high in plant nutrients given the right…
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Ontario Soil Management Committee
Table of Contents Mandate and 5 Year ThemesMembershipTerms of ReferenceHow to Submit New Recommendations or UpdatesData Requirements to Change RecommendationsFor More Information Mandate 5 Year Themes In particular, the OSMC will concentrate on the following broad themes over the next five years: Membership Membership of the OSMC is comprised of members drawn from government, the…
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Crop Conditions – Week of May 2nd, 2024
Frequent rains and wet soils across the province have slowed or prevented field work. Soil compaction is likely to be an issue this year, especially for farmers trying to get manure spread ahead of spring planting. Fertilizer has been moving out to farms with storage. Retailers are full and ready to apply product once soil…
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SHAP: Soil Health Assessment & Plan In-Field In-Office Match SHAP to your needs Assess Benchmark 5 Key Soil Health Indicators Improve Find Potential for Improvement Adapt Take a Flexible approach Interpret Use the SHAP Score Calculator to compare your test results to a database of results from similar Ontario soils. Use this benchmark to identify…
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Why do I see nutrient deficiencies in my crops, even with moderate soil test levels?
Nutrient deficiencies occur regularly in Ontario and can be the cause of substantial yield loss depending on the type, severity and timing. Their presence is particularly frustrating when soil test levels show adequate levels of fertility. The simple answer Nutrient deficiencies can appear in soils testing moderate or high in plant nutrients given the right…
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Which residual corn herbicides allow cover crops to be inter-seeded?
With a narrow window to establish cover crops after corn harvest, some farmers have experimented with inter-seeding cover crops when corn is at the 6-8 leaf stage. However, the sensitivity of different cover crops to residual corn herbicides is unknown and could negatively affect their establishment. A multi-year study looked at the sensitivity of six…
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What can I do to my liquid manure storage to increase nutrient value and decrease application costs?
The soil fertility benefits of applying livestock manure are significant. But storage is key. Uncovered storage facilities result in manure with a high volume of water and low nutrient value being shipped to fields. Fortunately, changes to storage facilities can improve efficiency of nutrient transport. The simple answer By covering liquid manure storage and diverting…
