Winter Wheat
Acreage increased about 10% in 2018. Too early to % winter survival. Some areas winter wheat was seeded late into mid-October appears to be struggling. Definite winter kill in low lying pockets in the fields due to flooding damage. Some of the nitrogen intended for the split-nitrogen programs, has been applied. There has been some geese feeding on winter wheat stands. Only a few acres of red clover were frost seeded into the winter wheat. Most growers are planning to seed a cover crop this summer after wheat harvest. The Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) program will now include red clover for the first time. Funding is available for a wide range of projects including cover crops, erosion control structures, equipment modifications, etc. See https://www.ontariosoilcrop.org/ for more information.
Spring Cereals
Growers’ intentions will be to increase spring wheat and oat acreage mainly due to straw needs. Nothing planted to date. Some interest in growing barley as contracts are being offered by the Carp Flour Mill.
Forages
There is a good volume forage inventories, but generally the quality is lower. From minimal sample of alfalfa plants, roots conditions look good, indicating survival should be good. Growers should monitor fields as conditions warm up, even if new shoots grow, the root may deteriorate and the plants will die off. For more information, see infosheet Alfalfa Stand Assessment at: http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/facts/info_alfalfa_stand00.htm
Corn
Estimated corn acreages will be similar to previous years. Some more interest by growers for Non-GMO corn with the $35.00 per tonne premium offered and comparable available hybrids within 5 to 10 bushels per acre of GMO hybrids.
Soybeans
Estimated soybean acreages will be slightly up from previous years.
Market Update – Aubrie Mowat, BroadGrain Commodities Inc.
The weather across North America seems to be the talk of all towns and the one of the main driver in prices. I think it’s safe to say we are all waiting on spring to actually arrive.
We’ve lost .10 cents since Dec CRNS high on April 9th however the corn belt is experiencing cold and wet weather which has delayed planting. The forecast looks to be warming up in the next couple of weeks which will be well received by growers down there. Should planting be majorly delayed the potential impact of supply disruption could improve futures prices moving forward.
In regards to wheat, there is some rain in the forecast for the plains which will give relief to some areas but has unfortunately deflated both Chicago and KC markets. Moving forward we will look for any major areas that will be ripped up and switched to another crop. On April 10th we saw a net change of -5 million tonnes between the combined production of Argentina & Brazil and US SB ending stocks 5 million bushel lower than previous report, much lower than the average estimate which resulted in an exciting couple days for beans. Our high Canadian dollar has without a doubt deflated our local basis however prices are still healthy, all eyes will be on weather forecasts and planting progress moving forward. I encourage all producers to place targets with their marketing reps as everyone becomes busy with their planting season.
Soil Strategy just released: http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/landuse/soil-strategy.pdf
The Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) is a five-year federal-provincial-territorial initiative to strengthen the agriculture, agri-food, and agri-based products sector and increase its competitiveness, prosperity and sustainability. OSCIA is delivering CAP cost-share funding programs to producers and associated other agri-business operations. See https://www.ontariosoilcrop.org/ for more information.
Publications:
NEW Best Management Practices for Soil Health Factsheet Series are available at ServiceOntario Publications – ontario.ca/publications and the OMAFRA Resource Centre, Ridgetown
NEW Soil Health Diagnostic Infosheet Series are available at ServiceOntario Publications – ontario.ca/publications and the OMAFRA Resource Centre, Ridgetown
Agronomy Guide for Field Crops, Publication 811 (2017) is available at ServiceOntario Publications – ontario.ca/publications, online at http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/pub811/p811toc.html and at the OMAFRA Resource Centre, Ridgetown
Field Crop Protection Guide, Publication 812 (2018-2019) is not available in a print version but a pdf version is available by contacting Gabriela.Deryck@ontario.ca or (519) 674-1690
Upcoming Events
Southwest Crop Diagnostic Days (University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus) July 4 or 5, 2018
FarmSmart Expo 2018 (University of Guelph, Elora Research Station) – July 12, 2018
Eastern Ontario Crop Diagnostic Day (U. of G., Winchester Research Farm) – July 19, 2018
Southwest Agricultural Conference (University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus) – January 3 & 4, 2019
Next Meeting: Tuesday, May 1, 2018