Crop Report – June 30, 2021

The recent rainfall over much of the province was welcomed and appreciated by many. However, the heavy rain and winds proved to be a tipping point for some winter wheat with lodging occurring in all or parts of fields. While some wheat has managed to stand back up, the wheat remains flat where the lodging is severe (Figure 1). For those who may have never experience lodged wheat here are a few things to keep in mind as harvest begins in the most southern part of the province.

Figure 1. Severely lodged wheat that remains flat after recent rainfall and wind events.

Fusarium head blight (FHB) has remained at relatively low levels in field to date but can be a concern in lodged crops. Fields that are lodged or did not receive a T3 fungicide should be scouted leading up to harvest to identify if any disease is present and at what levels. Diseased spikelets will appear to have ripened prematurely (bleached) in contrast to healthy heads and during warm, humid weather, the fungus produces a salmon-orange-to-pink ring of spores at the base of the spikelet or in the crease of the kernel (Figure 2). Infected kernels are also usually shrunken, wrinkled and light in weight. They can range in colour from light brown to pink to greyish-white. If you identify fields with FHB, they should be harvested first to help stop the continued spread of infection. Scout for other head diseases such as “sooty” molds, glume blotch and black point which may increase in lodged wheat as well.

Figure 2. Fusarium head blight infection in winter wheat that was not sprayed with a T3 fungicide.

Combine adjustments are another effective and easy way of optimizing the harvest of a lodged or FHB infected wheat crop. By increasing the fan speed and reducing driving speed, the level of fusarium-damaged kernels in a sample can be lowered. Since many FHB infected kernels are small, shrunken and lighter than normal kernels, they are blown out of the back of the combine. Even in extreme circumstances (such as those in 1996) where maximum windblast was used, the reduction of fusarium-damaged kernels in the grain outweighed the loss of good kernels that were also blown out the back.

Adjusting your combine for a lodged wheat crop is also important. On those combines that are equipped with floating/flexible cutter bars, leave the knife tilted down and run the header in the float position similar to harvesting a soybean crop. While this can be effective, ensure you are being cautious not to pick up any rocks. Grain lifters are a fairly inexpensive and effective way to maximize yields in a lodged crop as well. Given most reels are on the optimum setting for soybeans, they should be adjusted. Set the reel forward and adjust the tine angle to be more aggressive, allowing the reel to physically lift the crop up off the ground and above the knife. Check the operator’s manual for suggested settings and work from there.

Harvesting in one direction against the lodged grain can assist with lifting the crop off the ground more effectively. Harvesting a lodged crop is frustrating and slow, but it’s worth taking the time to be effective in harvest.

With combines set to maximize harvest potential, more volunteer grain is likely to go out the back of the combine which may contribute to greater volunteer wheat. Take account of this when planning post-harvest field management.

Drying and storage can be easily looked over during a busy harvest season. Ensure that any wheat going into storage is dried down to at least 14% moisture or below. If wheat is not properly dried down, any fusarium in the grain will continue to grow resulting in further downgrading. Check any stored grain frequently to ensure the grain remains in good condition. For more details on these harvest recommendations check out pages 136 – 140 of Publication 811: Agronomy Guide for Field Crops.

Weather Data

Location	Year	Weekly June 21-27			Accumulated
Location	Year	Highest Temp (°C)	Lowest Temp (°C)	Rain (mm)	Rain (mm) April 1st	GDD 0C April 1st	GDD 5C April 1st	CHU May 1st
Harrow	2021	27	8	30	216	1214	807	1056
	2020	29	14	41	210	1149	740	1109
	2019	29	11	1	311	1087	675	939
Ridgetown	2021	26	6	1	147	1135	737	996
	2020	32	12	17	171	1080	686	1049
	2019	30	8	3	273	1055	640	916
London	2021	26	8	9	150	1127	735	968
	2020	30	9	4	195	1028	636	969
	2019	29	9	5	290	949	564	830
Brantford	2021	28	7	7	136	1112	717	953
	2020	33	10	15	159	1023	637	954
	2019	29	10		274	993	597	886
Welland	2021	28	7	14	107	1102	703	939
	2020	32	13	42	183	1061	669	1006
	2019	29	11	10	290	1056	643	937
Elora	2021	26	5	6	125	1012	626	860
	2020	30	8	23	157	936	569	876
	2019	28	9	16	303	907	519	812
Mount Forest	2021	27	6	4	107	1022	639	878
	2020	30	9	52	204	927	573	885
	2019	28	7		129	886	506	792
Peterborough	2021	28	2	4	110	1003	607	850
	2020	30	10	7	135	943	568	893
	2019	29	8	15	291	909	516	789
Kingston	2021	28	8	1	117	1030	634	858
	2020	29	13	39	176	1032	634	971
	2019	26	12	2	282	1005	596	884
Kemptville	2021	29	5	12	154	1121	719	937
	2020	33	14	4	130	998	610	938
	2019	29	11		203	943	551	818
Earlton	2021	23	4	11	96	944	567	775
	2020	29	10	91	211	786	482	782
	2019	29	9	6	294	673	355	613
Sudbury	2021	21	2	19	148	960	584	803
	2020	29	10	68	188	831	502	813
	2019	28	9	19	271	673	356	593
Thunder Bay	2021	27	5	6	217	822	459	711
	2020	30	7	3	80	744	436	734
	2019	30	3	27	174	587	276	500
Fort Frances	2021	29	0	6	156	885	516	821
	2020	29	5	8	156	854	517	846
	2019	28	5	12	141	720	380	644
Report compiled by OMAFRA using Environment Canada data. Data quality is verified but accuracy is not guaranteed. Report supplied for general information purposes only. An expanded report is available at www.fieldcropnews.com.

Thank you!