Ontario Hay Listings is a free classifieds service provided by the Ontario Forage Council. Producers looking to buy or sell hay or straw are encouraged to post an ad.
In 2020 there were several reports of corn rootworm injury to hybrids with below-ground protection from Bt traits. This suggests that Bt-resistant corn rootworm populations exist in Ontario. Continuous corn is at highest risk of a problem. Growers are encouraged to rotate out of corn for 2022. More information about this serious silage corn pest and how to join the corn rootworm trap network are available on Field Crop News.
Southwest
- According to AAFC, the region had above-average rainfall for September.
- Regrowth on hay fields is heavier than normal due to warm, wet conditions. While straight alfalfa won’t smother, grasses and clovers might. In mixed alfalfa/grass stands, wait until after a killing frost (-4C for at least 4 hours) to harvest surplus growth. Leave 15 cm (6 in.) of stubble to trap snow for insulation. More details on fall harvest and winterkill risks are available here and here.
- Silage corn harvest is well underway, and yield reports so far are above average.
Central and East
- According to AAFC, most of the region had above-average rainfall for September, except for the southern part of counties bordering the St. Lawrence River.
- Regrowth on hay fields is heavier than normal due to warm, wet conditions. While straight alfalfa won’t smother, grasses and clovers might. In mixed alfalfa/grass stands, wait until after a killing frost (-4C for at least 4 hours) to harvest surplus growth. Leave 15 cm (6 in.) of stubble to trap snow for insulation. More details on fall harvest are available here and here.
- There was a light frost in parts of the region the week of September 27th. The riskiest time for prussic acid poisoning from sorghum species is between the first frost and the first killing frost. Producers should wait to graze or harvest sorghum crops affected by frostuntil after a killing frost to minimize risk.
Northeast
- According to AAFC, Algoma and Manitoulin had below-average rainfall for September. Sudbury had average rainfall for the month. The rest of the region received above-average amounts of precipitation.
Northwest
- According to AAFC, Rainy River and Thunder Bay districts had average rainfall for September. Kenora District received below-average precipitation for the month.
- Fall has been open and warmer than usual. The Ontario Crops Research Centre – Emo has not yet received a hard frost, though they stop counting CHUs on September 15.
Upcoming Events
Cover Crop Grazing Webinars: Sustaining Life Above and Below
7pm EST/6pm CST.
- November 9 – Chris Macfarlane (Peterborough) & Dr. Jillian Bainard (AAFC Swift Current): integrated crop/livestock systems.
- November 16 – Steve Sickle (Brant) & Dr. Mary Drewnoski (University of Nebraska-Lincoln): the impact of cover crop grazing on soils and subsequent crop yields.
- November 23 – Matthew Fleugal (Hastings) & Dr. Richard Erhardt (Michigan State University): cover crops as a lamb finishing system.
Register here. Hosted by Beef Farmers of Ontario, Ontario Sheep Farmers, and OMAFRA.
Forage Focus Webinars: From Field to Feed
Noon EST/11 am CST.
- November 30 – Dr. Renato Schmidt (Lallemand): Minimize losses to get the most out of your silage.
- December 1 – Anita Heeg (OMAFRA): How to use your forage analysis on farm.
- December 2 – Dr. Kim Cassida (Michigan State University): Alfalfa quality and lessons from long-term variety trials.
Register here. Hosted by Ontario Forage Council and OMAFRA.
Canadian Forage & Grassland Association Virtual Conference: Forage Landscape Synergies
December 14-16
Agenda available here. This event features simultaneous French/English translation.
Register here. $150/person + HST, with talk recordings available for one month after the event. Hosted by the Canadian Forage and Grassland Association and Conseil Quebecois des Plantes Fourrageres.
| Accumulated | |||
| Location/Year | GDD 0C
March 1st (grasses) |
GDD 5C
March 1st (alfalfa) |
Precipitation (mm)
April 1st |
| Harrow | |||
| 2021 | 3469 | 2472 | 546 |
| 2020 | 3277 | 2294 | 395 |
| 2019 | 3201 | 2257 | 509 |
| Ridgetown | |||
| 2021 | 3277 | 2297 | 539 |
| 2020 | 3110 | 2149 | 443 |
| 2019 | 3028 | 2088 | 576 |
| London | |||
| 2021 | 3232 | 2262 | 514 |
| 2020 | 3010 | 2059 | 487 |
| 2019 | 2853 | 1958 | 557 |
| Brantford | |||
| 2021 | 3189 | 2221 | 478 |
| 2020 | 3042 | 2099 | 267 |
| 2019 | 2942 | 2028 | 274 |
| Welland | |||
| 2021 | 3219 | 2248 | 492 |
| 2020 | 3130 | 2164 | 337 |
| 2019 | 2990 | 2068 | 468 |
| Elora | |||
| 2021 | 2926 | 1979 | 444 |
| 2020 | 2764 | 1861 | 378 |
| 2019 | 2351 | 1534 | 471 |
| Mount Forest | |||
| 2021 | 2931 | 1992 | 603 |
| 2020 | 2735 | 1850 | 500 |
| 2019 | 2639 | 1763 | 129 |
| Peterborough | |||
| 2021 | 2915 | 1961 | 454 |
| 2020 | 2797 | 1879 | 359 |
| 2019 | 2582 | 1700 | 397 |
| Kemptville | |||
| 2021 | 3131 | 2175 | 368 |
| 2020 | 2889 | 1969 | 389 |
| 2019 | 2722 | 1839 | 203 |
| Earlton | |||
| 2021 | 2635 | 1727 | 565 |
| 2020 | 2359 | 1574 | 445 |
| 2019 | 2165 | 1386 | 454 |
| Sudbury | |||
| 2021 | 2689 | 1782 | 499 |
| 2020 | 2440 | 1629 | 566 |
| 2019 | 2234 | 1454 | 519 |
| Thunder Bay | |||
| 2021 | 2529 | 1648 | 353 |
| 2020 | 2304 | 1505 | 309 |
| 2019 | 2076 | 1299 | 421 |
| Fort Frances | |||
| 2021 | 2657 | 1755 | 361 |
| 2020 | 2403 | 1579 | 354 |
| 2019 | 2255 | 1434 | 590 |