The incidence and severity of white mould (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum) is highly dependent on favourable weather conditions for the disease during soybean flowering. White mould prefers temperatures below 28 degrees C, moist soils, and high humidity. Conditions over the last few weeks have been ideal for the disease in much of Ontario. It’s important to know […]
This article was written by Breann Saulnier, OMAFRA Grazing Livestock Assistant You may look out into a pasture and see an abundance of tall, delicious-looking grass for livestock to graze but this is not necessarily what the livestock see. The amount of forage available for grazing is the portion of plant material that the animal […]
There are mixed reports on the health of dry beans in Ontario this season. While many fields look good, rains following the initially dry conditions at planting have increased the incidence of root rots as well as the risk of white mould. Root Rot In Ontario, the four main fungal pathogens causing root rot […]
This article was written by Dwiti Mistry, Canola & Edible Bean Research Assistant Insect surveillance was conducted in winter canola in Ontario for the 2020-2021 season to monitor the type and number of insects that inhabit this crop. There were 13 fields surveyed in Wellington, Huron, Grey, Chatham-Kent and Middlesex counties. Sweeps were taken from […]
Welcome rains have turned to downpours in some parts of Ontario. In extreme cases, fields have received in excess of 12 inches of rain over a two week period. Excess moisture has resulted in a tremendous number of fields turning yellow (Picture #1). This yellowing is not the result of root rots but largely a […]
Written by: Tracey Baute, Field Crop Entomologist, OMAFRA, Dr. Vojislava Grbic, Associate Professor, Western University and Dr. Ian Scott, Research Scientist, AAFC-London With the exception of the significant rain events in the last week, this year’s hot, dry conditions and early wheat harvest could be priming us for another bad spider mite season in soybeans […]
Are Double Crop Soybeans Following Wheat Harvest in Your Plans? The unprecedented price of soybeans has fueled considerable interest in double cropping soybeans. As winter wheat comes off there are a number of factors that should be considered. Since half the growing season is over by mid-July double cropping soybeans in Ontario is risky and not covered by crop insurance. Double cropping […]
Wheat harvest is just beginning in Ontario, so it’s high time to make sure your grain storage and dryers are ready for this coming season! In our Ontario climate, grain dryers are an essential part of our production system, allowing us to grow longer-season crops and take advantage of yield benefits, while still being able […]
If you haven’t done so already, it is time to put up western bean cutworm traps to monitor for moth activity. The GLMPMN usually has more WBC traps up and reporting by now to help us understand when adults are active and likely laying eggs in corn or dry beans across Ontario. From the 100 […]
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 […]
Regrowth rates of hay fields following a cut and pastures following a grazing event is dependent on rainfall. Areas that received below-average rainfall may experience slower regrowth. Producers looking to buy or sell hay are encouraged to check out the new and improved Ontario Hay Listings website Southwest According to AAFC, most of the area […]
Wednesday brought to a close our annual Ag Advisor Breakfast Meeting series for 2021, the second year we have done it virtually. Thanks to all who have contributed to the meetings the last two months. The contributions of all are important to the core purpose of these meetings of sharing intelligence and thoughts across our […]
If we are going to put big equipment into farm fields, soil compaction will continue to be a threat. Farm equipment, especially that which carries heavy loads (spreaders, sprayers, planters, grain wagons) needs to be configured to support that maximum load under road conditions. This often requires significantly higher tire pressures than what should […]
It is proving to be another good insect year with several early season pests keeping everyone busy scouting to stay ahead of. Going into July and August, there are a few more pests that we need to keep watch for. Thrips continue to be spotted in soybeans, corn and wheat fields. There are several different […]
This was the last meeting of the Exeter, Mount Forest Breakfast meeting for this spring. Thanks to all those who attended and a special thanks to those who participated in the discussion. We will email a survey to the group at a later date to explore ideas of how the meetings should be conducted next […]