OMAFRA Field Crop Report – August 10, 2022

Weather

Much of the province received rain this past week, with significant rainfall (over 76 mm or 3 inches) in Huron Shores and Georgian Bay and eastern Ontario. A 25 to 50 mm (1-2 inch) rain mid-summer can still help finalize average yields, but it is too early to make final yield predictions. Crops that will benefit most are hay, pasture, corn, longer day soybean varieties, and forage and cover crops seeded after cereal harvest.

Cereals

Most of the winter wheat acres have been harvested. Yields are average to above average this year (between 90-110 bu/acre), but some variability with some fields yielding over 140 to low 70’s on sandy soils, and quality has been excellent for the most part. Spring wheat stands are in good condition as harvest approaches over the next few weeks. Yields are expected to be average across the province. There are some concerns with plant stress due to lower rainfall amounts in the southwest and lodging in eastern Ontario.

Edible Beans

Overall, edible beans are progressing well. Disease pressure has been low due to dry weather in most regions.

Soybeans

Soybean growth continues to be varied across the province as we enter mid-August pod set and pod fill stages. Soybeans will benefit from these recent rains which should reduce the spider mite pressure. Disease pressure remains low, although Sudden Death Syndrome infected areas in fields in the southwest have become more prevalent as the crop matures.

Corn

A large amount of the province’s corn has been tasseling and pollinating over the past couple weeks, a stage when crop stress tends to have the biggest impact on yield. Corn is highly variable across the province, with many fields in good condition except in the exceptionally low rainfall areas and lighter sandy soils, where crop stress is evident by variable height and staging. Some yield loss is be expected in these fields due to unrelieved stress at this point in maturity. Final yields still depend on rainfall through remainder of the season.

Silage Corn

Several growers are considering selling drought stressed corn as silage off the field to local livestock producers. Some factors to consider include potential grain content and removal of crop residue and fertility from the field in the form of the leaves, stalks and cobs in addition to the grain. It is also difficult to estimate silage yield and moisture.  Samples should be taken before harvesting the field to determine the whole plant moisture. For proper silage fermentation and storage, the recommended silage moisture content should be:

• horizontal bunker silos: 65%-70%
• tower silos: 62%-67%
• bag silos: 60%-68%

Yields are best determined by weighing a few loads as they come off the field and adjusting to dry matter content (0% moisture).  For more information, visit Field Crop News.

Forages

This most recent rain will significantly help new growth on the alfalfa and grasses for hay and pasture. Alfalfa in the full flower stage will not grow anymore and should be cut to stimulate new growth. Note that forages, including corn silage, harvested immediately after a rainfall following dry weather stress can be high in nitrates resulting in livestock poisoning and silo gas. This is particularly high risk during the 5 – 7 days following a rain that ends a severe dry period.  Silo gas can be fatal to both humans and livestock.  Extra caution should be taken around silos, feed rooms, etc. and keep these areas well ventilated after silo filling. For more information, see factsheet on Potential Nitrate Poisoning and Silo Gas When Using Corn Damaged by Dry Weather for Silage, Green Chop or Grazing.

Cover Crops

There is still time to seed some cover crops.  See the Field Crop News Article Cover Crops Following Cereals and Late Summer Harvested Crops for some options. Keep in mind, many of the cover crops can be used as emergency forages such as oats and oat mixture, fall rye and red clover under-seeded in the winter wheat crop to name a few.

Weather Data – August 1 – 7, 2022

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	2022	29.3	20.6	0.0	302	2040	1457	2204
	2021	28.8	12.4	0.9	376	2164	1537	2261
	10 YR Avg. (2011-20)	27.7	16.4	10.4	390	2159	1517	2361
Ridgetown	2022	28.4	19.2	0.0	211	1919	1345	2030
	2021	29.1	9.4	2.1	363	2036	1418	2124
	10 YR Avg. (2011-20)	27.4	14.7	26.7	363	2031	1393	2199
London	2022	26.8	15.0	9.5	241	1863	1293	1963
	2021	27.5	10.8	3.6	304	2024	1410	2094
	10 YR Avg. (2011-20)	27.4	14.4	16.7	358	2010	1377	2182
Brantford	2022	29.1	14.7	10.2	241	1865	1289	1916
	2021	28.5	10.0	1.6	282	1990	1376	2050
Welland	2022	27.6	17.2	2.8	266	1913	1328	2030
	2021	28.3	10.9	3.7	292	1991	1372	2069
	10 YR Avg. (2011-20)	27.5	14.4	12.4	334	2020	1385	2198
Elora	2022	27.2	12.4	0.4	197	1704	1141	1752
	2021	27.1	8.8	3.4	260	1841	1235	1897
	10 YR Avg. (2011-20)	26.8	11.8	20.8	359	1812	1192	1951
Mount Forest	2022	26.6	16.9	1.5	262	1707	1151	1793
	2021	26.7	10.7	12.2	319	1846	1244	1908
	10 YR Avg. (2011-20)	26.4	12.6	21.6	368	1793	1180	1952
Peterborough	2022	27.6	10.8	1.3	264	1717	1139	1789
	2021	28.5	8.1	3.0	293	1836	1219	1877
	10 YR Avg. (2011-20)	27.6	11.6	30.4	330	1840	1219	1956
Kemptville	2022	28.7	10.7	0.7	387	1862	1260	1968
	2021	30.6	12.2	2.0	240	1977	1355	2002
	10 YR Avg. (2011-20)	28.1	13.6	13.7	342	1932	1312	2084
Earlton	2022	25.4	10.6	6.8	284	1571	1037	1701
	2021	27.6	7.8	1.2	419	1712	1115	1723
	10 YR Avg. (2011-20)	25.7	10.7	22.1	304	1555	1018	1729
Sudbury	2022	25.0	10.7	2.3	260	1574	1031	1711
	2021	26.8	7.4	12.9	314	1740	1144	1782
	10 YR Avg. (2011-20)	26.7	12.8	19.9	332	1666	1107	1852
Thunder Bay	2022	23.7	11.2	0.0	410	1329	828	1391
	2021	30.5	8.6	0.6	220	1618	1035	1656
	10 YR Avg. (2011-20)	25.6	10.2	10.5	321	1468	919	1585
Fort Frances	2022	24.0	13.5	0.0	523	1406	908	1539
	2021	31.2	7.2	0.0	183	1713	1124	1783
	10 YR Avg. (2011-20)	26.3	9.1	15.8	325	1593	1026	1738