Winter Conditions 2023/2024
Much of the province had below-average precipitation over the winter, including the Ottawa Valley, the northern and western shores of Lake Huron, and Rainy River District. Temperatures across Ontario were milder than normal, which resulted in reduced snow cover in many areas.
Hay and Haylage
Above-average levels of alfalfa winterkill occurred in northern Ontario. Reports of heaving came from both the Ottawa Valley and the southwest. Early spring-seeded alfalfa generally caught well.
First cut yields were generally excellent, but managing quality was a challenge. Frequent rains delayed harvest past the optimum stage, or fell on a cut crop, reducing quality. Rainfall encouraged strong regrowth, which helped the crop grow through insect pressure. Regular rain events continued to make harvest a challenge for second cut and beyond.
Alfalfa weevil was reported in Lambton County the first week of May. Potato leafhopper pressure began across the province in early June. Blister beetles were found in Kawartha Lakes in late September, which is later than normal for Ontario.
Pastures
It has been a great year for growing grass. Rainfall amounts during the growing season were average in the northwest, Cochrane, Temiskaming, Sudbury, and Nipissing districts, and above average across the rest of the province. Regular precipitation reduced the summer slump and kept pastures green and growing.
Figure 1. Slime mould on tall fescue in a pasture. Rainy conditions in 2024 favoured mould growth.
Annual Forage Crops
Cereal rye harvest began in the southwest in early May. Lodging was an issue in many fields. Winter triticale was ready 10 to 14 days later than rye. More acres of winter triticale were seeded in fall of 2024 than in fall of 2023.
Spring cereals were planted in good time and many acres were frost seeded. These crops were approaching flag leaf in mid-June. Disease pressure was generally low, although crown rust in oats was prevalent.
The silage corn harvest window seemed to drag out longer this year than normal. Some comments were made about unusually slow dry-down, despite frost events. Tar spot has been found in every county west of Hastings. In silage corn, severe tar spot infection lowers digestibility as well as the energy and moisture content of the crop. This can create fermentation issues as well as reduce animal performance. Growers in counties where tar spot has been found are encouraged to talk to their seed company about hybrids that have greater tolerance to tar spot.
The 2024 Ontario Grain Corn Ear Mould and Deoxynivalenol (DON) Survey found 94% of samples tested low (below 2.00 parts per million (ppm)) for DON and is one of the lowest DON level years compared to the 10-year average (86% of samples below 2.00 ppm). While the survey does not include leaves and stalks, it is still a useful indicator on how likely mycotoxin issues will be with corn silage fed over the next year.
Sorghum-sudangrass yielded better overall this year than in 2023. Wet conditions resulted in more leaf disease than in past years. Most acres followed fall rye or winter triticale. Some acres were seeded after an early wheat harvest for a single cut in September.
Agricorp
Claim payments for the excess Forage Rainfall option were paid in August to producers across the province for a total of $3.7 million, which is in line with the 2023 excess rainfall payments at $3.6 million. The 2024 forage growing season was favourable, with a large part of the province receiving average to above-average rainfall. As a result, the insufficient rainfall option claim payments were a total of $347,000 for 2024, compared to 2023 payments of $2.2 million. The highest payout year to date was 2021 ($11 million), followed by 2020 ($8 million) and 2016 ($7.5 million).
There were 52,684 acres insured under the standard and premium options of the New Forage Seeding production insurance program in 2024. Total claims paid were $790,925.
Upcoming Events
December 4-5: Canadian Forage & Grassland Association conference. Delta Hotel, Guelph, ON. This year’s theme is “Roots to Success: The Foundation of Resilient Agriculture”.
December 6: Forage Focus. Gorrie & Drayton, ON. This year’s theme is “Hay as a Cash Crop”.