Eastern Ontario Breakfast Meetings – October

Winchester – Wednesday, October 14, 2026

Yields are pretty good across the board. Most fields are well above average, while even poorer areas of fields are still yielding average.
As of October 14, it’s estimated growers are 40-50% done harvest, but rainfalls ranging from 25mm to 100mm have halted harvest until at least the weekend. More forecasted rain will likely delay harvest further.
Most areas received heavy frost October 10, and very little green is left in both corn and soybeans. Locally, only the Moose Creek weather station has stopped accumulating CHUs. This requires the weather station to reach -2 or colder.
It’s estimated that white mould and other various diseases are responsible for between 2 and 40bu/ac yield losses in places.
There is some discussion around the lack of sunlight Eastern Ontario had most of the summer. While many areas broke rainfall records, there was also many overcast days, delaying sunlight.
Lots of fields had heavy leaf diseases – anything from Fusarium Wilt, Brown Stem Rot, Pod & Stem Blight, Sudden Death Syndrome, White Mould and more.
There was some discussion around sclerotia levels in fields that are in soybeans this year, for the next time they’re in soybeans.
Seeing some increased levels of common ragweed with suspected glyphosate resistance. Also increased populations of fleabane locally, with late flushed coming close to crop maturity. Fleabane can produce up to 1million seeds per plant, allowing populations to exponentially increase each year.

Most acres are planted, with the Agricorp planting deadline quickly approaching (now past at the time of posting).
Earlier planted wheat is emerging, while later planted fields are just germinating.

Feed inventories are back up to comfortable levels, but not in excess.
Fuel surcharges are increasing on many products, increasing from previous years.
It’s anticipated that some tillage passes may be eliminated or reduced with increased fuel costs.

Next Meeting: 7:30am, Wednesday, November 25, 2026 @ Country Kitchen, Winchester

Yields are running above average in many areas, with some lower lying or diseased areas a little lower.
Harvested is estimated to be about 50% completed, but with the promising forecast, many are hoping to finish soybeans this week.

There is some corn started in the area, moistures are running around 25%.
There is still some green in the corn in places, but other areas have had a heavy frost. Lots of the area has shut down on CHUs.
Several fields have disease pressure, particularly Northern Corn Leaf Blight.
There are reports of some ear feeding in different fields.

Still some winter wheat to planted, but early planted or on-time seedings are well established and stands look promising.

Lots of fall fertilizer and lime are being applied, even on wheat fields that were too wet earlier in the fall.
Canola harvest is complete, and yields were average or a little above.

Next Meeting: 8:00am, Tuesday, November 24, 2026 @ PJ’s Restaurant & Diner, Arnprior