Caution! Members of the sorghum family – sorghum, sudangrass, and hybrid sorghum-sudangrass – contain dhurrin, a glucoside that breaks down to release hydrocyanic acid, also known as prussic acid (hydrogen cyanide, HCN). A sudden disruption of growth such as frost, drought or cutting, causes prussic acid to be released inside the plant at a more […]
Identification True armyworm (also known as common armyworm), when full grown, are 4 cm (1 1⁄2 in.) long. They can vary in colour from dull-green to brown or black. Two distinguishing features are orange stripes bordered by a thin white line running laterally along the body and dark horizontal bands at the top of each […]
Identification Cereal leaf beetle (CLB) adults have metallic, blue-green wings, are approximately 5 mm (1/5 in.) in length, with a reddish-orange head and legs (figure 1). CLB eggs are football shaped and approximately 0.5 mm in length (figure 2). They are laid on the upper surface of the leaf, close to the midrib and start […]
Identification Cereal aphids are a complex of three different species that infest cereals. Bird cherry-oat aphids (figure 1) are the most common aphid found in Ontario cereals. These aphids are small, 2 mm (1/12 in.) or less. Adults are olive-green with patches of red-purple near the rear of the abdomen, between a pair of “tailpipes” […]
Summary Wheat is most susceptible to fusarium head blight (FHB) infection during the flowering period. Spores are carried from infected crop residue by wind or rain and splash onto the wheat head. Rainfall or heavy dew during this period then causes the spores to germinate and infect florets on the wheat head. Identification Symptoms of […]
Identification Stripe rust causes yellow to orange, blister-like lesions that are arranged in stripes on the leaf of the wheat plant (Figure 1 and 2). If left untreated, stripe rust can cause significant yield reductions. In previous stripe rust years, where growers had a high incidence of stripe rust that was not controlled through appropriate […]
Identification The primary symptoms of Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYDV) include stunting and yellowing, reddening or purpling of the leaf tips (Figure 1 and 2). BYDV is often confused with nutrient deficiency or other environmental causes, or other virus diseases such as wheat spindle streak mosaic virus (WSSMV) or soil-borne wheat mosaic virus (SBWMV). Identifying […]
Introduction Lodging of cereal crops can be a major harvest challenge and can cause significant yield loss when it occurs early crop development. Variety selection, history of manure and organic matter levels, seeding dates and rates and disease infections all play a role in lodging susceptibility. There are significant varietal differences in resistance to lodging. […]
Summary Winter wheat is most susceptible to black point during grain fill and ripening. Black point does not cause yield loss but can reduce grain quality. Identification Symptoms of black point become noticeable as wheat matures and tissue begins to die. Fields will appear to have a black-like discolouration with symptoms being observed on […]
Summary Pre-harvest sprouting can be a concern if persistent rainfall events occur through to maturity and beyond. Pre-harvest sprouting can result in downgraded wheat at the elevator due to a low falling number. Pre-Harvest Sprouting Pre-harvest sprouting is the initiation of grain germination prior to harvest (Figure 1). When sprouting occurs, alpha-amylase is produced which […]
Hazardous Gases on the Farm: A Silent Threat to Safety Hazardous gases are an often-overlooked danger on farms, lurking in silos, manure storages, anaerobic digesters, grain bins, and any confined space with poor ventilation. They can pose serious health risks to both humans and animals. Common farm gases include: Some gases, like nitrogen dioxide and […]
Crop Conditions – Week of September 1st, 2025. As the 2025 corn season nears its end, two significant diseases—tar spot and southern rust have been getting considerable attention from agronomists and growers across Ontario and the US Corn Belt. Tar spot has been confirmed from Ontario to Kansas, while southern rust’s fast-moving progression from the […]
This article was originally written by Joel Bagg in 2016. It was edited August 22, 2025 by Christine O’Reilly to fix broken links to further resources. With the dry weather this year and low forage yields across much of the province, many producers are looking for alternative forages. There is a lot of stressed corn […]
Pre-harvest Management of Soybeans Many soybean fields are now beginning to yellow, which indicates they are at the R6 (full seed) growth stage. This means that green soybean seeds fill the pod cavity on one of the 4 top nodes. At this stage, pods have reached their full length and no new pods form. Root […]
Variety Registration For seed to be legally sold in Canada, varieties of Brassica napus (canola and/or oilseed rape) must be registered with the Variety Registration Office (VRO) under the authority of the Seeds Act. Candidate varieties are tested for certain merit criteria according to guidelines set by the various Canadian canola recommending committees. The Ontario […]