Reflection On Spring Planting Season-Did Patience Payoff in 2026? Every spring and in each field, we are faced with the question of whether the soil is “fit” to begin tillage and planting. When you consider the size, speed, and weight of equipment today, starting a couple of days or even a half a day too […]
Rain Rainfall from mid June through mid July is strongly related to corn yields, and in some cases, optimum nitrogen rates. It’s the time of year when high clearance applicators might be gearing up to do late nitrogen (N) applications on corn. Like traditional sidedress applications, moving N supply closer to N demand can be […]
Potato leafhopper is a major alfalfa pest in Ontario. Yield losses may reach 50%, and crude protein content can drop 2-3% from heavy infestations. Potato leafhopper feeding decreases stand vigour, slows regrowth and increases winterkill. The simple answer As alfalfa gets taller it can tolerate more potato leafhoppers before action is necessary to protect forage […]
Soybeans Soybeans are at the unifoliate to 5th trifoliate (V5) growth stage depending on planting date and region. Emergence is variable with some fields struggling to achieve a uniform plant stand. Overall, replanting was not necessary in most regions. Early planted fields are now starting to close the canopy. For maximum yield potential it’s ideal […]
OVERVIEW A cool unsettled week with below-seasonal temperatures and high risk of showers and thunderstorms has slowed crop growth and made crop protection applications a challenge. That said, most of the intended acreage has been planted, and early season crop growth is considered good. Field Corn Soybeans Cereals Edible Beans Canola Forages Weed Control […]
An extremely heavy population of true armyworm (TAW) larvae was found in a field of cereal rye being cut between Strathroy and Parkhill yesterday. This is the second field that TAW have been spotted in the last few weeks; the first being in a YEN wheat field near Oil Springs, though the population was much […]
We are once again reaching out to see if anyone is interested in monitoring corn rootworm (CRW) through the CRW Trap Network this year. Monitoring with sticky traps can help you determine if you have a Bt resistant corn rootworm problem and it helps us keep track of where these problem fields are. It can […]
Overview Crop progress across Ontario has advanced significantly over the past two weeks, with most regions wrapping up planting and moving into early-season crop management. The majority of the province has received rain in the past week. Crops are generally progressing well. Variable emergence is evident in some heavy-textured soils where late May rainfall resulted […]
Crop conditions across Ontario reflect a generally positive start to the season, although variability in soil moisture and temperature has influenced planting progress, crop development and pest dynamics. Other key concerns moving forward include: Corn Corn emergence has been largely uniform with good early stand establishment with some localized replanting. Plant populations remain a key […]
Breakfast meetings bring crop agronomists and industry professionals together during a key time of the growing season to discuss current field conditions. These meetings are a great opportunity to ask questions, work through field challenges, and share clear, consistent messages for growers across the industry. Participants are welcome to purchase their own breakfast, and the […]
Wet conditions stalled many field activities with significant rainfall received over much of the province over the weekend. Field drying weather has occurred since and will allow for remaining crop acres to be planted with continued warm and dry weather in the forecast. Winter Wheat The most advanced fields of winter wheat are at head […]
Co-authored with Joanna Follings, Cereal Specialist – OMAFA Some consultants and scouts have started to notice some cereal pest activity in fields this week. Some fields have cereal leaf beetle larvae starting up while many fields have some lower levels of cereal aphids. That said, cereals play a huge role in building up our natural […]
Alfalfa weevil is a major alfalfa pest in Ontario. Larvae feeding on alfalfa leaves can reduce both yield and forage quality. The simple answer As alfalfa gets taller it can tolerate more weevils before action is necessary to protect forage yield and quality. Action thresholds for managing alfalfa weevil are as follows: Stem Height Number […]
As of June 5, 2026 stripe rust had been identified in fields in Oxford, Huron, Wellington, Bruce, Perth, Waterloo, Brant, Essex, Lambton, Middlesex, Elgin, Brant, Hamilton, Niagara and Haldimand Counties. Leaf rust was also previously identified in a field in Essex County. Growers across southern Ontario should scout their winter wheat fields closely, particularly where […]
Summer weather arrived suddenly over the Victoria Day weekend. Hot temperatures and sunshine created good conditions, and a lot of field work was accomplished quickly. Soil temperatures have also been rising, which will speed up germination. Violent storms moved across the province on Tuesday evening ahead of a cold front, which will bring temperatures back […]