It is rare to experience back to back armyworm outbreak years. This is usually because the natural enemies (particularly parasites and entomopathogens) build up in an outbreak year and are in good supply the following year to keep up with the armyworm. However, armyworm outbreaks do tend to occur after a cool, wet April since […]
The area accumulated about 60 Crop Heat Units (CHUs) from 15th to the 30th of April, which is the same as last year for the same period (FarmZone). We received 1.5 to 2 inches (40 to 50 mm) of rain in April. Soils are slow to warm up. To-date only 20% of the spring cereals […]
Synopsis: 30% of wheat acres have had N applied. Yellow/brown/dead(?) wheat in low areas or on heavy soils from twice normal April rainfall. Few acres of corn planted, some spring cereals and new forage seedings. Winter annual weeds have bolted: control will be difficult (impossible). Soybean cyst nematode sampling project in Huron county: more SCN […]
Scattered reports are coming in from across the province of alfalfa winterkill in some of the higher risk older stands and fall harvested stands. Extensive winterkill has occurred in eastern Ontario, from Arnprior south, east to Quebec and west to about Brockville. There are reports of 75% winterkill in some of these areas, particularly on […]
Red clover haylage can sometimes be a good alternative to alfalfa. Under ideal conditions alfalfa will usually outyield red clover. However, in areas where alfalfa winterkill is a problem, red clover better tolerates imperfect drainage and lower pH levels, and can be grown in fields that are too wet or low pH for alfalfa. Red clover feed […]
Reseeding alfalfa following alfalfa is not a recommended practice due to the effects of autotoxicity, and plant diseases that can build up in the old stand. Alfalfa autotoxicity occurs when established alfalfa plants produce toxins which reduce both the germination (establishment) and the growth (yield) of new alfalfa plants. Autotoxicity can occur when alfalfa is reseeded into an […]
Winterkill of forage stands is significant in many parts of eastern Ontario this spring. Both new forage seedings and older stands areeffected. A decision must be made to either keep and manage a reduced stand, or replace the stand with another crop. The first thing that forage growers need to do is to walk their […]
Highlights: Wet and cool weather has slowed spring field activity. This spring is more typical and most producers have not rushed to start planting. Corn planting started yesterday in some areas, but others are holding off. Growers that planted corn April 15 last year are less anxious to start early. Best yields came from the […]
Synopsis: Very little nitrogen has been applied to wheat, and many are now abandoning plans for split application. In most areas the wheat looks good, including late plantings. Agricorp has received very few damage claims, and are busy inspecting uninsured late planted wheat. May 1 is deadline for applying for or making changes to crop insurance. Remind […]
Synopsis: Much of the nitrogen on wheat has been applied further south (Essex) but progress has been spotty in this area. Much of the wheat further north has received no nitrogen yet which will probably mean that only one application of N will occur. (no split application) Overall the wheat looks good and Agricorp has received few calls on damage so far. There are […]
The fertilizer value of liquid hog manure is significant and can provide all the required P205 and K20 and most of the nitrogen required by a corn crop. The table below shows the average available nutrients on a per thousand imperial gallons per acre basis. The availability is based on spring applied and incorporated within […]
Cereals Winter wheat survival is quite variable across the region. Survival is better in western Ontario. As a guideline, a good stand is 12 to 18 plants per foot of row. See Agronomy Guide, Table 4-8 Determining Yield Potential for Various Plant Stand Counts. 7 plants per foot of row, evenly distributed has a 90% yield […]
With an increase in the number of confirmed populations of glyphosate resistant Canada fleabane in Ontario, many are looking for ways to control these populations and to eliminate any seed production. Management options in soybeans have been discussed in an earlier post, but with weed control in cereal crops imminent it is worth reviewing the […]
With corn planting season soon upon us, it is a good time to remind everyone to take extra precautions to try to reduce the risk to bees being exposed to neonicotinoid contaminated dust from corn planters. Virtually all corn seed is treated with a neonicotinoid insecticide (ie. Poncho or Cruiser), and with over 200 incidences […]
Synopsis: Sugar beet and potato plantings began last week, with carrots and onions ready to plant. Ground conditions have been tremendous, but will only deteriorate. Wheat looks excellent. Significant nitrogen was applied (up to 50% of acres) in some areas, with loss concerns after heavy rains. Hay and spring cereal seeding made good progress, red […]