First-cut yields are variable across the province, with below average yields in western Ontario. A combination of factors have contributed to low yields, including dry April and May weather, frost damage, cutting during last fall’s Critical Fall Harvest Period, saturated soils going into the winter, alfalfa disease, winterkill and stand thinning. Recent rains have helped […]
Making wrapped large bale haylage, also known as “baleage”, reduces the risk of rain damage within shorter harvest windows. Baleage can provide excellent quality forage. Existing baling and feeding equipment can be used, and it comes with its own storage. However, the risk of spoilage can sometimes be frustrating, particularly when forage supplies are limited and hay […]
Coordinated by: Ian McDonald and Greg Stewart, OMAFRA Background Annually the OMAFRA field crops team surveys a range of corn fields to determine what impact the weather has on the level of residual soil nitrate. In 2012 weather conditions have been almost polar opposite to last year when April was cool and May was wet. […]
Early-season leaf feeding before the 3rd trifoliate can look serious because plants are small. However, soybeans can compensate for large amounts of leaf loss with little impact on yield. Soybeans will put on new leaves quickly at the top of the plant and unaffected leaves actually grow larger to compensate. Before the plants begin to […]
They’re here early this year! We’ve been hearing reports of true armyworm numbers getting fairly high in some wheat fields and even above threshold in some cases. I think it’s a good time to post a refresher on armyworm management. In Cereals Armyworms typically feeding in the lower leaves of the wheat and work their […]
From May 1st to 27, eastern Ontario accumulated about 400 CHUs, which is close to the 30 year average. Precipitation was also close to average for the month of May. Forages: There was concern that hay/haylage would be in short supply this spring due to reduced number of acres in forages and the amount of […]
Included: Double crop soybeans, weed control strategies, soil nitrogen status, wheat insect update and more. Synopsis: Rainfall has been very sparse. A few isolated showers brought relief to a few areas Sunday but much of the region has had less than one inch of rain since March. Weather innovations data show that rainfall is down […]
Soybean planting finished this week. Stands are generally exceptional if seed was placed into moisture. In some cases no-till drills were not able to penetrate properly especially on top of corn rows. If the seed remains dry it can remain in the soil for up to six weeks and still emerge once moisture arrives. However, […]
Grass growth continues to be slow but maturity continues to advance. Orchardgrass is headed and should be grazed immediately to maintain quality and stimulate new leaf development. Moving livestock to new paddocks when they have grazed half of the available forage will assist in managing this early growth and set pastures for continued summer growth. […]
Corn development has been rapid this past week. Some areas were close to accumulating 200 CHU in 7 days! Good soil conditions and early planting are paying off as the corn continues to move ahead despite relatively dry conditions. Some replanting has occurred where low population and uneven stands were caused by cold shock to […]
Winter Cereals continue their rapid development pace. Most fusarium fungicides will have been applied by June 3. There will be some harvest in June. Shortest varieties are those that showed the most freeze injury earlier, indicating that the injury had impact. Straw is becoming increasingly sought after, with prices in the countryside reaching unprecedented levels. […]
Dry conditions in Northern growing areas has resulted in uneven emergence. The majority of April planted canola is 2-6 leaf and quite variable within a field. In thin stands of canola consider lowering the action threshold for insect and weed management. Flea beetle pressure continues to remain high in most areas. Scout up to the […]
It is estimated that 40-50% of intended acres is planted. Dry soils and forecast cooler temperatures have delayed planting in some areas. As part of a weed control program, rotary hoeing beans in the 1-2 leaf stage (not in hook stage) helps to remove very small weed seedlings. If adequate rainfall is not received within […]
First-cut is complete in some parts of the province. Yields are very disappointing, particularly in western Ontario. With low yields and low carryover inventories, forage supplies could be tight this year, especially if it remains dry. Hay prices were already at record levels this winter. There are still a few things that can be done […]
Summer seeding alfalfa and alfalfa-grass mixtures can be a good way to establish new fields so that full season yields can be harvested the following year. It is typically done after winter wheat or spring cereals are harvested, and also during years when alfalfa winterkill necessitates the quick establishment of new stands. Summer seeding of alfalfa forage mixtures can be […]