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 […]
Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench)is a summer annual broadleaf plant that is grown as a cover crop for its fast-growing, weed-smothering and pollinator-promoting properties. It establishes rapidly (Figure 1) and flowers as soon as three weeks after planting. Buckwheat is well proven to smother warm-season annual weeds through shading and competition. With very fine roots, it […]
Radish (Raphanus sativus) is a cool-season brassica that is grown as a cover crop for its compaction-fighting, weed-suppressing and nitrogen (N)-scavenging qualities. It thrives when seeded in late summer with adequate access to moisture and nitrogen. Radish grows quickly and establishes a deep taproot that can penetrate compacted soil layers. It is easily manageable in […]
Hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) is a winter annual legume that is grown as a cover crop for its nitrogen (N) production, weed suppression and the mulch it provides. When seeded in late summer, hairy vetch grows slowly throughout the fall while establishing its root system. In the spring, it grows rapidly and can fix […]
Field peas (Pisum sativum) are a cool-season annual legume that are grown as a cover crop to fix nitrogen, complement other species in mixtures and to boost protein levels in mixtures seeded for forage production. Peas have viny above-ground growth (Figure 1) and shallow roots compared to other species. They germinate and grow best in […]
This factsheet explains the nature and properties of soil organic matter (SOM) and describes its benefits for crop production. It provides guidance on management practices that can be used to increase SOM in agricultural soils, with specific references to Ontario research. Read on to learn more. Why organic matter matters Soil organic matter makes up […]
This factsheet describes soil structure, the factors that influence it, and provides suggested practices to improve it in agricultural soils. Soil structure refers to the way that soil particles are arranged into larger units called aggregates. A well-structured soil contains plenty of aggregates and pore spaces both within and between aggregates; this provides favourable conditions […]
Cool temperatures have influenced the start of the growing season across Ontario. Despite this, fieldwork has advanced steadily where soils are fit. Soil moisture and temperature variability across the province are driving differences in planting progress – with significant activity on loam soils in relatively drier areas and no activity to date on clay soils in wetter regions such as Haldimand and Niagara. Parts of northern Ontario have experienced drier than […]
This year’s Field Crop News Q&As covers a wide range of frequently asked agronomy questions with thoughtful, concise, and research-backed answers from our team of experts. Download a copy of the 2026 Field Crop News Q&As document today: Topics: […]
Vast amounts of nitrogen (N) exist in our soils in many different forms, but only nitrate (NO3–) and ammonium (NH4+) can be taken up via the plant roots. Most of the nitrogen in the soil is in the organic form, which much be broken down by micro-organisms to become plant available. Mineralization is the process […]
Variable weather has led to short windows for field work across the province. Most areas have had at least a few days to spread fertilizer and manure and begin tillage and planting. Manure applications are being strategically planned to reduce some rates of starter or broadcast fertilizer. Very windy days across the province this week have emphasized soil […]
Weather conditions: Seasonal temperatures and relatively good drying conditions allowed fieldwork to begin in some regions. Nitrogen application on wheat, fertilizer applications and tillage on lighter soils, and planting of spring cereals, new forage seedings and even corn all began as soil conditions permitted. Manure application, some from storages near capacity, was evident by smell […]
Before I jump into the pest alert, I want to welcome John Fluttert, the new Edible Bean and Oilseed Specialist on the Field Crop Team based at Ridgetown. He is getting his feet wet pretty quickly, managing calls about cabbage seedpod weevil (CSPW) infestations in winter canola fields in Essex and Chatham Kent. Despite the […]
Cool temperatures with persistent rainfall have slowed field drying which has resulted in little field work completed to date. Very few winter cereals outside of the deep south have received an application of nitrogen and sulphur but are expected to receive an application before the weekend. Manure applications and tillage operations are slowly beginning where the conditions allow. Very little corn and no soybeans have been seeded to date. Cereals The majority of winter […]
With Canada’s National Soil Conservation Week underway (April 20-26, 2026), now is an ideal time to take stock of your soil before planting begins. How did your fields handle the spring melt? Did they stand up to the heavy rains earlier this month? One of the best tools you have is your own observation. Get […]