Crop Conditions – Week of June 20, 2024
Seedling waterhemp at the 2 to10 leaf stage in 6 leaf corn. Control must be prioritized since herbicide effectiveness will be reduced as this weed gets bigger. […]
Growing Winter Canola in Ontario — Summer: Manage Pests and Harvest
Reproductive 10% flowering 10% flowering is when 10 flowers are open on the main stem. Flowering begins on the main stem, with the lowest buds opening first and flowering continuing upward. Three or more flowers open per day. At first flower the stem is 30-60% of its maximum height. Management: Monitor for cabbage seedpod weevil […]
Growing Winter Canola in Ontario — Spring: Assess Plant Health and Fertilize
Vegetative/Reproductive Overwintering Growth resumes when average temperatures reach 5°C but will be slow until it is consistently warm. Leaves may have rotted off or be discoloured but the centre of the rosette should be green. Determine the population of healthy plants. 5 plants/ft2 or more is ideal. 3-4 plants/ft2 is acceptable. 1-2 plants/ft2 can be […]
Growing Winter Canola in Ontario — Fall: Prepare for Winter Survival
Vegetative Emergence The hypocotyl pulls the cotyledons above the soil surface. The growing point is exposed between the two cotyledons. Management: Fertilizer in the seed row can injure seedlings, especially nitrogen and potassium. Apply up to 1/4 of total nutrient requirements pre-plant. Seed 0.5-1 inches deep, or a maximum of 1.5 inches into moisture. Broadcast […]
Winter Canola: Plant Survival Assessments and Spring Fertilizer
When spring arrives, winter canola growers will have to scout their fields and answer 3 questions before applying fertilizer: Is the canola alive? Does it have strong yield potential? What is the population of healthy plants? Scouting typically begins towards the end of March when plants start to green up. Assessments should be made after […]
Preparing for 2020 Seeding of Winter Canola
Winter canola seed sales have been very strong and Ontario acres in 2020 are expected to be higher than ever before. While research on the crop has been limited, some recommendations are outlined below based on experience over the past few years and experience with spring canola in Ontario. Field Selection Fields should have good […]
Pre-Harvest Herbicide Options in Canola; Managing Re-Growth
Spring canola harvest is not yet complete, with a majority of the crop still standing in northern regions. Many fields were ready to harvest up to two weeks ago, but the weather has not cooperated. Producers are now reporting that canola is re-growing and quite green in the lower canopy. Pre-harvest herbicide application may improve […]
Winter Canola Sensitivity to Herbicides
Producers interested in growing winter canola should consider the herbicide history of their field, and the herbicide options open to them following winter wheat harvest. There are a number of restrictions, and some herbicide labels do not mention safety on canola. At this time there is only one winter canola variety that is registered in […]
Clubroot in Ontario Canola
In the summer of 2016, clubroot disease was found throughout a field of canola in the Verner area of West Nipissing. Clubroot has been established in Brassica vegetable crops in Ontario for a number of years, but this was the first time the disease was confirmed in Ontario canola. Above ground symptoms of clubroot include […]
Evaluating Frost Damaged Canola
Canola seedlings can with stand a considerable frost (-5 to -8 0 C) if plants have become acclimatized following a few days of cold temperatures. However, canola seedlings growing under warm conditions will be tender, and can be killed by even a f few degrees frost. Ice crystals will form on the leaf surface before […]
Anticipated Soil Nitrogen Supply for 2024’s Corn Crop
Summary: Background: Throughout the growing season, microbes within the soil break down organic nitrogen contained in soil organic matter and crop residues and release it as plant-available ammonium. This process is known as nitrogen mineralization. Nitrogen mineralization is favoured by warm soil temperatures with adequate soil moisture and aeration. Excess moisture can slow mineralization or […]
Ontario Crop Report – Week of June 13, 2024
Areas across the province are seeing variability in corn emergence and growth due to frequent rainfalls. […]
Cutworms of All Kinds
It is safe to call 2024 a good pest year. Mild winters and warm springs tend to help pests overwinter well or expand their range further than usually and get ahead of crops when soil conditions delay planting. Armyworm and cereal leaf beetle are continuing to show up in some wheat fields, while some grubs […]
Corn Rootworm Trap Participants Needed!
Have you really lived, if you haven’t had the enjoyable experience of trying to change sticky traps while rootworm beetles crawl down your shirt? Or had the thrill of tripping over goosenecked plants while you’re looking ahead to find your next trap down the corn row? Well, if that sounds thrilling (or even if it […]
Crop Conditions – Week of June 6, 2024
Crop Report – June 6, 2024 Field Conditions Significant planting progress has been made in many areas across the province over the last two weeks. Some growers were able to wrap up their corn, soybean and edible bean planting and apply their T3 fungicide applications in wheat. However, those on heavier soils or those who […]