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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Areas across the province are seeing variability in corn emergence and growth due to frequent rainfalls. […]
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 […]
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 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 […]
This article was posted by Joel Bagg (retired OMAFRA Forage Specialist) on September 9, 2012. It was updated on August 22, 2025 by Christine O’Reilly to fix broken links to external resources. Farmers exposed to silo gas (nitrogen dioxide, NO2) are at risk of severe respiratory distress, permanent damage to lungs, and even sudden death. It […]
True armyworm (TAW) larvae have been spotted in some winter wheat fields in Chatham Kent and Lambton County. This is in addition to cereal leaf beetle (CLB) larvae reaching threshold in some cereal fields, in some cases causing significant damage. So far reports of CLB reaching threshold have been from fields in the Sombra, Petrolia, […]
Field Conditions It continues to be a frustrating spring through much of the province. Frequent precipitation has continued to cause delays in tillage, planting, and spraying in some areas, and weather earlier this week has shut down field work once again in many areas. However, with 3–5-day windows of good weather, many producers have covered […]
A wet spring has delayed soybean planting for many Ontario growers. See picture #1. Picture #1. No-till field ready for soybean planting in Perth County. May 27,2024. Timely planting is important for maximum yield, but soybeans are more tolerant to late planting than other crops. Although late April or early May planting is ideal weather […]
Crop Report – May 23, 2024 Figure 1. Corn is beginning to emerge across the province this week. Field Conditions This past week, much of the province was able to make some progress on field work. Crop Heat Units (CHU) and Growing Degree Days (GDD) are still well above the five-year average across the province. […]