Crop Report – May 26, 2021

Figure 1. Cereal rye left as over-winter cover crop is being harvested as high quality ryelage and will be followed with a crop of corn or soybeans immediately after harvest.

Conditions Some thunderstorms through Essex provided some moisture, but most areas of the province received less than 5 mm over the long weekend and conditions throughout the province remain dry. Temperatures have transitioned from colder than normal to summer-like, and double-digit night-time temperatures have helped newly planted crops to emerge quickly. Cereals Early planted wheat […]

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Ridgetown-Simcoe Ag Breakfast Meeting Minutes– May 18, 2021

General Progress:  Corn planting is basically finished on the loamy soils and 60% completed on heavy clay soils.  Soybean planting is in full swing with lighter soils 75% completed and heavier soils 30-40% planted. About 160 CHU accumulation since May 1 in Ridgetown/Chatham area.  Conditions are dry, moisture would be welcome.  Soils worked before May […]

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Crop Report – May 19, 2021

Figure 2. Land rolling can increase the risk of soil degradation in some conditions

Conditions Current weather patterns are generally expected to hold for the next week or so. This will allow for planting of corn and soybeans to be mostly complete by the last week of May, though many fields and farms will appreciate some rain soon, particularly in the far southwest (Figure 1). Significant precipitation is possible […]

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Exeter and Mount Forest Breakfast Meeting Minutes – May 11, 2021

Cereals  Since our last meeting cereal growth has been slow in much of the area. From May 1st to today about 65-75 growing degree days have accumulated in the area.  Most of the wheat is still at GS 31 to GS 32 in with earlier planted fields approaching flag leaf and late planted fields still around GS 30. Very little progress on herbicide, fungicide and plant growth regulator […]

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Crop Report – May 5, 2021

Figure 3. Canola in flower

Winter wheat Winter wheat fields in general continue to be exceptional across the province despite temperature fluctuations. Continued cool weather the past week has resulted in some frost injury, but it is not expected to have any yield impact. In southern counties, early planted wheat is approaching the flag leaf stage. Later planted fields are […]

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April 2021 Forage Report

Winter of 2020-2021 was mild. Although snow cover was less than normal, there were relatively few thaws. A rapid thaw in early March melted most of the snow. The warm temperatures persisted for a few days, allowing perennial forages to break dormancy. Dry conditions throughout March with warm days and cool nights provided a window […]

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When More Isn’t Better: Thoughts from the world’s #1 management thinker on farm resilience

By Paige Kennedy (view original post on Soils at Guelph website here) “I have a view worth hearing, but I might be missing something.” This is the attitude of an innovator described by top business mind, Roger L. Martin, at the virtual Midwest Cover Crops Council Conference on February 24. Roger Martin is professor emeritus […]

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