Winter wheat fields are experiencing snow mould in regions that had significant snow coverage and included but are not limited to Bruce, Grey, Huron, Perth and Wellington counties. Those fields effected were generally planted early and had lots of top growth. There are also varietal differences with more susceptible varieties showing more severe symptoms. When […]
The 2021 Great Lakes and Maritimes Pest Monitoring Network (GLMPMN) is up and running for the 2021 season. We are monitoring for black cutworm (BCW), corn earworm (CEW), European corn borer (ECB), fall armyworm (FAW), true armyworm (TAW) and western bean cutworm (WBC) across the region and are providing an interactive real-time map and trap […]
Calling all GLMPMN Trap Participants! Please find below the instructions on how to set up a trap in your field and where to get the trap supplies for reach pest that you are monitoring. Not, each pest requires a specific trap type and lures as indicated in each of the instructions below. Once you have […]
Hybrid Selection Maturity Ratings Corn development is driven primarily by temperature, especially during the planting-to-silking period. Unlike soybeans, day length has little effect on the rate at which corn develops. The Ontario crop heat unit system has been developed to calculate the impact of temperature on corn development. Ontario crop heat units (CHUs) are calculated […]
Cereals can be used instead of corn as an energy source in livestock rations, and this substitution can help disrupt corn rootworm life cycles in the field. When growing cereals for feed the key areas to focus on include variety selection, establishment, fertility and disease management. Winter Cereals Growing a great cereal crop starts with […]
Silage corn is grown to provide energy and fibre in a ration. It has very high yield potential. In addition to breaking corn rootworm lifecycles, alternatives to silage corn need to offer similar yield and nutritional value (Table 1). Producers should consult a livestock nutritionist to ensure rations are properly balanced. Table 1. Typical nutritional quality and […]
What’s my optimum corn population? Does the yield response for primary tillage cover its costs compared to reduced tillage? Does the additive this salesperson is promoting provide a yield response on my farm? They say you don’t know what you don’t measure. Many options exist for extracting yield monitor harvest data from on-farm trials. […]
Rootworm Biology and Impact Corn rootworm (CRW) is a serious pest of continuous corn in Ontario. CRW larvae are the main concern, as they clip roots and inhibit root growth, resulting in poor nutrient and water uptake in the plant. Significant yield loss occurs before these symptoms are even noticed. For every node of […]
No-Till Systems In no-till systems, tillage is not used to prepare a seedbed. Minimal soil loosening in a narrow band immediately ahead of the seed opener is performed by planter-mounted coulters and/or residue clearing devices. Successful no-till corn production is partially dependent on effective use of field management strategies which may include alternative production practices […]
Tillage To successfully produce corn in Ontario, it is important to consider factors such as soil texture and crop rotation. Factors that will influence tillage options include risk of erosion, availability of equipment and labour and impact on soil health. Soils in Ontario are usually saturated in early spring, and quick dry-down is necessary to […]
There has been a reoccurring phenomenon in winter wheat the last few years known as physiological flecking. While not exactly predictable, physiological flecking tends to occur if it is cloudy for an extended period followed by sunny periods. The wheat leaf cuticles can be thin due to the cloudy conditions, and when conditions turn […]
Timely planting of corn followed by in-crop manure application up to V4 stage of corn can reduce compaction, increase nutrient use efficiency and increase yield. $100 per acre extra value from applying manure after corn planting! Did that catch your attention? Nutrient-use efficiency is highest when the nutrients are applied to a growing crop. Field […]
This article was written by Horst Bohner, OMAFRA Soybean Specialist, and Paul Sullivan, Sullivan Agro Inc. White mould can be one of the most devastating soybean diseases growers face. The extent of yield loss is largely dependent on the inoculum “load” of a field and the right weather occurring during soybean flowering. If the disease […]
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 […]
It’s March, the snow is melting and the ground is frozen so we know what that means! Now is a good time to be considering or thinking about frost seeding some red clover into those winter wheat stands! While we can’t control all the factors that influence the success of our red clover stands in […]