Conditions Overall, April rainfall has been slightly higher than average. This week, cold and wet weather slowed crop and planting progress. Eastern Ontario received above average rainfall, while most of the rest of the province had average rainfall. Winter Wheat Weather conditions have caused winter wheat growth to stall. The crop continues to look very […]
This article is based on work performed by Mike Schryver, BASF Technical Service Specialist. It was originally published at Sprayers101.com, and you may have been redirected here from that site. Introduction Nitrogen is an essential nutrient required throughout a plant’s lifecycle. It is commonly applied to corn in either a granular form as urea or […]
Last week, we announced that a population of European corn borer (ECB) likely resistant to Cry1Ab was found in Nova Scotia last fall. In case you missed it, here is that announcement: Suspected Cry1Ab Resistant European Corn Borer Found in Nova Scotia. This finding is concerning, as the ECB populations in the area were previously […]
There is a shared responsibility for balancing more sustainable cropping practices with profitability. We know that improving nitrogen (N) management is important for the environment and on-farm economics, and we have reviewed a number of studies to guide on-farm practices to help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The simple answer Yes, you can significantly increase […]
Canadian Corn Pest Coalition News Release April 27, 2023 In the fall of 2022, a European corn borer (ECB) population was collected near Truro, Nova Scotia near a field where a Cry1F-resistant ECB population was collected in 2018. Based on bioassay tests conducted by Drs. Jocelyn Smith and Yasmin Farhan at the University of Guelph, […]
Winter Wheat Winter wheat stands continue to look excellent with very high stem counts (up to 144 stems/sq ft) in the southwest. Most fields have received at least one application of nitrogen, with many opting to add sulphur. Fields that have not yet received a nitrogen or sulphur application are showing signs of yellowing. Manganese […]
Weather The weather late last week was unseasonably warm, with maximum temperatures exceeding 24˚C in most of the agricultural regions of the province. Crops already in the ground responded well to the heat and growth progressed quickly. With more typical single-digit temperatures this week, crop development is expected to slow, and staging should become more […]
It is difficult to manage what you don’t know. Sampling manure will provide information to help determine nutrient availability and determine where commercial fertilizer may or may not still be required. The link gives greater details about sampling and interpreting the results from manure samples. […]
Introduction Soil is the basis of agricultural production. A healthy soil is an essential component of a healthy environment; it is the foundation upon which a sustainable agriculture production system is built. Healthy soils are productive, resilient to stressors, and more resistant to degradation. Soil health refers to the soil’s ability “to support crop growth […]
These notes provide a collective summary of information highlights from the weekly breakfast meeting minutes with local crop consultants in Ontario. This week’s summary includes notes from meetings in Exeter, Simcoe and Winchester. Spring conditions have arrived across Ontario this week and some tillage and field preparation has started in fields with light-textured soils. Manure […]
All of OMAFRA’s pest management publications have been digitized into the Crop Protection Hub. While we have received positive feedback on this tool, we do understand that some prefer the print publications. We are working on a print solution from the Crop Protection Hub that we hope meets those needs. If you would like to […]
Spring conditions have arrived across Ontario this week and some tillage and field preparation has started in fields with light-textured soils. Manure application is also underway. Taking a manure sample at the time of application is recommended and will help fine-tune fertilizer needs. Several heavy rainfall events in early April have some producers concerned about […]
Quotes of the week: “Zero weed seed return is the GOAL!” – Dr. Peter Sikkema “Rotation is the 1st R, not the 5th.” – Peter Johnson The first agribusiness breakfast meeting of the season and first in-person since 2019, was held in Ridgetown on April 4, 2023. The Ridgetown Ag breakfast meetings will alternate between […]
Directors in the Thames Valley Soil and Crop Region (Elgin, Middlesex, Oxford) have lead an effort to produce larger, more consistent datasets for the on-farm soil and crop projects that are conducted locally each year. One part of this effort has been to post protocols for easier access and research consistency. Table 1 lists projects […]
The soil surface is the interface between the soil and the atmosphere. Its quality – roughness, porosity, stability – determines the rates of exchange of water and gases. Visual assessment of soil surface quality (SSQ) can give an indication of soil health and soil function. A soil surface that has plenty of residue cover, presence […]