Co-authored with Albert Tenuta, Field Crop Pathologist, OMAFRA OMAFRA field crop staff in collaboration with the Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO) and members of the Ontario Agri-Business Association (OABA) have completed the annual Provincial corn ear mould and mycotoxin survey. Corn ear moulds such as Gibberella and their corresponding mycotoxins occur every year in Ontario. […]
Recent scouting efforts and grower calls indicate that corn earworm (CEW) are present in Ontario corn fields this fall, some at pretty high levels (Figure 1). Late planted fields are the most at risk, as CEW moths typically don’t blow in from the US until later in the summer and prefer to lay their eggs […]
2018 Seasonal Insect Pest Summary There was no shortage of insect issues in 2018, though some pests we would typically expect were not a big problem this year. Swede midge, armyworm and even western bean cutworm for the most part were not nearly the problem they have been in the past in canola, wheat and […]
Yield and quality of an oat cover crop was evaluated with and without an application of digestate. The study was conducted in two years on two separate fields. The oats were hand harvested and 3 samples were collected for each of the triplicated treatments. The results were evaluated based on harvested crop value (yield and […]
Plan to Assess Field for Ear Rot and Mycotoxin Risk With assistance from the Ontario Agri-Business Association (OABA) and funding through the Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO), the Ontario Ministry of Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) has begun sampling grower corn fields to determine ear mould incidence and occurrence of mycotoxins in the grain. These […]
With fall now officially here, thoughts are turning to harvest. And with each acre harvested, there is potential for a cover crop to be seeded. At this point in the season, the main cover crop option left is cereal rye. Not to be confused with annual ryegrass, rye is a cereal that is competitive, winter […]
Dry summer conditions in some parts of the province have farmers thinking about available forage. There are several things that can be done to help ensure you have enough feed until next spring. Take inventory Knowing the amount of forage needed to get through the year is the first step to ensuring your farm has […]
As occurs most years, summer thunderstorms brought localized hail events through parts of Ontario, particularly during the last week of July (Figure 1). After a hail event, our first question is usually how much leaf tissue is still out there? When evaluating damage, it’s good to wait a week or so before going in. This […]
Soil Fertility Planning for Fall We’re now half way through September and soybean harvest and winter wheat seeding are quickly approaching. Have you had soil samples taken yet this season? If not, there is still time to make arrangements before the rush of fall harvest. Having up-to-date soil test information is critical for making sound […]
The 2018 growing season had its challenges with a cool, wet spring followed by hot, dry weather during the critical grain fill period. The weather had a negative impact on yield for many while others were pleasantly surprised with yields pushing well over 100 bu/ac. So what did growers who fared better than others have in common even […]
Figure 1. Board displaying corn ear size and plant spacing at harvest time Pre-Harvest Corn Yield Estimates and Late Season Corn Scouting It’s the beginning of September and the growing season is on the final stretch. Perhaps you’re impatient and can’t wait until harvest to get an idea of what your corn yield is looking […]
Map shows average start dates for the critical fall harvest period of alfalfa. Note that the CFHP is the six weeks before the first killing frost. Southwestern: Regrowth on hay fields and pastures has been good in response to adequate rainfall. As of August 29, southwestern Ontario received above average rainfall for the month of […]
Selecting the right winter wheat variety for your operation is an important decision but at times can be overwhelming when considering the classes and varieties available. To help Ontario growers with variety selection decisions, the Ontario Cereal Crop Committee conducts performance trials across the province to evaluate registered varieties and/or varieties supported for registration. These […]
Considerations for Hail Damaged Corn Thunderstorms brought some localized hail events through parts of Southwestern Ontario, particularly during the last week of July. Like most plant stresses, yield loss from defoliation increases through vegetative stages, peaks around tassel or pollination, and declines through grain-fill. For example, using the defoliation table from OMAFRA Agronomy Guide – […]
Although the rain in the past month has rejuvenated grass growth on pastures and improved hay yields, forage inventories are still in tight supply for many livestock producers. Harvested cereal fields can be used to produce more forage yet this fall. Seeding a spring cereal like oats can produce up to 2 ton per acre […]