Windbreaks can increase crop yields up to 15 per cent, more than making up for the amount of land they use. How? Windbreaks improve a field’s microclimate by reducing wind speeds, increasing temperatures and reducing the amount of moisture loss. Have you considered planting a windbreak? Windbreaks can also: reduce soil erosion decrease odour and […]
Past research in Ontario and abroad has demonstrated the importance of uniform emergence for maximizing corn yield. At the Southwest Ag Conference in January, Randy Dowdy, 2014 National Corn Growers Association yield contest winner from Georgia proposed the “flag test” – returning to a plot every 12 or 24 hours and flagging every newly emerged plant using a different coloured flag for each […]
The 2016-2017 version of OMAFRA Publication 812, Field Crop Protection Guide, and can be downloaded here or by clicking on the the book cover thumbnail below. Publication 812 is the source of pest control information for field crops. The easy to read tables provide information and comments on insect and disease control products for the major field crops […]
Corn Many areas of the province saw a much needed rain over the weekend ranging from 15 mm to 50 mm in. Overall corn is progressing well and is at the 4-7 leaf growth stage. Minimal corn replants have been reported to date. Sidedressing is underway in some areas and will likely be in full […]
Ridgetown Ag Breakfast Meeting Minutes – May 31, 2016 Breakfast Sponsor: Thanks from the group to “Chris Robson, DuPont-Pioneer“ Synopsis: The quote of the week comes from Alan McCallum, “How can the clays be so dry and wet at the same time!” Rains have been very sporadic since the last meeting which ranged from none\trace […]
Synopsis: Close to a carbon copy of last spring. Cracks in heavy clay soils resemble August conditions and underline the need for rain. Crops are planted and for most part into good conditions. Some emergence issues on heavy-textured soils. Wheat is starting to head and fungicides are being applied. Dry conditions are resulting in some […]
Thanks to Jack Legg, SGS Labs for chairing the meeting and sponsoring breakfast. The next meeting will be Tuesday, June 7th starting at 7:00am for breakfast and 7:30 for the meeting. Corn Corn planting is essentially complete in the area with the exception of fields that will go in after an early forage/hay harvest […]
Corn Depending on planting date, corn is at the spike to 5 leaf stage and progressing well with the warm weather. Most corn acres received adequate rainfall for good emergence and an acceptable stand. However, dry conditions have prevented activation of pre-emergence herbicides on many acres. The high heat in the past week has caused […]
Group consensus is that for the most part everything is excellent, one of the best starts to a crop year in a long time. The only real large concern is the future need for rainfall as fields while in good shape currently, could turn around without some moisture shortly. This is especially true further […]
When it comes to information about pesticide drift, it’s easy to find and there’s a lot of it. I have an archive of 29 articles written by our Ministry staff spanning 1999 to 2014. There’s so much, in fact, that it sometimes feels like there’s nothing left to say that hasn’t already been said. Here […]
Weather has been dry allowing for a lot of field work. Most fertilizer and pre-emerge herbicide applications are done. Crop Heat Units (CHUs) are behind about 30 CHU from the 30 year average. Table 2. May 18 – 25, 2016 Weather data Forages: Generally anticipated first cut yields will be lower than normal due to […]
Synopsis: Winter wheat is progressing very well. Corn planting has moved along decently in the area since two weeks ago, though still only 40-50% complete on heavier soils. Soybean planting has begun – biggest issue preventing planting still is cold soils. Warmer temperatures in coming weeks will likely accelerate planting activity. Overall, there is an […]
Stripe rust symptoms are increasing in the southwest this week and the following publication “Identifying Rust Diseases in Ontario” is a good resource to distinguish between stripe, leaf and stem rust. This publication was developed by the multi-state and OMAFRA extension and research committees for small grain diseases, NCERA-184 & WERA-97 with support from the Grain […]
An infosheet has been created that contains information on the swede midge life cycle, scouting for the pest in canola, and control options relevant to Ontario producers. Please click the link below to view the PDF. Swede Midge Infosheet Final 2016 […]
Corn: Across the province the planted corn acreage sits at about 85%. Livestock producers with manure to apply, as well as fields located on heavy clay soils -especially in Essex, Haldimand and Niagara- have about 50% of the intended acres planted. Soil conditions look dry at the surface, but remain “tacky” at planting depth. Cool soil […]