General Progress The weather has held things back the last two weeks. Surprising to the group was how little has been done on corn planting progress since the last meeting. Everyone has been surprised how patient most farmers have been to let the ground get “fit”, as well as for temperatures to warm for fungicide and herbicide applications in wheat….
A collective summary of information gleaned from the weekly breakfast meeting minutes with local crop consultants in Ontario
OMAFRA Field Crop Team May 5, 2016 1626 Comments Off on Ridgetown Ag Breakfast Meeting Minutes – May 3, 2016Breakfast Sponsor: Thanks from the group to “Al Spicer/Ray McDonald – CanGrow Crop Solutions“ Synopsis: The quote of the week comes from Jason VanMaanen who stated “The Wheat Looks Too Good!” which had Peter Johnson shaking his head 🙂 Rain over the weekend and Monday ranged from 0.8 to 1.5″. The cool, wet conditions over the past week has slowed…
OMAFRA Field Crop Team May 2, 2016 2343 Comments Off on Winchester AgBreakfast Minutes – April 26, 2016Conditions: Soil drying up, but below average temperatures are limiting field activity to manure/fertilizer application and forage/spring cereal seeding. Forages: Alfalfa winter survival is good, generally in the 80% plus range. Winterkill is mostly limited to low/poorly drained pockets. The combination of heavy and moisture saturated soils has led to some heaving. Alfalfa fields not harvested last fall are showing…
Exeter Agribusiness Minutes April 26, 2016 Malibu Restaurant, Exeter Chair for this meeting was Eric Richter Thank you to Syngenta for sponsoring breakfast. The next meeting will be on May 10th starting at 7:00 am for breakfast (meeting starts at 7:30). Meetings finish no later than 9:00 am. Synopsis: Corn planting started at the end of last week in this…
OMAFRA Field Crop Team April 22, 2016 1821 Comments Off on Simcoe Ag Breakfast Meeting Notes – April 20, 2016Spring Planting Update: No tillage activity on the fine-textured clay soils Some tillage, manure application and fertilizer application to sandy and loamy fields Very little planting to date – a few acres of corn planted around Embro, Thamesford, Drumbo, Tillsonburg and sandy soils in Brant. Mainly just getting a few acres in and ensuring the equipment is set up…
OMAFRA Field Crop Team April 21, 2016 2462 Comments Off on Ridgetown Ag Breakfast Meeting Minutes – April 19, 2016Breakfast Sponsor: Thanks from the group to “Roger Bourassa – Dupont Canada“ Synopsis: The quote of the week comes from Alan McCallum, a distant relative – “Don’t’ farm last year’s weather!” This is National Soil Conservation Week. Keep those soils covered! Don’t bury all that crop residue with tillage. The warmer weather has really turned the winter wheat around….
OMAFRA Field Crop Team April 20, 2016 1602 Comments Off on Mt. Forest Crop Consultants Agribusiness Meeting – April 19, 2016Synopsis: The consultant’s in attendance felt that 2016 wheat acreage is up from the previous year and that while intended corn acreage will be up from the 2015 season, soybean acres will be a bit down compared to 2015. Spring cereal acreage is also thought to be down from last year but on par with 2013-14 plantings. All were surprised…
OMAFRA Field Crop Team April 15, 2016 1564 Comments Off on Winchester Agri-Business Crop Update Breakfast Meeting, Tuesday, April, 12, 2016Forages: There was a general discussion of what condition hays fields are in given the milder winter. A general observation of hay fields in the area is that most fields had quite a bit of stubble (estimated at 2 feet for some fields). Some discussion of what should be done with the stubble (harvest or leave it on fields) concluded…
OMAFRA Field Crop Team April 15, 2016 1565 Comments Off on Exeter Agribusiness Minutes – April 12, 2016April 12, 2016 – Malibu Restaurant, Exeter Chair for this meeting was David Townsend There was an excellent turnout and good discussion to start the first meeting of the 2016 growing season. David Townsend was the chairman and BASF sponsored breakfast. Thank you. The next meeting will be on April 26th starting at 7:00 am for breakfast (meeting starts at…
OMAFRA Field Crop Team April 14, 2016 1765 Comments Off on Simcoe Ag Breakfast Meeting Notes – April 6, 2016Meetings are held every 2nd Wednesday 7:30 – 9 am: Shire restaurant (Travelodge) 385 Queensway in Simcoe. Next meeting is April 20th To date there has not been a lot of spring activity. Very little nitrogen has been applied on wheat so far. Early N not needed since in general, wheat went into winter with excellent growth and 3 –…
OMAFRA Field Crop Team April 6, 2016 1664 Comments Off on Ridgetown Ag Breakfast Meeting Minutes – April 5, 2016Breakfast Sponsor: Thanks from group to “Bob Thirlwall – DEKALB/Monsanto Canada“ Synopsis: The quote of the week comes from Dr. Peter Sikkema – “Start Clean – Stay Clean”! Very little activity due to the rain and cold temperatures expected this week although some have taken advantage of the conditions to get the last of their red clover broadcasted onto wheat….
Thanks to Pioneer for sponsoring Breakfast. Chair for this meeting was Aric Bos. These meetings have been a great success because of your attendance and participation. Thank you to all those who took the time to participate in 2015. All the best for the rest of the growing season. Rainfall was widespread last night and considerable in some areas. Clinton…
Brian Hall June 17, 2015 1499 Comments Off on Central Ontario Crop Consultant’s Meeting – June 16, 2015Synopsis Extremely wet conditions across many areas, especially through Huron-Perth and areas to the south where up to 8 inches (200 mm) have fallen in the last 8 days. Biggest field work challenges now are weed control in soybeans, fungicide application in wheat, side-dress nitrogen application in corn, and wrapping up edible bean planting. Agricorp reminds growers to report damage…
Chair for this meeting was Joanna Wallace Chair for the final meeting of this spring on June 23rd will be Aric Bos Thanks to Syngenta for sponsoring lunch Synopsis: Lots of rain reported in this region. Most areas received at least 2 inches while some reported up to 6.5 inches over a 3 day period. Hensall, Mitchell, and Stratford all…
OMAFRA Field Crop Team June 11, 2015 1595 Comments Off on Simcoe Ag Breakfast Meeting Notes – June 3, 2015Synopsis: Weed control options for all crops were a main topic of discussion. Dry weather and/or busy planting schedule have resulted in weedy fields looking for post emerge options. Re-planting and field assessments resulting from May 23/24 frost damage was also discussed. Much needed rain was welcomed over the whole area during the last week of May. Crop emergence is…