A collective summary of information gleaned from the weekly breakfast meeting minutes with local crop consultants in Ontario
Synopsis: Planting conditions have been excellent with greater than 95 percent of corn and over 75 percent of soybeans planted. Rainfall is needed to activate pre-emerge herbicides and capitalize nitrogen applied to wheat crops after the rains stopped. Alfalfa weevil populations are high and control is recommended in fields where harvest is still over a […]
From May 1st to 12th, accumulations of 15 to 30 mm of rain and 220 Crop Heat Units (CHU) were recorded. The long term average for this same period is about 130 CHU. There was frost on May 14th across eastern Ontario with a low of -2o to -3o C. Little damage expected as the […]
Synopsis: Corn planting is 85% complete, with 10% of soys planted. Wheat has progressed rapidly, with earliest wheat pushing the flag leaf stage: soon beyond herbicide applications. A great deal of sulphur deficiency is showing in wheat. Fortunately frost was a near miss with little damage. Glyphosate resistant weeds have been positively identified in Huron […]
Synopsis: Tremendous activity on the lighter textured soils (south of Hwy 401) with 80% corn planted on lighter soils. Planting on clay soils is just starting. Just a few soybeans planted but many growers gearing up if weather allows. Manganese and sulphur deficiencies are evident in the wheat crop. Advanced wheat is at flag leaf […]
Synopsis: Amazing how so much fieldwork can be accomplished in 1 week of ideal weather. Light textured soils are 90+ % planted for corn, while heavy textured clays of Haldimand and Wentworth are just getting started with about 10% planted; Niagara (Wainfleet area) about 30%. On the Haldimand clays, more beans are planted so far […]
Synopsis: Most nitrogen has now been applied to wheat. Many abandoned plans for split application. Corn planting ranges from 10% – 50% complete. Availability of rental fertilizer spreaders, custom application and accessing of UAN are creating bottlenecks. Growers are beginning to use packers/rollers due to dry soil conditions. Cereals: Much of the winter wheat is now in […]
The area accumulated about 60 Crop Heat Units (CHUs) from 15th to the 30th of April, which is the same as last year for the same period (FarmZone). We received 1.5 to 2 inches (40 to 50 mm) of rain in April. Soils are slow to warm up. To-date only 20% of the spring cereals […]
Synopsis: 30% of wheat acres have had N applied. Yellow/brown/dead(?) wheat in low areas or on heavy soils from twice normal April rainfall. Few acres of corn planted, some spring cereals and new forage seedings. Winter annual weeds have bolted: control will be difficult (impossible). Soybean cyst nematode sampling project in Huron county: more SCN […]
Highlights: Wet and cool weather has slowed spring field activity. This spring is more typical and most producers have not rushed to start planting. Corn planting started yesterday in some areas, but others are holding off. Growers that planted corn April 15 last year are less anxious to start early. Best yields came from the […]
Synopsis: Very little nitrogen has been applied to wheat, and many are now abandoning plans for split application. In most areas the wheat looks good, including late plantings. Agricorp has received very few damage claims, and are busy inspecting uninsured late planted wheat. May 1 is deadline for applying for or making changes to crop insurance. Remind […]
Synopsis: Much of the nitrogen on wheat has been applied further south (Essex) but progress has been spotty in this area. Much of the wheat further north has received no nitrogen yet which will probably mean that only one application of N will occur. (no split application) Overall the wheat looks good and Agricorp has received few calls on damage so far. There are […]
Cereals Winter wheat survival is quite variable across the region. Survival is better in western Ontario. As a guideline, a good stand is 12 to 18 plants per foot of row. See Agronomy Guide, Table 4-8 Determining Yield Potential for Various Plant Stand Counts. 7 plants per foot of row, evenly distributed has a 90% yield […]
Synopsis: Sugar beet and potato plantings began last week, with carrots and onions ready to plant. Ground conditions have been tremendous, but will only deteriorate. Wheat looks excellent. Significant nitrogen was applied (up to 50% of acres) in some areas, with loss concerns after heavy rains. Hay and spring cereal seeding made good progress, red […]
Highlights: Glyphosate resistance: hot button issue over the winter has been glyphosate resistant weeds, particularly Canada fleabane. Awareness is good at retail, but not at farm gate, where it varies from excellent to “what does fleabane look like?”. From Essex to Niagara, assume that fleabane is resistant. Control options are limited in no till soys […]
Soybean growth has been slow in those areas that missed the rains. Fields are now at the R2 (full flower) growth stage. Those areas that received adequate moisture are progressing well and are entering R3 (beginning pod). Soybeans flower over an extended period of time so areas that have been negatively impacted from the lack […]