A collective summary of information gleaned from the weekly breakfast meeting minutes with local crop consultants in Ontario
Cooler than normal weather continued, with several overnight lows below 10°C. In the southwest, crop heat units (CHUs) are below normal and about 200 below last year on this date. Planting is progressing as soils become fit; however, crop emergence has been slow. Cereals Winter wheat is moving into the heading stages with T3 fungicide […]
Field work progressed quickly across the province in the past week, with sunny skies and warm temperatures peaking on Friday, May 16th before scattered showers and below seasonal temperatures began on the Victoria Day long weekend. Widespread rainfall slowed field activities beginning mid-week. Soil temperatures have generally been cool, resulting in slow crop emergence and […]
Field work has progressed quickly in the last week and a half. Soil temperatures are still cool, resulting in slow crop emergence. Cereals Sulphur deficiencies continue to be reported in winter wheat. Options to correct this deficiency include streaming on liquid ammonium sulphate, (ATS) cut with water, or spreading dry ammonium sulphate. Be aware of […]
Variable weather conditions across the province over the last week have led to a range of planting progress. Areas of the southwest are well into spring planting, with some areas estimating over 50% of the crop acres planted, while others are just getting started with field work. Growing Degree Days (GDD) are behind last year, […]
Field Conditions Soils are steadily drying out as we have more sun and wind. With warmer temperatures, more seeding and herbicide applications have been completed. Extreme winds during storm events this week resulted in a lot of soil movement out of fields that have been worked, and noticeably less soil movement in fields that have […]
Crop Conditions Cool temperatures with variable rainfall has slowed field drying. Some field work has started in the last few days where the conditions allowed. Nitrogen and sulphur applications are being made to the winter wheat crop, manure is being applied, and tillage operations are beginning. Corn planting has begun in the southwest of the […]
How do cover crops impact nitrous oxide emissions? Cover crops help build soil carbon, reduce erosion, and can offset crop nitrogen fertilizer requirements. But when it comes to nitrous oxide (N2O) – a greenhouse gas that contributes about half the total warming effect from agriculture in Canada1 – there is a question mark surrounding their […]
No-till corn planted into wheat stubble. Photo taken June 25, 2024 near Warkworth in Northumberland County. […]
Seedling waterhemp at the 2 to10 leaf stage in 6 leaf corn. Control must be prioritized since herbicide effectiveness will be reduced as this weed gets bigger. […]
Areas across the province are seeing variability in corn emergence and growth due to frequent rainfalls. […]
Crop Report – June 6, 2024 Field Conditions Significant planting progress has been made in many areas across the province over the last two weeks. Some growers were able to wrap up their corn, soybean and edible bean planting and apply their T3 fungicide applications in wheat. However, those on heavier soils or those who […]
Field Conditions It continues to be a frustrating spring through much of the province. Frequent precipitation has continued to cause delays in tillage, planting, and spraying in some areas, and weather earlier this week has shut down field work once again in many areas. However, with 3–5-day windows of good weather, many producers have covered […]
Cereals Winter wheat is advanced by 10-14 days in southern Ontario compared to other years, particularly in early planted fields. Fields in Essex are now at the early boot stages. Regions of the province further north and east as well as later planted fields are not as advanced and are at the first to second […]
Frequent rains and wet soils across the province have slowed or prevented field work. Soil compaction is likely to be an issue this year, especially for farmers trying to get manure spread ahead of spring planting. Fertilizer has been moving out to farms with storage. Retailers are full and ready to apply product once soil […]
Field Conditions Light rains and cool temperatures this past weekend and early this week slowed field drying and limited opportunities for early planting of field crops. While it is generally too wet for field work, conditions are variable depending on rainfall received. The remainder of this week was mostly sunny, but expectations are tempered by […]