Heavy rainfall can cause nitrates to move down through the soil and possibly below the corn crop’s root zone where it is less available for uptake. How much rainfall is needed to leach nitrogen (N)? Should we be applying extra N to corn to cover losses if a lot of rainfall has occurred in July […]
The 2024 Ontario Corn Committee (OCC) hybrid performance trials are now available at GoCrops.ca (Link HERE). Over past decades, Ontario’s average corn yields have increased around 2 bu/ac/yr. Staying current with new and competitive yielding hybrids is important. A key benefit of OCC trials is the ability to compare a large number of hybrids. These […]
Planting In March 2024, Statistics Canada estimated Ontario farmers intended to plant 2.3 million acres of grain corn, 5% higher than the 5-year (2019-2023) average seeded acres of 2.2 million acres (OMAFA Crop Statistics). Unsettled weather and highly variable planting progress dominated the spring of 2024. Frequent rains through April limited early corn planting. Frequent […]
Results from the 2024 Ontario corn rootworm (CRW) trap sites monitored through the Adult Corn Rootworm (CRW) Trap Monitoring Network have been summarized in the infographic below. Thank you to all the trap participants for monitoring their traps this year. These sites are helping us to identify fields and counties with potential resistant corn rootworm […]
OMAFA field crop specialists in collaboration with Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO) and members of the Ontario Agri-Business Association (OABA) have completed the 2024 annual Ontario corn ear mould and DON mycotoxin survey. Corn ear moulds such as Gibberella and their corresponding mycotoxins occur every year in Ontario. These mycotoxins, particularly deoxynivalenol (DON, also referred […]
Tip Back in Corn What is Tip Back? “Tip back” in corn is simply the term used when corn kernels do not form all the way to the tip of the ear. Tip back made its way into corn discussions this August and September with many commenting that they saw it in more fields this […]
There are a few pests to keep an eye on over the next few weeks. Western Bean Cutworm We likely reached peak moth flight either last week for most of the southern counties or this week for the rest of the province, except Northern Ontario, based on the Degree Day Prediction Model and trap counts […]
Corn Diseases, Fungicide Timing, Fungicide Resistance and Nematode Surveys! Corn diseases such as tar spot, northern corn leaf blight, common rust, gray leaf spot are easy to spot this year especially in areas which have had considerable rain events. The good news is the incidence and severity has still been low as many corn fields […]
Corn Pests to Watch for Over the Next Month Tracey Baute, Entomologist – Field Crops, OMAFA Corn Rootworm Like many other pests, corn rootworm (CRW) is ahead of schedule this year. Adult beetles will be emerging this week or next. Anyone considering trapping for adults as part of the Corn Rootworm Trap Network should be […]
Summary: Background: Throughout the growing season, microbes within the soil break down organic nitrogen contained in soil organic matter and crop residues and release it as plant-available ammonium. This process is known as nitrogen mineralization. Nitrogen mineralization is favoured by warm soil temperatures with adequate soil moisture and aeration. Excess moisture can slow mineralization or […]
It is safe to call 2024 a good pest year. Mild winters and warm springs tend to help pests overwinter well or expand their range further than usually and get ahead of crops when soil conditions delay planting. Armyworm and cereal leaf beetle are continuing to show up in some wheat fields, while some grubs […]
Have you really lived, if you haven’t had the enjoyable experience of trying to change sticky traps while rootworm beetles crawl down your shirt? Or had the thrill of tripping over goosenecked plants while you’re looking ahead to find your next trap down the corn row? Well, if that sounds thrilling (or even if it […]
The Ontario Corn Nitrogen Calculator can be accessed by clicking the icon below. (this is the same tool previously posted on gocorn.net) Simple Summary The Corn Nitrogen Calculator Ontario Corn Nitrogen recommendations are derived from the Ontario corn nitrogen database which contains over 40 years of Ontario corn nitrogen yield response data. Current recommendations were […]
The Ontario corn replant decision aid can be accessed by clicking the icon below. (this is the same tool previously posted on gocorn.net) Simple Summary Ontario Corn Replant Decision Aid Tool If you’ve had stand issues following planting corn, you’ve maybe wondered whether the field should be left as-is or if there is an economic […]
The Ontario optimum corn N-rate estimator tool can be accessed by clicking the icon below. (this is the same tool previously posted on gocorn.net) Simple Summary The Optimum N-Rate Estimator Tool If you’ve wondered what the optimum corn nitrogen (N) rate is on your farm but don’t want to go to the trouble of applying […]