As corn approached VT stage, it is the ideal time to start putting up the corn rootworm sticky traps. We are asking everyone participating this year to monitor and change traps weekly, on approximately 7 day intervals, so that we can properly calculate the # of beetles per trap per day. It will also help […]
Nitrogen (N) dynamics are always complicated, but manure adds a few layers of complexity. Nitrogen availability is impacted by soil texture, soil moisture, organic matter levels in the soil, form of N applied and of course, the weather. An application of liquid finisher hog manure applied ahead of planting would be expected to provide about […]
Reports are coming in that black cutworm larvae are cutting corn and even soybeans. We don’t often see cutting in soybeans but two fields in Niagara region were reported today with significant stand loss and a variety of sizes of larvae (Figures 1 & 2). Fields not treated with an insecticide seed treatment or planted […]
Key links for the 2022 Corn Rootworm Trap Network: The 2022 CRW Trapping Instructions are available here, though the trapping methods are similar to last year in that trap sites are to be monitored weekly (in regular 7 day intervals) for 6 to 8 weeks. 4 traps are setup each week at each trap site. […]
The European corn borer (ECB; Ostrinia nubilalis), can be an important pest of corn. Despite its name, ECB is actually a generalist feeder, having a wide range of hosts. The recent confirmation of ECB resistance to Cry1F Bt corn in Nova Scotia has increased the need to monitor this pest across Canada. With so many […]
Nitrogen fertilizer is one the most expensive inputs required for growing a corn crop, especially this year. And with conditions having turned dry in recent days, many growers are wondering about the risk of losses following N fertilizer application. Nitrogen stabilizers are products that help to slow the conversion of nitrogen to forms that are […]
Simple Summary Ontario data suggests planting date from late April to mid-May has minimal impact on corn yields After mid-May, yield declines can start and are quickest in shorter season areas Balance any risks of pushing planting dates (e.g. unfavourable weather events or unfit soil) to the yield losses expected for delaying planting within the […]
Simple Summary When applying moderate amounts of P&K fertilizer (60 lb/ac of both P2O5 and K2O) at ~4″ depth with a shank-style strip tiller across 15 trials on medium to light soil textures and low to moderate soil fertility: Yields of spring strip till and P&K were significantly higher (+4 bu/ac) than where P&K was […]
Simple Summary MERN stands for the Most Economic Rate of Nitrogen, the rate that maximizes economic returns to N fertilizer MERN is influenced most strongly by variability in N response across environments (fields, parts of fields, growing seasons) MERN is also influenced by changes in corn and nitrogen fertilizer prices, but very significant changes in […]
Simple Summary In a recent Ontario dataset of 15 N response curves, reducing N rates 20, 40 and 60 lb-N/ac from traditional optimum N rates (10-year average costs/prices) resulted in: average yield losses of 4, 9 and 16 bu/ac, respectively average net losses of $0, $11 and $37/ac, respectively, using what might represent 2022 costs/prices […]
Join us for the 2nd visit to participating farms excited to show you their journeys in BioStrip Till, Strip Till, Green Planting and No Till Cropping systems across the province September 6-9th, 2022. Please read the entire post for more details. […]
Simple Summary If you have an N rate you are confident is right for your farm most years, N recommendations and historical work suggests a 15-20 lb-N/ac reduction may be appropriate to adjust for nitrogen/corn economics in 2022 compared to the longer term. The above adjustment assumes relatively normal N responses in 2022… large changes […]
Did you know that a review of Ontario phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) fertilizer guidelines was undertaken? The work looked at crop responses to P and K for corn, soybeans, winter wheat and alfalfa from 368 trials conducted over the last several decades. It compared most economic rates to current Ontario fertilizer guidelines as found […]
Results from the 2021 Ontario trap sites participating in the Adult Corn Rootworm (CRW) Trap Monitoring Network have been summarized in the infographic below. A more detailed report for all trap sites across North America was prepared by Ashley Dean and Erin Hodgson at Iowa State University. Thank you to Dan Bihari, Senior GIS Specialist, […]
Planting In March 2021 Statistics Canada estimated Ontario farmers intended to plant 2.2 million acres of grain corn, 3% higher than the 5-year (2016-2020) average seeded acres of 2.14 million acres (OMAFRA Crop Statistics). Spring 2021 provided a great start for planting. While April generally remained cool, lack of rainfall provided excellent soil conditions with […]