Weekly in-season progress reports of the Ontario field crop landscape
Forage harvest has been delayed by frequent and sometimes heavy rains, and limited to haylage and baleage. Making dry hay has been put on hold. Yields have been increasing with the calandar date, but nutrient quality is suffering with advancing maturity. There is still considerable first-cut acreage to be harvested. Second-cut regrowth looks excellent. With […]
First-cut yields are quite variable, depending on location and management. Rains have delayed harvest for many, increasing yields but decreasing quality. In wetter areas, some haylage was rain-damaged and fields have been “rutted”. Grasses are more advanced in maturity than alfalfa. With tight forage supplies, and high land and forage costs, reducing fermentation dry matter […]
First-cut dairy haylage is underway in southern Ontario as the weather allows. Yields are quite variable. With the cooler weather, grass maturity is more advanced relative to alfalfa. Frost damage to alfalfa seems to be minimal. With some below average yields, low carryover inventories, and high hay prices, forage supplies will likely continue to be […]
First-cut forage yield expectations are quite variable, with some drier areas and winter damaged, older, and fall harvested stands showing reduced yield potential. There is some concern about rebuilding forage inventories to adequate levels. Many new seedings were planted with cereal and cereal-pea mixtures to supply summer forage. (Forage Production From Spring Cereals and Cereal-Pea […]
Alfalfa and grass are growing well and will respond quickly to moisture and heat. The May 14th frost did very little damage to established alfalfa and new seedings. (“Frost Damaged Alfalfa” https://fieldcropnews.com/?p=6812) Grass stands have responded very well to early applied nitrogen with significantly more growth. (Apply Nitrogen To Grass Stands To Increase Yields https://fieldcropnews.com/?p=6830) Early […]
Alfalfa winterkill is particularly severe in the Ottawa Valley and New Liskeard areas. There are many options to consider for emergency forage, depending on the calendar date, urgency for short term feed, and forage yield and nutrient quality requirements. Refer to “Forage Options When Alfalfa Winterkill Strikes” (https://fieldcropnews.com/?p=6680) Forage supplies are extremely tight, and forage […]
Scattered reports are coming in from across the province of alfalfa winterkill in some of the higher risk older stands and fall harvested stands. Extensive winterkill has occurred in eastern Ontario, from Arnprior south, east to Quebec and west to about Brockville. There are reports of 75% winterkill in some of these areas, particularly on […]
Forage production was extremely challenging in 2012, with low yields and tight forage inventories. Significant reductions in forage acres occurred from 2006 to 2011, of 500,000 acres of hay and 250,000 acres of pasture. Inventories of hay carried over in the spring were historically low. Export demand for quality hay to the US is very […]
Cutting Alfalfa This Fall? With reduced forage inventories, it will be very tempting to cut some alfalfa this fall. The decision and the immediate need for forage should be weighed against the increased risk of alfalfa winterkill. The Critical Fall Harvest Period for alfalfa is the 6-week rest period preceeding the average date of killing […]
Dry weather has significantly reduced forage regrowth and second-cut yields. Many farmers are examining options to increase their forage inventories, including using corn damaged by dry weather for silage. https://fieldcropnews.com/?p=4243 Seeding oats in late-July or early-August following wheat for an early-October harvest can be a useful low-cost option for extending forage supplies. Oats can make […]
Dry weather has significantly reduced forage regrowth and second-cut yields. Many farmers are examining options to increase their forage inventories, including using corn damaged by dry weather for silage. https://fieldcropnews.com/?p=4243 Seeding oats in late-July or early-August following wheat for an early-October harvest can be a useful low-cost option for extending forage supplies. Oats can make […]
Harvest is in high gear as far north as Mitchell, and starting in Bruce County. Yields are average, mostly 75 to 95 bu/ac. Poor fields are 60, with best fields at 110. Quality is excellent, with very low fusarium. Protein in hard reds is inconsistent. Sprouting in white wheat is an issue southwest of London […]
Potato leafhoppers (PLH) are being reported at damaging levels in many areas across the province, including areas where they are not typically a problem. PLH dramatically reduces alfalfa yield and forage quality. Reduced stem and root growth, and vigour results in stunting and slow regrowth. New seedings are very susceptible and can be permanently damaged, […]
First-cut hay is being finished while second-cut haylage is complete on some dairy farms. With reduced yields and acres, hay inventories are limited in some areas and record high prices are being reported. There are still reports of armyworm, but it is declining. There were some reports of European skipper feeding damage to forage grasses, […]
First-cut hay is still underway, while 2nd-cut is starting on early-cut fields. Armyworm is still being reported in hayfields at high levels in some hot spots in western Ontario. It is also reported in central and eastern Ontario, but not yet at severe levels. Some is being sprayed, but most infested fields are being harvested. […]