Weekly in-season progress reports of the Ontario field crop landscape
With recent rains, forage growth has been excellent. Making dry hay has been quite challenging in August, with lots of baleage being made. Forage inventories and quality are generally good in most parts of the province. Considerable wheat acres are being followed by seeding oats, Italian ryegrass, and alfalfa mixtures. (Forage Options Following Wheat https://fieldcropnews.com/?p=9028) We are […]
Forage yields have been quite variable across the province. Some areas have excess hay, while others are still rebuilding inventories. Quality is generally good. The weatherman got it wrong the weekend of July 19th and considerable acres of hay were cut and rain-damaged. Summer Seeding Alfalfa Summer seeding alfalfa-grass mixtures can be a good way […]
SYNOPSIS Majority of edible beans are in late vegetative to early flowering. The crop in many areas looks excellent. Recent heavy rains and saturated soils raises the risk of white mould, anthracnose in white and black beans and root rot. Leafhopper populations have been low up to now. White Mould : Fungicides to protect against […]
Some first-cut horse hay is still to be made while many will start second-cut dairy haylage soon. Harvest schedules are delayed behind normal, especially in western Ontario. This may make taking a fourth-cut more difficult. Hay making weather has generally been good, but some hay has been rain-damaged. Yields have been extremely variable, depending on […]
First-cut haying continues while some 2nd cut dairy haylage will start soon. Hay making weather was generally good in early June, but some more recent storms have rain-damaged some hay. Rains will help 2nd cut regrowth. Yields have been quite variable, ranging from good in eastern Ontario to some winter injured areas in western Ontario […]
First-cut continues with variable yields. Yields are generally good in eastern Ontario. In western Ontario areas where alfalfa winterkill and injury occurred, stands are thin, with many reported yields at 50 – 80% of normal. This has created some concern about producing adequate forage supplies. Considerable acres have been seeded to annual forages such as […]
With some dry weather and delayed alfalfa maturity, some high quality 1st-cut hay, haylage and baleage has been made. Yields are quite variable, with some very disappointing yields being reported in western Ontario, but closer to normal yields in the east. Sulphur Deficiency Some alfalfa is showing the sympton of uniform yellowing, indicating sulphur […]
First-cut dairy haylage is in full swing the first week of June, with some farms finished. Harvest has been delayed by slow forage crop growth, and also corn and soybean planting on some farms. Yields are quite variable, depending on location and management, but most are below normal. Alfalfa growth and maturity is considerably delayed, […]
First-cut dairy haylage is delayed and just starting in southern Ontario, but should be in full swing the week of June 2nd . With the cooler spring weather, grass growth and maturity is more advanced relative to the alfalfa. Alfalfa is more than 10 days behind normal, but grasses are heading. Yields are quite variable […]
Forage crop growth is delayed about 7 – 10 days behind normal. First-cut yield expectations are quite variable, with some winter injured, older, and fall harvested stands showing reduced yield potential. There is concern beginning to develop in some areas about producing adequate forage to meet livestock requirements. Grass stands have responded very well to […]
Alfalfa winterkill and winter injury occurred across much of the province this spring. Many areas in lower risk western and central Ontario were hit hard with extensive damage. Winterkill is about 10% in the normally higher risk Ottawa Valley, well below what is a more typical 30% for that area. There were also scattered reports […]
Winterkill! Check your alfalfa stands! Winterkill and winter injury are being reported across much the province, including many areas in western and central Ontario where winterkill is not normally an issue. Many stands are showing extensive damage. Forage crop green-up and growth has been delayed about 2 weeks by cool weather, particularly fields that were […]
Check your alfalfa stands! Reports are coming in from across the province of alfalfa winterkill and winter injury. Damage is being reported in central and western Ontario, including areas such as Perth and Waterloo Counties, where alfalfa winterkill is normally considered a low risk. Winterkill in higher risk eastern Ontario appears to be about average, […]
With higher yields, forage inventories have been increased to more normal levels. Hay inventories carried over in the spring were extremely low, and hay prices peaked at historic highs, before softening after first- and second-cuts. Haylage and baleage inventories and quality are very good. Early-cut, green 1st-cut hay is in short supply and selling at […]
While it is always very tempting to cut some alfalfa in the fall, the decision should weigh the immediate need for forage against the increased risk of alfalfa winterkill and reduced yields next spring. The Critical Fall Harvest Period for alfalfa is the 6-week period preceeding the average date of killing frost. Not cutting […]