Soybean Report: May 9, 2012

Planting progress has been slow over the last week although a few areas did make headway.  Less than 10% of the crop has been planted to date.  Soil potassium levels have slipped in Ontario with estimates that up to 20% of Ontario fields may be below ideal levels for soybeans.  Applying potassium in the spring […]

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Pasture Report: May 9, 2012

Warm temperatures and showers will result in rapid growth during the next few weeks. First rotation management will set the stage for remainder of the season.  Leaving 7-10 cm of grass after grazing will allow for rapid regrowth and the development of a strong stand.  Grass based pastures will respond to an early June nitrogen […]

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Corn Report: May 9, 2012

Corn planting ranges from 50 to 95% complete; provincially corn planting is estimated at 80%.  In most areas rainfall has not been intense and soils remain in good shape despite large acreages without significant residue cover.  Corn requires about 180 CHU to emerge.  Corn planted April 16-20 is emerging this week.  Most reports suggest that […]

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Cereal Report: May 9, 2012

Winter wheat is advancing rapidly with warmer temperatures. The window for herbicide applications is closing as fields reach flag leaf stage. Flag leaf herbicide applications run a high risk of crop injury. If weeds are a harvest issue, pre-harvest glyphosate is the best option on advanced fields. Early wheat at Harrow is just beginning to […]

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Forage Report – May 2, 2012

Some frost damage to alfalfa occurred again in late-April, mostly in areas in south-western Ontario.  Some of these fields were also frost damaged in late-March. Regrowth of these fields will likely occur, but maturity will be delayed and yields reduced. www.fieldcropnews.com/?p=2236 With dry April weather, most new forage seedings were completed in good time. Once […]

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Soybean Report: May 2, 2012

Approximately 5% of the overall acreage has been planted. Once fields dry planting will start in earnest. There is no reason to wait at this date even if soil temperatures are cool. The yield benefit of early planting generally outweighs the risk of planting into cold soils. Seeding rate recommendations are significantly lower in some […]

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Pasture Report: May 2, 2012

Pasture growth continues to be modest with cool temperatures and limited moisture until this past week. For optimum pasture performance give the grasses and legumes an opportunity to produce a minimum of 10-12 cm of new growth before turning livestock into a paddock.  In an ideal situation each paddock provides one day’s forage for the […]

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Corn Report: May 2, 2012

Corn planting is 20-90% complete depending on the area of the province; provincially planting is estimated at 65%. Some of the early (i.e. April 5-15) planted corn had emerged and the cold temperatures of April 27, 28 & 29 froze the above ground tissue. However, to date, growing point and seed integrity remains high in […]

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Cereal Report: May 2, 2012

Freeze injury is a significant concern in the winter cereal crop with the very low temperatures of April 27/28/29.  Leaf damage is significant in most fields, but it is head damage that is critical.  Split stems in frost prone areas. Heads should be bright green to yellow. Discoloured or water soaked appearance of heads indicates […]

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Soybean Report: Week of April 23rd, 2012

A few fields of soybeans were planted in the province last week. Field conditions were excellent. Little seeding progress is expected this week with cool and wet conditions. Weather permitting it’s expected that considerable acreage will be seeded in the first week of May. This would be ideal for maximum yield potential. When planting soybeans this early do […]

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Forage Report – April 25, 2012

There is nothing worse than having cattle to feed and then being caught off guard by low forage yields due to winter injury. If you have not already done so, walk alfalfa fields and dig some plants to assess for winterkill, heaving, frost damage and plant health. Watch for crown and root rots, brownish disclouration, […]

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