Weekly in-season progress reports of the Ontario field crop landscape
Soil Health Assessment and Planning Tool (SHAP) is a soil health tool for Ontario farmers. Healthy soil functions contribute to improved crop productivity and resilience. The tool involves taking a soil health test, and it helps measure soil health on your farm and identify areas for improvement. The SHAP tool is based on a laboratory […]
Scouting Soybeans in August August is the most critical month for soybean growth, development, and setting final yield. It’s important to scout fields to assess production issues and take control measures if necessary to maximize yield potential. Bean Leaf Beetles Bean leaf beetles feed on leaves and the surface of the pod, leaving only a […]
Winter wheat harvest has now wrapped up across much of the province. While yields and the overall season are still fresh in mind, it is a good time to reflect and assess what worked well and where improvements or changes can be made for next year’s crop. Post winter wheat harvest is also an excellent […]
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 […]
Rain 360© unit applies watery manure to a standing crop of corn (Photo source from Glen Arnold-OSU). […]
Nodulation and Nitrogen Use in Dry Beans In late June, adzuki beans that had been in the ground for 3 weeks already had a few nodules on the roots (Figure 1), and the nodules were active (pink inside when split open). Another field of adzuki planted in the same region around the same time did […]
No-till corn planted into wheat stubble. Photo taken June 25, 2024 near Warkworth in Northumberland County. […]
Seedling waterhemp at the 2 to10 leaf stage in 6 leaf corn. Control must be prioritized since herbicide effectiveness will be reduced as this weed gets bigger. […]
Areas across the province are seeing variability in corn emergence and growth due to frequent rainfalls. […]
Field Conditions It continues to be a frustrating spring through much of the province. Frequent precipitation has continued to cause delays in tillage, planting, and spraying in some areas, and weather earlier this week has shut down field work once again in many areas. However, with 3–5-day windows of good weather, many producers have covered […]
Cereals Winter wheat is advanced by 10-14 days in southern Ontario compared to other years, particularly in early planted fields. Fields in Essex are now at the early boot stages. Regions of the province further north and east as well as later planted fields are not as advanced and are at the first to second […]
Frequent rains and wet soils across the province have slowed or prevented field work. Soil compaction is likely to be an issue this year, especially for farmers trying to get manure spread ahead of spring planting. Fertilizer has been moving out to farms with storage. Retailers are full and ready to apply product once soil […]
Field Conditions Light rains and cool temperatures this past weekend and early this week slowed field drying and limited opportunities for early planting of field crops. While it is generally too wet for field work, conditions are variable depending on rainfall received. The remainder of this week was mostly sunny, but expectations are tempered by […]
Quote of the week: “You can have a 2000 bushel grain cart, but man, it squeezes!” – Adam Pfeffer – concerning the compaction that large equipment can cause in-field. The first agribusiness breakfast meeting of the year kicked off in Ridgetown on April 16, 2024. For the schedule of local meetings across Ontario, contact margaret.templeman@ontario.ca […]