To date, very little field activity due to cool, wet spring so far this season. Most areas received significant rain this past weekend, resulting in saturated soils and ponding in fields (Figure 1) and in a few spots some soil erosion. Overall temperatures have been too cold to stimulate new growth on the winter wheat or alfalfa yet. Figure 1….

Planting and Development The dry edible bean season started out positively with good planting conditions at the end of May and beginning of June. There was not much rain in the last half of May, and by May 28th temperatures were reaching 30˚C with no risk of frost. A large proportion of the dry beans were planted in the first…

Planting and Development In 2018 there was an increase in spring canola acreage in Ontario compared to the previous two years. Insured acres totaled approximately 30,000 ac in 2016 and 2017, whereas there was nearly 40,000 ac insured by Agricorp in 2018. Canola acreage increased across many regions, but the most notable increase was the jump from approximately 8,000 ac…

2018 Seasonal Insect Pest Summary There was no shortage of insect issues in 2018, though some pests we would typically expect were not a big problem this year. Swede midge, armyworm and even western bean cutworm for the most part were not nearly the problem they have been in the past in canola, wheat and corn, respectively. This may be…

Plan to Assess Field for Ear Rot and Mycotoxin Risk With assistance from the Ontario Agri-Business Association (OABA) and funding through the Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO), the Ontario Ministry of Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) has begun sampling grower corn fields to determine ear mould incidence and occurrence of mycotoxins in the grain. These mycotoxins, particularly vomitoxin (DON) produced…

Soil Fertility Planning for Fall We’re now half way through September and soybean harvest and winter wheat seeding are quickly approaching. Have you had soil samples taken yet this season? If not, there is still time to make arrangements before the rush of fall harvest. Having up-to-date soil test information is critical for making sound decisions about nutrients. If you…

Figure 1. Board displaying corn ear size and plant spacing at harvest time Pre-Harvest Corn Yield Estimates and Late Season Corn Scouting It’s the beginning of September and the growing season is on the final stretch. Perhaps you’re impatient and can’t wait until harvest to get an idea of what your corn yield is looking like. How do you come…

Selecting the right winter wheat variety for your operation is an important decision but at times can be overwhelming when considering the classes and varieties available. To help Ontario growers with variety selection decisions, the Ontario Cereal Crop Committee conducts performance trials across the province to evaluate registered varieties and/or varieties supported for registration. These trials provide valuable information on…

Considerations for Hail Damaged Corn Thunderstorms brought some localized hail events through parts of Southwestern Ontario, particularly during the last week of July. Like most plant stresses, yield loss from defoliation increases through vegetative stages, peaks around tassel or pollination, and declines through grain-fill. For example, using the defoliation table from OMAFRA Agronomy Guide – Pub 811, estimated yield loss…

Although the rain in the past month has rejuvenated grass growth on pastures and improved hay yields, forage inventories are still in tight supply for many livestock producers. Harvested cereal fields can be used to produce more forage yet this fall. Seeding a spring cereal like oats can produce up to 2 ton per acre of dry matter of forage…