Turning soil tests into fertilizer recs Take one soil test, give it to two agronomists, and get four different fertilizer recommendations. How is this possible? Soil testing is one of the most profitable operations that a farm business can do, assuming proper sampling technique, and aligning samples with the field conditions and management. Soil testing […]
Swede midge and imported cabbageworm observed in canola At this time, canola exists in Ontario at almost every growth stage. Late planted or re-seeded spring canola is at the seedling stage in Northeastern Ontario. There is also spring canola approaching first flower, and some already in full bloom in the far north and Grey, Bruce, […]
Soybean aphids (SBA) have been spotted in a few fields in southern Ontario that haven’t seen SBA in quite a few years. As soybeans begin to enter R1, weekly scouting is advised, focusing first on the earlier planted fields close to or in R1, as well as any that have not had much rain and […]
The start of this week has been marked by several days of well above normal temperatures – daily highs in the low to mid 30’s brings the first summer-like hot spell across much of Ontario. These temperatures have helped reduce the heat unit deficit that has been a hallmark of spring 2025. Field Corn Very […]
The province experienced weather extremes. Southern Ontario saw warmer conditions that supported corn and soybean growth and helped dry fields still awaiting planting. However, wind and scattered rain complicated weed control efforts. In the Northeast and Northwest Ontario, temperatures neared 0°C, raising concerns about frost damage to emerged soybeans and white beans. Field assessments are […]
A cooler than average start to the growing season has added some uncertainty to post-plant nitrogen fertilization strategies for Ontario corn producers. Soil supply of nitrogen to the corn crop is likely lower than normal due to reduced N mineralization from both soil organic matter and manure, and the Maximum Economic Rate of Nitrogen (MERN) […]
It’s been a tough spring across much of Ontario and growers continue to face variable weather conditions, creating both opportunities and challenges across regions. Frequent rain events have delayed planting in parts of eastern Ontario, particularly on heavier clays from Belleville to Kingston and Essex which had up to 3” of rain last week halting […]
Soybeans Soybean planting is largely complete on lighter textured soils and well drained fields. Planting is still underway on heavy soils and in regions of the province that continue to receive sporadic rainfall. Cool temperatures during April and May have slowed emergence, with fields taking longer to emerge this year. With warm weather, soybeans typically […]
Have you been seeing increased corn rootworm pressure in your continuous corn fields over the last few years? Monitoring with sticky traps can help you determine if you have a Bt resistant corn rootworm problem and it helps us keep track of where these problem fields are. Thanks to GFO and ABSTC, we still have […]
This cooler, wet weather seems to have delayed plant growth but also has been ideal for pests to build in fields or do more feeding while the plant growth is slowed. Cereal aphids have been spotted in several fields from Harrow to Stratford. Though cereal aphids can often be found at low levels in cereals, […]
Cooler than normal weather continued, with several overnight lows below 10°C. In the southwest, crop heat units (CHUs) are below normal and about 200 below last year on this date. Planting is progressing as soils become fit; however, crop emergence has been slow. Cereals Winter wheat is moving into the heading stages with T3 fungicide […]
Alfalfa weevil is a major alfalfa pest in Ontario. Larvae feeding on alfalfa leaves can reduce both yield and forage quality. The simple answer As alfalfa gets taller it can tolerate more weevils before action is necessary to protect forage yield and quality. Action thresholds for managing alfalfa weevil are as follows: Stem Height Number […]
Field work progressed quickly across the province in the past week, with sunny skies and warm temperatures peaking on Friday, May 16th before scattered showers and below seasonal temperatures began on the Victoria Day long weekend. Widespread rainfall slowed field activities beginning mid-week. Soil temperatures have generally been cool, resulting in slow crop emergence and […]
Crop rotation is an integral part of the crop production system. The greatest benefit of rotation is increased yield, called the rotation effect. A well-planned crop rotation will also: Continuously growing any single crop will result in the build-up of diseases and insects specific to that crop and can cause yield reductions. For example, corn […]