GENERAL: The relatively mild winter and early start to the spring season means that there will be a re-evaluation of many “normal” practices. Early break of dormancy for forage, wheat and tree crops, opportunity for early application (or split application) of nitrogen to wheat crops, germination of many weeds, and more tillage than previous years […]
SYNOPSIS: The early spring has given good opportunity for fieldwork operations. Most of the spring cereals and direct seeded alfalfa are planted, and manure applications have been made on excellent soil conditions. Not all soils are dry; growers should be cautioned to watch soil moisture conditions. The hard frost Monday March 30th (as low as -12 […]
By early to mid April, the base of healthy alfalfa plants will have firm buds and numerous new green shoots with 2 to 5 inches (5 to 13 cm) of growth. Damaged plants, on the other hand, will show no or minimal green-up. Digging up plants and cutting the root open lengthwise is helpful in […]
Canola seedlings can with stand a considerable frost (-5 to -8 0 C) if plants have become acclimatized following a few days of cold temperatures. However, canola seedlings growing under warm conditions will be tender, and can be killed by even a few degrees below zero. Ice crystals will form on the leaf surface before […]
Co-Authors: Dr. Peter Sikkema (University of Guelph) Growers looking to optimize efficiency of field operations often inquire about applying a herbicide with 28% urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) as a carrier. In theory it makes sense. An application of 28% UAN at 400 L/ha (42 US gal/ac) as a carrier with a herbicide would save a […]
Winter wheat is one of the few crops that provide a second opportunity to assess the crop in spring and replant to another crop if winter survival is not acceptable. Assess the wheat crop during April and early May. Leave the replant decision as late as possible to accurately determine plant stand and plant health. […]
A livestock farmer appreciates the value that manure has to their cropping system. In the past, cash crop producers, who did not have access to such a beneficial organic soil amendment were envious. Now there are options to source and apply various different organic amendments, but with many non-agricultural sourced materials on the market, it […]
Challenges and opportunities for the 2012 soybean crop Soybean acres continue to increase. Shorter crop rotations will mean soybean growers have to be vigilant in selecting disease resistant varieties, scouting their crop, and applying inputs when required to prevent crop losses resulting from short rotations. Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN) can become a problem in short […]
Markets continue to move towards quality assurance through IP production whether for IP soybeans or other crops. There is no standard contract for IP or non-GMO production. Each contract reflects the requirements of the end user. Premiums vary with level of management, cost or production risk. Just as “no one shoe fits all”, producing for […]
Septoria Brown Spot in Soybeans Septoria Brown spot is caused by the fungal pathogen Septoria glyines and under normal conditions, the disease does not cause major yield loss in Canada. Were yield losses have occurred in the past is when the soybean plants are under prolonged stress conditions. This can result in premature defoliation which […]
Co-Author: Cara McCreary, and Jocelyn Smith, University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus The Canadian Corn Refuge Hybrid Selector is a web-based tool that has been developed through collaboration of the Canadian Corn Pest Coalition, the Ontario Corn Committee, and the Canadian Seed Trade Association to provide all the information needed to follow up-to-date insect resistance management (IRM) […]
Co-Authored by: Albert Tenuta In the past several weeks increased attention has been given to the potential for ear moulds in the 2011 corn crop and the mycotoxins potentially associated with these moulds. These mycotoxins, particularly the vomitoxin (DON) can be disruptive when fed to livestock, especially hogs. To increase our understanding of the situation […]
There are many benefits to liquid manure applications made after forage harvest. Ideally you want an applicator that uniformly applies the liquid manure. The video below shows a liquid tank applicator with a unique toolbar having a series of coulters that go into the ground at a depth of about 1 inch or 2.5 cm. […]
With increased transportation costs and the slow US economy and their decling dollar, exporting hay to the US is becoming more challenging. There is a great deal of competition in this marketplace and pressure on prices. However, we have a great product! Exporters are looking closely at increasing market opportunities to improve profitability. By developing […]
We in the weed science business are pretty good at telling producer’s to manage perennial weeds in the fall because they are controlled much better. Although its nice to believe without question, quantitative proof is always better. I recently came across a University of Guelph research report from 1977 (I was still in diapers) that […]