Ben Rosser March 17, 2021 256 Comments Off on “Harvesting” Yield Monitor Plot Data with Free GIS SoftwareWhat’s my optimum corn population? Does the yield response for primary tillage cover its costs compared to reduced tillage? Does the additive this salesperson is promoting provide a yield response on my farm? They say you don’t know what you don’t measure. Many options exist for extracting yield monitor harvest data from on-farm trials. Some require paying for software…
Rootworm Biology and Impact Corn rootworm (CRW) is a serious pest of continuous corn in Ontario. CRW larvae are the main concern, as they clip roots and inhibit root growth, resulting in poor nutrient and water uptake in the plant. Significant yield loss occurs before these symptoms are even noticed. For every node of roots clipped, there is a…
Ben Rosser March 16, 2021 206 Comments Off on Agronomy Guide For Field Crops – Corn – No Till and Other ConsiderationsNo-Till Systems In no-till systems, tillage is not used to prepare a seedbed. Minimal soil loosening in a narrow band immediately ahead of the seed opener is performed by planter-mounted coulters and/or residue clearing devices. Successful no-till corn production is partially dependent on effective use of field management strategies which may include alternative production practices that compensate for what tillage…
Tillage To successfully produce corn in Ontario, it is important to consider factors such as soil texture and crop rotation. Factors that will influence tillage options include risk of erosion, availability of equipment and labour and impact on soil health. Soils in Ontario are usually saturated in early spring, and quick dry-down is necessary to ensure timely corn planting. Appropriate…
There has been a reoccurring phenomenon in winter wheat the last few years known as physiological flecking. While not exactly predictable, physiological flecking tends to occur if it is cloudy for an extended period followed by sunny periods. The wheat leaf cuticles can be thin due to the cloudy conditions, and when conditions turn sunny free radicals (unstable atoms)…
Timely planting of corn followed by in-crop manure application up to V4 stage of corn can reduce compaction, increase nutrient use efficiency and increase yield. $100 per acre extra value from applying manure after corn planting! Did that catch your attention? Nutrient-use efficiency is highest when the nutrients are applied to a growing crop. Field damage from compaction is reduced…
This article was written by Horst Bohner, OMAFRA Soybean Specialist, and Paul Sullivan, Sullivan Agro Inc. White mould can be one of the most devastating soybean diseases growers face. The extent of yield loss is largely dependent on the inoculum “load” of a field and the right weather occurring during soybean flowering. If the disease was previously a problem in…
Tracey Baute March 9, 2021 300 Comments Off on Summer Job Opportunity – Field Research Assistants Needed in RidgetownOrganization: Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) Division/Branch: Economic Development Division / Agriculture Development Branch Position Title: Field Research Assistant (Field Crop); Field Research Assistant (Horticultural Crop) Job Term: Temporary, for up to 14 weeks, beginning spring 2021 Salary: …
Meghan Moran March 5, 2021 210 Comments Off on Summer Job Opportunity: Canola & Edible Bean Research AssistantJob Term: Full time temporary for up to 16 weeks, beginning spring 2021 Salary: $15.10 / hour, based on a 36.25 hour work week Office Location: Stratford, Ontario Contact: Meghan Moran, meghan.moran@ontario.ca 519-546-1725 Posting Date: Friday March 5, 2021 Closing Date: Saturday March 20, 2021 Get your hands dirty learning about Ontario agriculture and agricultural research. Spend your summer outdoors…
Meghan Moran March 3, 2021 407 Comments Off on Winter Canola: Plant Survival Assessments and Spring FertilizerWhen spring arrives, winter canola growers will have to scout their fields and answer 3 questions before applying fertilizer: Is the canola alive? Does it have strong yield potential? What is the population of healthy plants? Scouting typically begins towards the end of March when plants start to green up. Assessments should be made after the risk of further losses…
It’s March, the snow is melting and the ground is frozen so we know what that means! Now is a good time to be considering or thinking about frost seeding some red clover into those winter wheat stands! While we can’t control all the factors that influence the success of our red clover stands in winter wheat, there are some…
Tracey Baute February 10, 2021 299 Comments Off on UGRC Field Crop Pest Management – 2021 Summer Research Assistants NeededDr. Jocelyn Smith at the University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus is seeking Summer Research Assistants to assist the Field Crop Pest Management program. Projects will include corn, cereals, soybean and canola pest management, and insect resistance management studies. Skills in plant and pest identification, scouting and monitoring techniques, measurements of agronomic performance and data collection will be enhanced. The candidates…
Meghan Moran January 25, 2021 410 Comments Off on 2020 Canola Yield Challenge: An Interview with the WinnersOntario spring and winter canola growers share how they produced high yielding spring and winter canola crops. 0:00 4th Place – Dave Schill 19:30 3rd Place – Hunter Family 42:10 2nd Place – Nathan Overloop 57:36 1st Place – Toll Family Music from bensound.com
2020 was an exceptional year for many Ontario soybean growers. Although not all regions had good yields, much of the province harvested outstanding soybeans. The overall provincial average will be one of the highest on record at 50.7 bu/ac. In several cases growers were able to achieve over 80 bu/ac. The 10-year average for those reported acres is 47 bu/ac. The…
Christine O'Reilly January 11, 2021 642 Comments Off on What is the true cost of Alfalfa Snout Beetle on your farm?This article was written by Dr. Elson Shields, Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY **A note from Christine: Alfalfa snout beetle is an invasive species. A 2008 survey confirmed its presence in Leeds & Grenville, Prescott & Russell, and Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry counties. At that time, over 150 km2 were infested. Dr. Shield’s research on biocontrol nematodes was…
