OMAFRA Field Crop Team August 12, 2019 245 Comments Off on OMAFRA Field Crop Report – Week of August 12, 2019Winter Wheat Winter wheat harvest is winding down across the province and reported yields to date have ranged from 80-130 bu/ac which compares well to the five-year average yield of 82.7 bushels/ac. This was a pleasant surprise for many growers’ considering all the stresses the winter wheat crop had to endure. Good reports of straw yield averaging 4000 pounds per…
Western bean cutworm (WBC) Peak moth flight is likely taking place this week for many regions of Ontario, putting both corn and dry beans at risk (Figure 1). WBC moths prefer pre-tassel to full tassel corn to lay eggs in so scout these fields first. If corn has passed these stages in the immediate area, moths will choose to lay…
Unfortunately, due to the wet fall and spring and impact of winter or spring kill across the province this year, the Ontario Cereal Crop Committee (OCCC) winter wheat performance trial data will not be available for the 2019 season, with the exception of Area V (Emo and New Liskeard). As a result, the OCCC will not be publishing a 2019…
Nitrates in Silage Fast-growing crops can accumulate nitrates under dry weather conditions. This is most common in corn, but sorghums, sudangrass, millets, cereals, and Italian ryegrass can all accumulate high levels of nitrates and potentially cause nitrate poisoning in livestock. Figure 1. Fast-growing forage crops like sorghum-sudangrass may accumulate nitrates under stressful growing conditions Why are high nitrate levels a…
Nitrates in Silage Fast-growing crops can accumulate nitrates under dry weather conditions. This is most common in corn, but sorghums, sudangrass, millets, cereals, and Italian ryegrass can all accumulate high levels of nitrates and potentially cause nitrate poisoning in livestock. Why are high nitrate levels a problem? Nitrates (NO3-N) are converted to nitrites (NO2-N) in the rumen. Normally, the…
The OntarioHayListings.ca website is a free classifieds database for producers looking to buy or sell hay and straw. Southwestern According to AAFC, the northern tip of the Bruce Peninsula, as well as Essex, Chatham-Kent, Lambton, Middlesex, Elgin, Oxford, Norfolk, Brant, Haldimand, and Hamilton received average or above-average precipitation for the month of July. The rest of the region experienced below-average amounts of…
Winter Wheat Harvest Harvest has been slow to start in the province, lagging 7-14 days behind last year. Early yield and quality reports have been decent given the late planting date and challenging spring, but more acres will need to be harvested before any generalizations can be made. In fields were there are concerns of fusarium head blight (FHB), there…
Winter Wheat Harvest Harvest has been slow to start in the province, lagging 7-14 days behind last year. Early yield and quality reports have been decent given the late planting date and challenging spring, but more acres will need to be harvested before any generalizations can be made. In fields were there are concerns of fusarium head blight (FHB), there…
Reports are coming in about insect pressure in forage crops and pastures across the province. Central and eastern Ontario currently have high potato leafhopper pressure, while districts across northern Ontario are challenged by armyworms. The only way to know if a field has insect pressure is to scout it! More information about scouting forage crops can be found in OMAFRA…
Tracey Baute July 18, 2019 2409 Comments Off on Instructions on How to Enter Trap Data on the Great Lakes and Maritimes Pest Monitoring NetworkBy: Jennifer Birchmore, Senior Geographic Information Specialist, OMAFRA Click on this link. https://arcg.is/0K5rnG You will see a screen (below) with two options to choose how you want to enter the trap data; a) Through the browser on your desktop or laptop (left) or b) Through the Survey123 field app on your mobile or tablet device (right) What is the difference?…
Pesticide Drift Pesticide drift is a complicated subject and it carries significant financial and emotional baggage. This season has been challenging for many agricultural sectors and practices, and spray applicators have been challenged with difficult timing and limited opportunities for herbicide applications. When sprayer operators are rushed or frustrated they have to make hard decisions, and this sometimes ends badly….
Usually by this time in July, I am writing about how we are approaching peak flight for WBC in at least the southwestern counties. But with the delay in growing degree days this year, we have just caught the first WBC moth in Ontario this week, a month later than usual start catching them. Despite the late WBC activity, we…
Unseeded fields provide an opportunity to boost forage inventories with annual crops. These forage crops have a bonus of suppressing weeds and protecting the soil from erosion. When selecting a forage crop consider the livestock’s dietary needs, the type and quality of forage in inventory, herbicide or fertilizer previously applied, and resources that are readily available. However, during wet conditions…
Delayed Planting The spring of 2019 was unprecedented in Ontario. Cool temperatures and constant rainfall delayed planting of much of the crop. Most soybeans were planted in June and for some growers it was July. There are often pockets of the province that can’t plant due to wet soil conditions, but we have not experienced such a wide geography struggling…
Tracey Baute July 11, 2019 2271 Comments Off on Pest Watch – Potato Leafhoppers, Thrips and Spider MitesWhat a year! Goes from too wet to too dry. With young crops and little canopy yet, a few pests could become a problem quickly. Especially if hot dry conditions continue to stress the crop further. Scout fields frequently for these three pests; Potato leafhoppers, thrips and spider mites. Potato leafhoppers (PLH) are in high numbers in many counties. Both…
