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…
As the harvest season winds down many farmers begin to think about talking to their non-farming land owners about farming the land next year. Non-farming land owners are also preparing for discussions with a familiar grower or with a new one. According to the Farm and Food Care Ontario website over 35% or 4 million acres of farmland is…
We are all aware of the imperative to minimize compaction, but with crop quality on the line, tough choices have to be made on the trade-off between the grain quality and potential income from this year’s crop, and future yield and cost of production due to compaction losses or increased tillage passes. There have been plenty of good tips…
Horst Bohner November 23, 2018 9966 Comments Off on Is there a Safe Rate of In-Furrow Fertilizer for Soybeans?Some crops respond well to seed placed fertilizer. Applying phosphorus to wheat in-furrow has become standard practice for many growers. The amount of fertilizer that can be applied safely depends on the crop species, the type of fertilizer, the rate, soil type and soil moisture. Complete crop failures are possible if the seed or seedling is “burned” with excess fertilizer….
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…
This is the question that Mark Burnham near Coburg and several other growers across Ontario are trying to answer. It can be a challenge for many grain growers to justify the returns of winter wheat in a cash crop rotation, so these innovative growers are experimenting with different ways to continue growing wheat profitably. Several growers are experimenting with…
Mike Cowbrough November 20, 2018 2328 Comments Off on Managing Glyphosate Resistant Canada Fleabane with Cover Crops and TillageMy colleague Dr. Clarence Swanton (University of Guelph) used to say that based on research he did in the 1980’s, one should not expect to control weeds with cover crops. Their utility was in preventing soil erosion and improving soil health but not in significantly reducing weed populations. However, Dr. Swanton has had to re-think his long held position on…
OMAFRA Field Crop Team November 19, 2018 1780 Comments Off on Land Application of Crops and By-products with Elevated DON LevelsSome corn harvested in Ontario this year has concentrations of toxins from ear moulds that are elevated to levels that are too high to be used in animal feed. This could lead to questions about what can be done with this corn, either prior to or after processing. Land application is a possibility. The following rules apply to corn or…
Photo: Low cutting heights increase the odds of soil contamination in the crop. Soil contamination shows up in ash contents above 9%. This can be prevented by raising the cutter bar. Fall and Winter Conditions Rain delays in 2017 pushed harvest in some areas into the critical fall harvest period. Root reserves that contribute to winter hardiness and promote spring…
While growers are encouraged to find all avenues possible to clean or market their corn, with elevated ear moulds in the 2018 Ontario corn crop, there may be fields with DON levels that render the crop unmarketable. These fields will require destruction in preparation for the 2019 crop season. Destroying a corn crop at harvest will present challenges for 2019,…
Meghan Moran November 5, 2018 3795 Comments Off on Fall Review of Winter Canola Fields and Expectations for OverwinteringThis article was written by Meghan Moran (OMAFRA) and Sydney Meloche (AAFC Harrow) Winter canola fields across Essex, Chatham-Kent, Wellington, Hamilton-Wentworth, Haldimand and Niagara have been assessed in fall of 2018. Approximately 900 acres have been scouted in 20 fields. The goal is to take observations on plant populations and plant size in the fall, and assess winter survival in…
This article was written by Ian McDonald, with contributions from Jacqui Empson-Laporte, James Dyck, and Terrance Sauve of OMAFRA As farmers struggle to complete harvest, there is pressure to quickly get the crop out of the field and into storage. However the crop won’t matter much if your harvest practices mean you or someone else does not make it…
End Uses for Mouldy Corn in 2018 Harvesting is of course the preferred option but for some producers finding a market for mouldy or corn with high levels of DON content can be difficult this year as well as it takes time to find alternative uses or streams for this corn. Livestock producers, especially those with hogs, cannot feed high…
STORAGE TIPS FOR MOULDY CORN! 1. Harvest infected fields early, and dry corn as soon as possible after harvesting. Do not store wet grain overnight in trucks, wagons, or bins. 2. Dry corn using high-temperature drying, to 15% moisture or less. This stops mould growth and mycotoxin production, but does not reduce mycotoxins already present. Low-temperature drying takes much longer,…
HARVEST TIPS FOR MOULDY CORN! 1. Prioritize your corn harvest and storage. Do not mix old crop (2017) or low DON corn with potentially mouldy corn from this harvest. Livestock producers, especially hog, will want to scout fields, sample and test for mycotoxins in order to store their cleanest corn for feeding purposes. Cash croppers are advised that the same…
