Winter canola seed sales have been very strong and Ontario acres in 2020 are expected to be higher than ever before. While research on the crop has been limited, some recommendations are outlined below based on experience over the past few years and experience with spring canola in Ontario. Field Selection Fields should have good drainage and low clay content….
There are currently three key topics for forage production: nitrates, potato leafhopper, and planting annual forages for fall production. Nitrate poisoning of livestock is a risk in a dry year In a dry year, high nitrate levels in forages are a concern. Fast-growing grass species, such as corn, sorghum-sudangrass, and cereals are most likely to accumulate nitrates. Nitrogen moves from…
Photo above: Potato leafhopper damage (called “hopper burn”) is frequently mistaken for insufficient water. To maximize the forage yield of fall cereals next spring, research from New York state suggests planting fall rye or winter triticale 10-14 days before the optimal winter wheat planting date (Figure 1). September 1st is the deadline to report summer-seeded New Forage Seeding acres…
The establishment of cover crops after cereal harvest has been shown to reduce weed seed production and dispersal to the soil. This is of particular benefit when trying to manage glyphosate resistant weed species like Canada fleabane and waterhemp (a relative of redroot pigweed). Some highlights from recent studies include:
Before I talked about the WBC trap data, I want to thank everyone who set up a trap this year and are entering their data into the network. Despite COVID-19, there are more than 1000 WBC traps in the system! That is a record and helps us figure out what the flight patterns are. Now for the trap results. We…
Tracey Baute July 28, 2020 437 Comments Off on Seeing Lots of Rootworm Adults in Rootworm Bt Fields? Let Us Know!Corn rootworm adults emerged a few weeks earlier than usually and are quite abundant this year. This is particularly concerning when the adult populations are high in corn on corn fields planted with a rootworm Bt hybrid. This could be an indication that rootworm populations have developed resistance to the rootworm Bt traits involved. To know for sure if your…
Harvested wheat fields offer the perfect opportunity to focus on improving soil health. Planting cover crops and/or applying manure or other organic amendments provides soil microbes with the carbon compounds that help create a more porous soil structure which improves water, air and nutrient cycling. Here are a few common questions that come up every year regarding the application of…
Many reports are coming in about silk clipping in corn. Three main culprits include corn rootworm beetles, Japanese beetles and redheaded flea beetles. Regardless of which one is doing it, it comes down to when and where they are clipping and by how much. Corn silks can grow as much as an inch or more a day, though most of…
Dry beans are either approaching flowering or have already started flowering across Ontario. White mold is an important disease of dry beans in Ontario and in-crop management of white mold occurs during flowering. White mold spores can land on stems, leaves or pods but deteriorating flower petals are very susceptible to infection. Spores colonize flower tissue, and the disease enters…
Hannah Ross July 15, 2020 547 Comments Off on SCN Survey of Dry Bean Fields in Perth and Oxford CountiesBackground Although named for its affliction on soybean plants, soybean cyst nematode (SCN) can cause comparable damage to dry edible bean crops, and can adversely affect yields and economic benefit, as well as the future use of Ontario’s current dry bean-producing land. Poor yields associated with SCN infestation can be exacerbated by other environmental factors such as soil type, other…
This post will serve as a repository for all information associated with the management and control of waterhemp in Ontario.
Reports have already come in of a few soybean fields that have reached threshold and need to be sprayed this week for spider mites. This hot, dry weather at the start of wheat harvest is the perfect scenario for significant spider mite infestations to move into soybeans, dry beans and possibly even the corn crop. Spider mites are currently on…
The Ontario Virtual Crop Diagnostic Event will replace all in-person provincial crop diagnostic days that have been postponed this season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The first series of diagnostic learning sessions begins on Wednesday July 15, 2020. For more information and to register go to OMAFRA Virtual Diagnostic Days Series website. While the management window for much of our…
With winterkill, winter injury and low first-cut yields in many parts of Ontario as well as higher land costs, there is interest in following winter wheat and other cereals with a forage crop to help supplement inventories. Not only can this approach produce some extra feed, it also provides cover crop benefits. There are a few double-crop forage options that can provide some cheaper,…
Wheat harvest 2020 is right around the corner! The conditions are dry in those fields! Once the rush starts it will be “all hands on deck” But remember the slew of harvest/field fires that occurred in July 2016/17/18 under similar dry conditions. Harvest fires result in a financial, emotional and environmental burden to the farm and risks the lives of farm personal, local fire departments and the public and uses firefighting resources. Make sure you are prepared before harvest begins!
