It is National Soil Conservation Week this week, so I thought it would be a good opportunity to look at the impact of erosion on soils in Ontario over the past few months. Throughout the middle of April we’ve had some intense rain events. We had a mild winter this year in southwestern Ontario, with […]
WINTER WHEAT: Reports from across the region indicate that the wheat crop is looking good, with minimal damage reported on sites that are imperfectly drained and areas subject to ponding. September planted wheat is tillering nicely with later planted ground being not as far along. Fields that received higher rates of starter or manure are […]
In, Dealing with Escapes – What will they cost you? , we discussed late emerging weeds and their effect on corn yield. We also discussed some points to consider beyond the effect the weeds will have on yield and why you might consider a post application. A post-emergence application can provide you with the opportunity to control […]
Breakfast Sponsor: Thanks from group to “Stephanie Divirtaris – Syngenta Seeds“ Synopsis: The quote of the week comes from Dr. Peter Sikkema – “Start Clean – Stay Clean”! The group acknowledged the passing of Morris Sagriff and Alan Spicer both regular attendees at the meetings. Their interesting contributions to the discussion will be missed. Corn […]
Alfalfa/Forages Alfalfa is just breaking dormancy. Roots seem intact, with some new growth just starting. The consensus is that winter survival is good in eastern Ontario, other than some of the poorly drained land where there was some heaving of the crowns 2 to 3 inches out of the ground. Further west, mainly along the […]
Thank you to David Townsend who chaired the first breakfast meeting and to BASF that sponsored breakfast. The next meeting will be on April 25th starting at 7:00 am for breakfast (meeting starts at 7:30) at the Malibu restaurant near Exeter. Martin Harry will be the chairman. The meetings will finish no later than 9:00 […]
Co-authored with Chris Gillard, University of Guelph- Ridgetown Campus The 2016 season was relatively dry, and one thing edible bean growers did not have to contend with was anthracnose. In Ontario we have not seen a significant infestation of anthracnose since 2010. Can we continue to keep anthracnose at bay into the future? History of […]
SUMMARY A small group was in attendance, and much of the discussion was focused on wheat and dicamba-tolerant soybeans. Conditions have been wet in recent days with more rain to come, so the hope is that not too much nitrogen has been applied to wheat before the rain because it may have been lost. Producers […]
Learn, participate and have your say The proposed Plant and Animal Health Strategy for Canada was drafted together by governments, industry and others who play a role in safeguarding plant and animal health. The strategy will protect plants and animals from new and emerging risks by focusing efforts more on prevention and increasing partner collaboration […]
It’s getting close to spring again and, of course, this article is all about calculating seeding rates and achieving a targeted plant density. Let’s cut to the chase. Other than situations where a pneumatic row planter is being used, why should farmers worry about seeding rates outside of the standard 5 lb per acre? It’s […]
In 2016 clubroot (Plasmodiophora brassicae) was detected in fields across Ontario. The results of a preliminary survey for clubroot of canola in Ontario was posted previously on Field Crop News; to review it Click Here. This article provides more information on the disease and how to manage it. You can learn a great deal more […]
Crop yields have increased significantly since fertility recommendations were developed in Ontario. Crop nutrient uptake and grain nutrient removal have increased proportionately. A study was initiated in 2011 with funding from the Grain Farmers of Ontario to evaluate a corn-soybean-wheat rotation on four sites with relatively low soil test P and K levels. Areas within […]
Previously we discussed the possible benefits of using a pre-emergence soil applied herbicide application in a 2-pass weed management plan. Those benefits include protecting yield, providing a wider window for a post-emergence application and as a resistance management strategy. In this installment we look at the effect of weed emergence, following a pre-emergence application, on […]
We’re excited to let you know about the latest updates that we made to the Agricultural Information Atlas (AIA). What is the AIA? It’s OMAFRA’s free, easy-to-use online tool that can help you to: Develop nutrient management strategies and plans Plan tile drainage for your farm Develop a farm sketch for Pest Assessment Reports and Bee […]
Volume 1 of the inaugural “Problem Weed Guide for Ontario Crops” includes management strategies for 19 species in corn, soybean and cereal crops that is cited from work conducted by the University of Guelph Department of Plant Agriculture as well as other peer reviewed studies. This 176 page guide features over 175 images and 50 […]