Split application of nitrogen (N) in corn has been shown to offer many benefits to farmers, including a reduction in the total N required to produce a high-yielding crop. In-season application matches N supply closer to corn’s uptake pattern, and because of this, there is less nitrogen sitting in the soil in forms available for […]
This article shares the findings from a 2021 on-farm trial that compared fall cover crop termination with planting green. It was conducted near Hagersville, Ontario, as part of an Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association Tier Two project. Highlights To watch a short video with in-season footage from the trial, click below: Background Information on […]
Organization: Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) Division/Branch: Economic Development Division / Agriculture Development Branch Position Title: Corn Agronomy Research and Extension Assistant Job Term: Temporary for up to 18 weeks, beginning spring 2023 Salary: $16.35 / hour, based on a 36.25 hour work week Office Location: Guelph, Ontario Contact: Ben Rosser, ben.rosser@ontario.ca Get your […]
The value from manure comes in the nutrients provided along with other components that benefit soil health. Manure adds a layer of complexity to fertilizer management, but it also provides benefits to crops that commercial fertilizer on its own cannot provide. Research helps with understanding the principles of how nutrients behave in different environments and […]
The 2022 Ontario Corn Committee (OCC) hybrid performance trials are now available at GoCorn.net (Link HERE). Over past decades, Ontario’s average corn yields have increased around 2 bu/ac/yr. Staying current with new and competitive yielding hybrids is important. A key benefit of OCC trials is the ability to compare a large number of hybrids. These […]
Simple Summary there is limited guidance for safe fertilizer rates for strip till – unlike 2”x2” planter banding, there are many different fertilizer placement options in strip till there is likely some tradeoff with fertilizer placement in strip till – placement closer to the seed likely improves starter fertilizer effect and fertilizer efficiency, but likely […]
Co-authored with Albert Tenuta, Field Crop Pathologist, OMAFRA. OMAFRA field crop specialists in collaboration with Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO) and members of the Ontario Agri-Business Association (OABA) have completed the annual Ontario corn ear mould and DON mycotoxin survey. Corn ear moulds such as Gibberella and their corresponding mycotoxins occur every year in Ontario. […]
Simple Summary – Changes in fertilizer:corn price ratios (not fertilizer prices alone) change optimum P and K rates. Corn prices increasing with fertilizer prices can limit price ratio changes. – Significant price ratio changes are required to appreciably change optimum P and K rates. For instance, changing fertilizer:corn price ratio ($/lb-P:$/lb-corn) in a recent Ontario […]
More growers are noticing northern corn leaf blight (NCLB) – the most common corn leaf disease in Ontario. A proactive and integrated approach to management will mitigate significant financial losses. The simple answer Regular scouting is the best way to identify increases in the severity of NCLB. Ontario research has shown that an effective fungicide […]
Tar spot, a corn leaf disease that can cause significant yield losses, was first found in Ontario in 2020. It has since been found over a wider geographic area. Here’s an overview of what is currently known about best management practices. The simple answer Tar spot is here to stay. In the U.S. corn belt, […]
Nitrogen (N) dynamics are always complicated, but manure adds a few layers of complexity. Nitrogen availability is impacted by soil texture, soil moisture, organic matter levels in the soil, form of N applied and of course, the weather. An application of liquid finisher hog manure applied ahead of planting would be expected to provide about […]
Reports are coming in that black cutworm larvae are cutting corn and even soybeans. We don’t often see cutting in soybeans but two fields in Niagara region were reported today with significant stand loss and a variety of sizes of larvae (Figures 1 & 2). Fields not treated with an insecticide seed treatment or planted […]
Conditions While power has been restored to most areas that lost it as a result of the storm, cleanup and assessment continues in some places. It was intense wind (tornado or not) that caused the most damage. Most of our region was affected in some way, but the worst impacts are localized in concentrated areas […]
Simple Summary Ontario data suggests planting date from late April to mid-May has minimal impact on corn yields After mid-May, yield declines can start and are quickest in shorter season areas Balance any risks of pushing planting dates (e.g. unfavourable weather events or unfit soil) to the yield losses expected for delaying planting within the […]
Simple Summary When applying moderate amounts of P&K fertilizer (60 lb/ac of both P2O5 and K2O) at ~4″ depth with a shank-style strip tiller across 15 trials on medium to light soil textures and low to moderate soil fertility: Yields of spring strip till and P&K were significantly higher (+4 bu/ac) than where P&K was […]