Late planting combined with below-average heat unit accumulation this year means Ontario’s corn crop is behind in maturity from where we would normally expect it to be. Autumn is here in full swing and many parts of the province have already experienced frost. If corn is not fully mature by the time the first frost hits, frost damage can occur. …
harvest
Meghan Moran October 4, 2019 943 Comments Off on Pre-Harvest Herbicide Options in Canola; Managing Re-GrowthSpring canola harvest is not yet complete, with a majority of the crop still standing in northern regions. Many fields were ready to harvest up to two weeks ago, but the weather has not cooperated. Producers are now reporting that canola is re-growing and quite green in the lower canopy. Pre-harvest herbicide application may improve harvest conditions; some details to…
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…
When we think about getting the highest yields and the best quality out of our winter wheat crop we tend to think about management practices such as timely planting, variety selection, nutrient management (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulphur), as well as timely fungicide and herbicide applications. However, one management practice that can often be overlooked or forgotten about in terms…
Farmers exposed to silo gas (nitrogen dioxide, NO2) are at risk of severe respiratory distress, permanent damage to lungs, and even sudden death. It is difficult to predict when silo gas will be produced, so always take precautions following harvest. Weather conditions and agronomic practices affect the amount of nitrates in plant material, which set the stage for the production of NO2 in…
It can be very tempting to cut some alfalfa for haylage or baleage in the fall, particularly when supplies are tight or there is a lot of growth. The decision to cut or not needs to weigh the immediate need for forage against the increased risk of alfalfa winterkill and reduced yields next spring. How do we evaluate these risks? Stressing…
Extended periods of dry weather without rain can severely stress corn plants. When this occurs during tasselling and pollination, cob formation and grain yield can be significantly reduced. As the situation worsens, leaves turn brown and the plants can appear dry and “dead”. Some farmers attempt to salvage this corn by using it as forage for livestock, either as corn…
The importance of harvest moisture and maturity to corn silage quality and animal performance is often underestimated. Not only is it important to minimize fermentation dry matter and spoilage losses, it is difficult to compensate for poor forage quality in ration balancing and animal performance. Don’t get caught harvesting corn silage past optimum moisture and maturity. In areas that are…
Making wrapped large bale haylage, also known as “baleage”, reduces the risk of rain damage within shorter harvest windows. Baleage can provide excellent quality forage. Existing baling and feeding equipment can be used, and it comes with its own storage. However, the risk of spoilage can sometimes be frustrating, particularly when forage supplies are limited and hay prices are high. “Baleage disasters”…