The “magical” qualities of manure and organic amendments for providing long-term benefits have been well documented, especially for maintaining and improving soil organic matter. Sourcing off farm manure and organic amendments has become more difficult and expensive with the increased interest in improving soil health, therefore it is more important than ever to know what […] Read more
Get to know your manure with a manure analysis
OMAFRA Field Crop Report for the week of July 24
Spider mites bugging your soybeans?
OMAFRA Field Crop Report for the week of July 3
Dimethoate resistant two-spotted spider mite populations in Ontario soybeans Results from bioassays conducted on two-spotted spider mite (TSSM) populations collected in soybean fields across Ontario show the prevalence of dimethoate (Cygon or Lagon) resistance is high in some areas. Through a collaborative project with Dr. Vojislava Grbic, Professor at Western University, Dr. Ian Scott at […] Read more
Time to watch for tar spot, soybean cyst nematode
OMAFRA Field Crop Report for the week of June 26
Tar spot has now been established in the midwestern US for almost a decade and is an annual concern in many Midwestern states like Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, and Wisconsin. While tar spot was not as yield-limiting in these areas in 2022, it continued to expand its range across the corn belt, as far west as Kansas […] Read more
Province’s major crops, forages faring well
OMAFRA Field Crop Report for the week of June 19
Across much of Ontario major crops and forages are progressing well. Evidence of moisture stress is present on various crops, but some relief came over the period of June 11-14th with scattered rainfall periods. Keeping appraised of incoming rainfall is at the back of everyone’s mind. Be aware of various networks and stations where weather data […] Read more
Cereal crops parched, fears of spontaneous combustion in hay
OMAFRA Field Crop Report for the week of June 5
Field conditions across most of the province are drier than normal. This generally will have little effect on corn and soybeans since both are at the early vegetative growth stage. The impact on winter cereals could be significant since they are already out in head and at, or nearing, pollination. Forages There is an unusually […] Read more
Ontario field conditions on the upswing, so too the weeds
OMAFRA Field Crop Report for the week of May 15
Conditions Field conditions across the province have improved vastly over the last ten days. With sunshine and temperatures in the high teens to even high twenties in some areas, planting is rolling across a majority of the province. Field work began early last week with lighter soil but by late last week, work on heavier, […] Read more
Armyworm trap counts high, silage corn harvest progresses
OMAFRA Forage Report for October 5
Ontario Hay Listings is a free classifieds service provided by the Ontario Forage Council. Producers looking to buy or sell hay or straw are encouraged to post an ad. Bt-resistant corn rootworm is a serious pest of continuous corn and is a major threat to the silage corn supply. Work with your agronomist and nutritionist to […] Read more
When does a killing frost no longer damage soybean seeds?
OMAFRA Field Crop Report for the week of September 21
Late planted fields or double cropped soybeans may still be green in late September or October. A killing frost will not significantly harm seed quality once the field is at the R7 (beginning maturity) growth stage. R7 is reached when 50 per cent or more of the plants in a field have a pod that […] Read more
Tar spot and fungicide application timings
OMAFRA Field Crop Report for the week of September 14
Although tar spot was detected in Ontario in the first week of July the past two years, 2022 is much different than 2021 and shows the importance of environmental conditions for disease development. Remember, this holds true for any disease! The big difference was the dry conditions early and shortened leaf wetness periods which delayed […] Read more
Managing cover crops ahead of the 2023 corn crop
OMAFRA Field Crop Report for the week of September 7
If you’re like many Ontario farmers, you are not only watching as your crops head toward the finish line, but also keeping an eye on the progress of the cover crops you seeded after cereal harvest. With recent rainfall in many parts of the province, cover crop growth is taking off. Cover crops provide benefits […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
