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 […] Read more
Harvested fields a good time to improve soil health
OMAFRA Field Crop Report for July 23
Dry beans near bloom stage, but watch for white mold
OMAFRA Field Crop Report for July 16
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 […] Read more
Wheat harvest begins, corn and soybeans see rapid growth
OMAFRA Field Crop Report for July 9
OMAFRA, UG, RealAgriculture, GFO and industry sponsors are offering an Ontario Virtual Crop Diagnostic Event since our summer events have been cancelled. Go to fieldcropnew.com for information on this series which begins Wednesday July 15th. While the management window for much of our field crops is closing, some late fertility, and insect monitoring, and control remains […] Read more
Wheat pests are still a concern
OMAFRA Field Crop Report for June 25
True armyworm (TAW) larvae are in many winter wheat and spring cereal fields across southern Ontario, thankfully not always at threshold. Some fields have populations at threshold (4-5 unparasitized larvae smaller than 2.5 cm per square foot) or above and with minimal feeding damage. Larvae sometimes choose not to do as much feeding and move […] Read more
Achieving a healthy soybean plant stand
OMAFRA Field Crop Report for June 18
Soybean plant stand establishment Establishing a uniform, healthy soybean plant stand which closes the canopy quickly is important to maximizing yield potential. Although a perfect plant stand is not as essential for soybeans as it is for corn; higher soybean yields are often associated with more uniform stands. Attaining a good plant stand is more […] Read more
Corn stages vary on planting dates, winter canola in final stages of flowering
OMAFRA Field Crop Report for June 11
Soybean Some replanting has occurred especially on heavy clay soils with poor emergence. Soil crusting and seed corn maggot feeding are the main issues this spring. If plant stands are below 100,000 plants per acre replanting is warranted. The same variety can be planted into an existing thin stand. Replanting with a drill may damage […] Read more
Corn, soy planting largely complete, fair weather spurs forage growth
OMAFRA Field Crop Report for June 4
Corn While planting has largely been completed the last number of weeks, corn is still being planted on heavier soils which have just recently been fit enough for planting (Niagara/Haldimand, Southern Lambton, SW Kent). If rainfall further delays planting, more remaining acreage may be switched to soybeans. Despite great planting conditions, there are reports of […] Read more
Warm weather accelerates crop growth
OMAFRA Field Crop Report for May 28
Warmer conditions starting late last week have fast-tracked crop growth. Rainfall during the past week has been sporadic with isolated thunderstorms resulting in flooded fields in one location and no rainfall less than a km away. Fields in many regions would welcome some moisture. Corn Planting is completed and most corn planted between April 27th and […] Read more
Early planted corn emerging, soybean planting continues
OMAFRA Field Crop Report for May 21
Temperatures over the past week have been significantly warmer than the week prior. Most of the province saw rain over the long weekend. In many areas this was welcome news, but much of southwestern Ontario received significant downpours and flooded fields were a common sight. Corn Most of the intended acreage was planted before the […] Read more
Planting progress in Ontario ahead of normal
OMAFRA Field Crop Report for May 14
Temperatures were well below seasonal for much of the past week due to the presence of an arctic air mass. Low night-time temperature records were set in many areas of the province with low temperatures between 0 to -7 C and snow fell overnight more than once. The widespread risk of the cold weather impacts […] Read more
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