Plant 2025 has begun, but conditions across the province vary considerably. As of May 9, some areas have seen significant acres prepped and planted. Others have not, with wide-ranging temperatures and intermittent rain events contributing to a typically varied Ontario spring.
The most recent Field Crop News update from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness for the last week of April highlights variation across crops, soils, and regions of the province:
• Reports of overwinter damage in winter wheat are low. Disease in winter wheat is also low to-date. Stripe rust, in particular, “has not yet been observed in nearby U.S. states and is not an imminent threat to Ontario wheat.”
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• Soybean planting has begun in the southern counties “on fields with lighter soils, and on some areas of heavier clay which have been getting quite dry.”
• Similarly, corn planting has begun on fields with lighter soils. Some reports from southern counties suggest 30 per cent of corn acres had been completed. Fluctuating temperatures, though, have held off emergence.
• Alfalfa has overwintered well, but cool conditions have so far suppressed growth. “Forage inventories are strong, with plenty of crop carried over from past years. This may decrease the number of acres seeded to perennial forage crops.”
• Some herbicide carryover injury has been observed in winter canola. “Although not yet confirmed, it is suspected to be Group 5 herbicides (e.g. metribuzin) used in soybeans two seasons prior to canola. Symptoms observed include prolific leaf growth, small and misshapen leaves, small clusters of flower buds (e.g. fewer buds than normal at the top of the main stem) and brittle flower buds that fall off when touched.”
The report also makes special mention of soil loss in southwestern Ontario from a severe wind event on April 29. A combination of dry April conditions and sustained high winds was particularly notable on sandier soils in the Ridgetown area, and along Highway 3. There was “noticeably less soil movement in fields that had residue cover,” however, compared to those which had been previously worked.
The southwest
Many of the OMAFA Field Crop team’s observations track with Emma Epp, agronomist, Pioneer sales representative, and owner of Epp Ag-Solutions in Leamington.
Speaking on May 8, Epp says corn planted during the first window of opportunity – around April 23 and 24 – has emerged with good population counts, but the plants do “look cold.” Corn planted a week later remains below ground. Growers who planted at that time, and who are working heavier soils, may encounter sealing issues as the sun emerges after recent rains.
“I’ve had a few people ask me already about replants for soybeans…I’m going to guess it didn’t handle that rain as well as the corn,” says Epp. “It was a risk putting in all that crop when we did. It’s either going to pay, or its not.”
With flag leaf emerging in much of the area’s winter wheat crop, Epp says she has also been encouraging growers to beginning fungicide applications. Fertilizer application for winter wheat has been ongoing. She adds some have reported higher-than-usual disease pressure in the crop – although herself has not seen anything of note. With many weeds now emerging, Epp also encourages soybean growers in the Essex and Chatham-Kent area to make the most of residual herbicides by planting within 10 days after herbicide application – thus providing time for the crop to canopy before the loss of residual activity.
The east
It’s a mixed bag in parts of eastern Ontario as well, according to Jenn Doelman, Renfrew-based farmer and agronomist.
While spring 2025 is lagging compared to conditions in 2024, Doelman says her area is “on the right track heat unit wise. Some canola, spring wheat, and cereals have been planted but rainfall has been “all over the map,” with some areas receiving very high levels of precipitation. Some grower’s ability to get into the field has thus far been curtailed.
“The winter canola, not much of it survived in this area. It’s been really cold,” Doelman says, in reference to wide temperature swings. Much of her area’s soils are “really mellow” – a result of cool and cloudy conditions delaying hardening. She’s hopeful more field activity will start within a few days.
“It’s not like we lost a lot of heat units…We got most of our fertilizer applied, which spread the workload a bit.”
Central and midwest
Deb Campbell, agronomist and owner of Agronomy Advantage, says cropping is slightly ahead of schedule in Bruce and Grey County. With “lots of corn” and soybeans already planted, emergence appears largely on schedule, and growers are “very satisfied with soil conditions” compared to those of spring 2024.
“There’s no trouble seeding to moisture…That’s been a real bonus,” Campbell says, adding she generally has “No big concerns whatsoever.”
Moisture and severe weather, though, have caused some issues of note.
Wheat winterkill from both snow mould and heavy April rains is higher than expected – although by no means devastating. A major winter ice storm, too, necessitated significant cleanup of trees and other debris in fields, particularly east of Highway 10. The high winds mentioned in the Field Crop News report hit Campbell’s area as well, resulting in yet more falling trees and pre-planting field work.
