While most Ontario dairy producers are watching alfalfa stands and the weather forecast to determine the ideal date for first cutting, several others are eyeing different crops – mainly fall-planted grasses or small grains – as their first 2021 opportunity to add to forage feedstocks. Throughout the growing season, depending on rainfall and the degree […] Read more
Tag Archives alfalfa — page 2
Producers like flexibility of grass-based forage options
Weather, rootworm resistance are reasons to consider alternative crops
Spring update for cereal crops and oilseeds
OMAFRA Field Crop Report for April 29
Winter wheat Winter wheat acreage is up by 8 per cent compared to the 2020 growing season (Statistics Canada). In general, the winter wheat crop looks very good throughout the province. Cold weather caused some temporary leaf necrosis (leaf tip burn) in a few fields. This leaf burn is sometimes made worse when a herbicide […] Read more
Fungicides not always an answer in alfalfa
Spraying could make sense when conditions are right for fungal disease
Farmers must weigh many factors before applying fungicides to alfalfa, said Christine O’Reilly, forage and grazing specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Why it matters: Farmers have found that there have been advantages to using fungicides in corn and with approved options, are now looking at alfalfa. O’Reilly says the […] Read more
VIDEO: First cut hay in full swing, be sure to replenish field nutrients
Field Talk with Deb Campbell
In this edition of Field Talk, Farmtario reporter Jennifer Glenney speaks with Deb Campbell, owner of Agronomy Advantage Inc., about first cut hay. “Yes it’s about yield, yes it’s about quality, but in the big picture it’s also about reaching productivity out of these hay fields and getting hopefully a solid three years of productivity […] Read more
Hay market tight, but concerns with COVID-19-related demand
Significant market opportunities available in Canada and the U.S.
Demand for Ontario-grown hay remains strong in the immediate aftermath of the COVID-19 global pandemic, but longer-term effects are more difficult to judge. “It’s not anything near what other people have had to deal with,” said Ontario Hay and Forage Cooperative chair Fritz Trauttmansdorff of the COVID-19 repercussions for hay growers. He suggested lower-than-average 2019 […] Read more
A good forage stand requires agronomic base
Keys to success include planting at right time, proper seed bed, seed placement, quality seed and weed control
Glacier FarmMedia – Farmers seeking to build a strong forage stand need to use proper crop rotations, fertility and water development, a forage agronomist told a recent Canadian Forage and Grasslands Association conference in Moncton, N.B. Peter Ballerstedt, with the seed company Barenbrug USA, said producers must pay attention to agronomy and make amendments before […] Read more
Manitoba beef sector faces tight feed situation
MarketsFarm — An early snowstorm may have been the last straw for Manitoba livestock producers looking to put up feed ahead of winter. While the foot or more of heavy snow that blanketed much of the province over the Thanksgiving weekend has melted, saturated fields continue to limit corn silage harvests and hay cutting. “Feed […] Read more
Genetically modified alfalfas find their place
Feed quality, harvest window and seed establishment are benefits
Glyphosate-resistant alfalfa is being planted across about 10,000 acres in Ontario, giving farmers the option to better establish and clean up alfalfa fields, while preserving the valuable legume. HarvXtra alfalfa with Roundup Ready technology, a newer alfalfa found in the eastern Canadian market, also provides low lignin content for improved digestibility along with the Roundup […] Read more
Looking for answers on sulphur
OMAFRA is looking for co-operators to further knowledge on sulphur needs in corn and soybeans
For years, Ontario agronomists have pointed to changes in air pollution from U.S. industries as the reason for the rise of sulphur deficiency in north-of-the-border crops. Why it matters: Back in 1990, southern Ontario was at the heart of a widespread “dark red” patch of high sulphur deposition, but by 2015, not just the dark […] Read more
How can hay compete with corn, soy and wheat?
Applying more intensive management, especially fertilizer, can bump hay yields
There is significant potential to increase yields on Ontario’s hay fields by implementing strategies commonly used growing crops like corn and soybeans. Why it matters: The Ontario Hay and Forage Co-operator is looking to increase the amount of acres of high quality hay, especially timothy, grown in the province and in order to increase hay […] Read more
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