Nitrogen applications in winter wheat are progressing throughout the province as breaks in the spring rain provide opportunities to get out in the field. Tillage and other field preparations have begun. Cereals Winter wheat fields in general continue to look good across the province with many counties reporting early planted wheat at GS30 and some […] Read more
Tag Archives Forages — page 4
Winter wheat conditions promising, corn planting sees slow start
OMAFRA Field Crop Report for the week of May 2
Saskatchewan forage rainfall insurance to adjust for hot spells
SCIC also expanding crop roster for contract price option
Saskatchewan forage and corn growers whose crops are insured against below-normal rainfall can expect a beneficial bump starting this year if those crops get cooked in high heat. The Saskatchewan and federal governments on Tuesday announced details for their 2022 crop insurance program — under which average coverage is expected to reach $405 per acre, […] Read more
Forage management vital to achieve top-quality feed
Low-lignin alfalfa is a new tool that requires changes in harvest timing
Attendees at the recent 2021 Forage Focus webinars were reminded of knowledge gained from 1889 silage quality research and gained more contemporary insights from experts. Renato Schmidt discussed dry matter and quality losses during pre-ensiling and ensiling and Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs specialist Anita Heeg delivered a talk about understanding feed […] Read more
Data project could drive new forage tools
Alfalfa hasn’t had the data tied to best management practices that has benefited row crop growers
A new initiative designed to improve alfalfa producers’ access to precision management tools could boost the crop’s popularity and increase production, industry officials say. Data collection has started for two new alfalfa artificial intelligence (AI) decision management tools across Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and Manitoba. The project aims to create the data base needed to […] Read more
Producers like flexibility of grass-based forage options
Weather, rootworm resistance are reasons to consider alternative crops
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
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
Manitoba forage, grassland growers burned by drought
MarketsFarm — An ongoing lack of precipitation, which is showing no signs of letting up in the coming months according to weather forecasts, is already causing problems for Manitoba’s forage and grasslands. Growers in the province have had to deal with three straight years with lower-than-normal precipitation. In 2019, multiple rural municipalities in Manitoba’s Parkland […] Read more
Silage options to rotate away from corn
Ryegrass, triticale, sorghum species all have potential to help avoid corn-on-corn rotations
In Europe, it’s ryegrass. On the Prairies, it’s barley. In areas where either climate or pesticide resistance makes it impractical to grow corn, livestock producers nonetheless achieve good gains or high milk production. And, during a recent session hosted by OMAFRA, crop and livestock specialists encouraged Ontario’s livestock producers to consider rotating away from corn […] Read more
Hay acreage increasing in Ontario
Extra acreage should help reduce costs for farmers who have to buy hay
Hay fields in southwestern Ontario appear in generally good shape following a challenging fall 2019 and winter 2020. But the same can’t be said in eastern portions of the province. Why it matters: For farms that are reliant on hay for livestock feed, a strong early stand is crucial for good yield through the rest […] 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
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