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OMAF CROP REPORT: June 12, 2013

Prepared by the Field Crop Unit Team

Corn: Greg Stewart
Corn moved ahead nicely this week with early planted corn that was not frozen now in the 6-7 leaf stage. Some areas still struggle with heavy rainfall, and saturated soil conditions. The Soil N Survey conducted by OMAF staff this past week showed that on medium textured soils nitrate levels were slightly below the long term trend. The average from these soils this year was 10.7 PPM nitrate N, compared to an historical average of 11.0 PPM, compared to 12.2 PPM in 2012 (warm spring) and 9.5 PPM in 2011 (cool spring). In general terms, on the medium and heavy textured soils there appears to be no reason to depart from average or slightly above average sidedress N rates in 2013. Producers with fall manure, red clover or alfalfa should be careful to apply somewhat higher than normal N rates. Heavy rains that caused saturated conditions and standing water in fields are not fully represented in this survey and growers should be aware of the potential N loss from denitrification in these fields. Taking your own pre-sidedress N test in order to fine-tune application rates is strongly recommended. See the complete N Survey Report at gocorn.net.

Cereals: Peter Johnson
Frost damage on winter wheat was more significant than expected. Considering it did not get that cold (-2 C) the amount of damage in some fields was surprising. A few fields near Thamesville were replanted to soybeans. Damage is sporadic, often with heads partially frozen. Frozen white heads should not be confused with Take All. If the problem was truly Take All then the whole head and the stem would all bleach white. Spraying is complete in the southern parts of the province, but the crop has not been ready to the north. Crop progress has been slow with cool temperatures. Even if wheat is past the ideal window to spray for fusarium it can still be sprayed for leaf disease. Most of the yield benefit comes from foliar leaf disease control. With warmer temperatures, the risk for fusarium may be much higher in the north. Wheat has been very clean of diseases with a few exceptions. Septoria can move up the plant rapidly under the right conditions.

Canola/Edible Beans: Brian Hall
Canola: Canola stands are fair to good with emergence and survival issues. Seedling diseases are evident due to saturated and tight soil conditions. High flea beetle populations and re-invasion has resulted in a lot of frustration in achieving control. Swede midge population updates are available on Ontario Canola Growers website. Weed control is a priority. If growing Liberty Link canola, performance of the herbicide Liberty 200SN is maximized when applied during the warmest, sunlit hours of the day (9 am – 6pm) and with spray nozzles delivering medium droplets and water volumes at 150-200 L/ha (15-20 gal/acre). Control of lamb’s-quarters and velvetleaf may be enhanced with the addition of ammonium sulphate to Liberty 200SN. For improved control of wild oats a tank-mix of Liberty 200SNwith either Centurion or Select is recommended.

Forages/Pastures: Joel Bagg/Jack Kyle
Forages: Forage harvest has been delayed by frequent rains, and limited to haylage and baleage. Yields have been increasing, but nutrient quality is suffering with advancing maturity. There is still considerable first-cut acreage to be harvested. Second-cut regrowth looks excellent. With lots of moisture, applying nitrogen to second-cut regrowth of grassy fields will provide extra yield. (http://fieldcropnews.com/?p=6830) Fertilizer and liquid manure should be applied immediately after harvest to minimize wheel traffic damage. Remove hay bales from the field as soon as possible. Store dry hay under cover and off the ground to prevent spoilage. Proper hay sheds are easier to justify with currently high hay prices. Commercial propionic acid hay preservatives are used to inhibit mould growth and heating while bales “sweat” and cure over time as moisture dissipates from the bales in storage. Use the correct application rate for the percent moisture. Probe-type hand-held electronic moisture testers can be subject to variability and error; calibrate to factors that can influence readings, such as forage species, bale type, acid and bale density. It is essential that hay storages have adequate ventilation to enable moisture to dissipate from bales. Tightly stacking bales should be avoided. (Preventing Mouldy Hay Using Propionate Preservatives
http://fieldcropnews.com/?p=3655
)

Pastures: Lots of moisture but cloudy days and cool temperatures are resulting in slow grass growth. Applying 40-50 kg/ha of nitrogen will stimulate good growth that will provide extra summer pasture. If plants with maturing seed heads or flowering weeds are plentiful in your pastures then consider clipping to stimulate new forage growth and stop the weeds from setting seed. Rotating pastures every 1-3 days and allowing sufficient rest and recovery time of (30-45 days depending on growing conditions) will give the most productivity.

Soybeans: Horst Bohner
The majority of soybeans in Ontario have been seeded but some northern counties still have significant acreage to seed. Most of the crop is in good to fair condition but plant stand issues are prevalent in certain areas. A tremendous amount of spraying needs to be accomplished as soon as conditions are dry enough. Spray based on the growth stage of the weed not the crop. Replanting has been centered around heavy clay soils in the southwest. Many of these fields were planted into moisture during dry conditions (1.75 – 2.0” deep) but were then followed by excessive rainfall and cool temperatures. Due to the cool, wet weather the seed ran out of energy before it could fully emerge. Seed rot and root rots are also prevalent. Cool wet conditions are favourable to diseases, slugs, and slow growth. Slug feeding is common and bean leaf beetle feeding is being reported. Unless the feeding is severe soybeans will outgrow early season leaf feeding.

Weather Summary: Source: www.weatherinnovations.com/weather.cfm

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

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WANTED: Ontario farmers to grow hazelnuts

Erie Innovation and Commercialization is looking for farmers who are interested in being part of one of Ontario’s newest crops, hazelnuts. Varieties have been identified that will grow well in Ontario’s climate and the emerging sector is now seeking farmers who are willing to start planting some of these trees.

“We have an identified market potential in Ontario for hazelnuts that’s equivalent to about 10,000 hectares of trees,” says John Kelly, Vice President of Erie Innovation and Commercialization, an initiative of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association. “Hazelnuts can be grown anywhere in Ontario that apples are, and the revenue potential for this crop is significant.”

It can take four years for hazelnut trees to start bearing fruit and seven years before they hit full production. By then, however, the potential net return is estimated at $2,000 per acre. Brantford’s Ferrero Inc., which manufactures Nutella and Ferrero Rocher chocolates, currently imports its hazelnut supply but is very interested in accessing a stable, locally grown source.

As part of a major hazelnut research project currently underway to help establish the hazelnut industry in Ontario, researchers have been screening hazelnut varieties for resistance to eastern filbert blight and the ability to withstand Ontario’s climate, as well as establishing methods for fast and reliable propagation of seedlings. The project, which involves OFVGA, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, University of Guelph, Ontario Centres of Excellence and industry partners, also includes gathering market intelligence, helping the industry get organized and planning for the infrastructure the industry will need as it grows.

“We are now at the point where we need growers who are willing to commit to hazelnuts by putting some trees in the ground,” says Kelly. “This is an exciting new opportunity for Ontario farmers, especially for those who farm in our current tree fruit growing areas, such as Essex and Niagara.”

Anyone interested in planting hazelnuts or learning more about the opportunity should contact Erie Innovation and Commercialization at 519-426-7913.

Funding for the hazelnut project is provided in part by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program. In Ontario, this program is delivered by the Agricultural Adaptation Council.

 

 

About Erie Innovation and Commercialization

Erie Innovation and Commercialization is part of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association, dedicated to pursuing a regional approach to agricultural diversification to ensure the continuing economic stability and sustainability of the sector. Visit www.erieinnovation.com.

 

For more information:

  • Shelley Imbeault
  • Mobile: 519 854 7414
  • Email: shelleyimbeault@ofvga.org

 

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ONLINE RESOURCES: Twitter tips

In today’s day and age the number of ways to communicate are changing rapidly, particularly within the last couple of years. Among the assortment of social media tools available the use of Twitter continues to explode, particularly within the business community.

Within this organization I believe I was the first to “tweet” when I came on board three years ago. Today, many of our organization colleagues and members are actively and daily using Twitter because is proving to be both efficient and informative.

But for those who wonder what all the buzz is about, I can’t say it any better than Terry Daynard in this recent article. The following is an excerpt from his blog:

“Twitter helps me in farming. It was my best source of timely information in 2012 on the spread of armyworm and aphid infestations – as well as what to do about them. It’s equally good for real-time information on crop performance, markets, ag policy, weather damage, or just about anything else you’d want to know. And it’s free… Until recently, I started most days reading the (Toronto) Globe and Mail on line. But now I check Twitter first, and read several articles I’m attracted to by Twitter links. I read stuff from all over the world, often in obscure on-line publications I’ve not known before. If I still have time at breakfast, I’ll then check the Globe – good to know what’s on the national stage – but it’s pretty boring compared to Twitter.”

To read the complete article visit this link:
http://tdaynard.com/2013/05/14/a-message-for-all-you-older-guysgals-get-on-twitter/

I also include below, a reprint of an article originally published in our June 2010 issue of goldenhorseshoe. It includes some handy tips about lists that you may find useful. In addition to the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) list mentioned in the article below, other GHSCIA lists that may be of interest to you include:

  • OMAF: Tweets from Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food (OMAF) and Ministry of Rural Affairs (MRA) personnel
  • GHSCIA Sponsors: Tweets from the companies who support our GHSCIA communication efforts through sponsorship

By subscribing to a list, for example the OMAF list, you will get all the posts from the crop unit team and other ministry personnel on agriculture issues all in one handy package.

It’s easy to follow lists and you can follow lists in the same way you follow people. If you are interested in subscribing to follow either of these lists, follow these simple steps:

  • Go to www.Twitter.com/GHSCIA
  • Select “Lists” from menu on the left-hand side. A new screen will appear with the lists populated on the right-hand side below the profile picture
  • Scroll your cursor over the list you are interested in and select it; a new screen will populate
  • Click subscribe

Handy links have also been provided here. Simply click on the link and select “Subscribe” when prompted

The following article was originally published in the June 2010 issue of goldenhorseshoe.

All a’Twitter–New ways to get information - By Anne Howden Thompson

Technology has continued to evolve constantly presenting new and evolving methods of communication. Only a few short years ago Twitter was relatively unheard of, but as it has matured, more and more businesses, community organizations and politicians are joining this new social media world. Many are finding that used judiciously, it can be a powerful and useful business communications tool. More and more agricultural businesses are joining the Twitter world and you can find news and events within the Golden Horseshoe Soil and Crop Improvement Association on Twitter.

So, how do you use it?

Type http://www.twitter.com/GHSCIA into your Internet browser to bring up a listing of “tweets” (the word for Twitter postings) that have been posted on the Golden Horseshoe Twitter home page. This will give you access to the information that has been posted there.

But Twitter becomes even more powerful when you become engaged in the conversation by activating your own Twitter account and selecting accounts to “follow.” More and more businesses, companies and organizations are flocking to the Twitter world and you can custom-design the type of information you want to receive by handpicking who you want to follow.

In the same way that you can follow individuals and businesses you can follow lists that have been created. Those new to the Twitter world will want to establish “lists” early, otherwise the messages and postings that will come to your home page can very quickly become overwhelming. As an example, type in www.twitter.com/GHSIA/OSCIA to see a list created by the Golden Horseshoe Soil and Crop Improvement Association. This is a complete listing of all the OSCIA colleagues who have joined the Twitter world. Many times news and events that are posted by one OSCIA colleague will have interest to farmers in other regions. The www.twitter.com/GHSCIA/OSCIA list keeps those messages in one handy spot. Check them out. Better yet, follow!

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OMAF CROP REPORT: June 4, 2013

Prepared by the Field Crop Unit Team.

For more information please contact the CropLine at 1-888-449-0937 or visit www.omafra.gov.on.ca/croppest

Canola/Edible Beans: Brian Hall
Canola planting is complete in most areas with early plantings at the two to four leaf stage. Where heavy rainfall has occurred emergence has been variable. Plant populations are fair to average (4-8 plants per square foot) and a few replants have occurred due to weather related stress and flea beetle damage. Weed control is a priority. Spray weeds prior to 5 leaf stage of canola to minimize yield loss.

Edible bean planting has started but less than 10% of intended acres are planted. Broadcasting a small amount of nitrogen (34– 45 kg N/ha or 30-40 lb N/ac) at planting will encourage rapid vegetative growth, canopy closure and stimulates root growth which aids in overcoming stress caused by root rot or other factors. The safe rate of banded fertilizer is 30 kg N/ha (27 lbs N/ac) or a total of 91 kg (80 lbs/ac) nitrogen and potash. Do not seed place fertilizer as it increases the risk of injury.

Cereals: Peter Johnson
Recent rainfall was critical for pollination and grain fill of the winter wheat crop. Temperatures have remained cool, resulting in an extremely short wheat crop. Straw yields will be reduced, although height is not a good predictor of straw yield. Frost injury continues to be reported. A few fields have been destroyed in the Thamesville area, with reports of sterility in sporadic heads (1 to 5%) from Glencoe-Exeter. The timing for Fusarium fungicides was perfect across the southwest this week and is moving north and east. Fusarium risk has fluctuated daily. Risk changes rapidly as weather forecasts change and actual weather is recorded. Foliar diseases are well controlled by Fusarium fungicides, so yield is often increased even without Fusarium developing. Armyworms have been reported at low to moderate levels from Harrow to Woodstock. Scout! If 5 armyworm are found per square foot and are less than 1” (2.5 cm) in length, control is warranted. See www.fieldcropnews.com/?p=7249

Corn: Greg Stewart
The vast majority of the frost damaged corn has recovered and is greening up. The corn in an area from Highgate to Bothwell was the hardest hit. Approximately 1000 acres were replanted. Fields planted prior to May 5th on sandy soils were impacted the most. The main areas affected were the sand knolls which were very dry and the low lying organic (muck) soil areas where low temperatures killed the growing point even though it was still below the soil surface. Some frost damaged plants are showing the typical bunched tissue or “shepherds hook”. Normally corn plants will grow through this and be productive but increased plant to plant variability will have some negative impact on yields. Wet and windy conditions have made herbicide applications challenging. Weed control is presently the most economically important job on most farms. Some initial results from soil nitrate testing are showing lower residual N levels than normal. Sidedressers can use the Pre-Sidedress Nitrate Test to help determine the impact of weather and other factors on N application rates. The complete 2013 Soil N Survey can be viewed at www.fieldcropnews.com/?p=7305.

Forages/Pastures: Joel Bagg/Jack Kyle
Forages: First-cut yields are variable, depending on location and management. Rains have delayed harvest, increasing yields but decreasing quality. In wetter areas, some haylage was rain-damaged and fields have been “rutted”. Grasses are more advanced in maturity than alfalfa. With tight forage supplies, and high land and forage costs, reducing fermentation dry matter losses (shrink) and improving bunklife and forage quality by using a proven haylage inoculant easily pays for itself. (Silage Inoculants (www.fieldcropnews.com/?p=7159 ). Alfalfa weevil is still feeding in some areas. Where populations are high, scout to determine if larvae feeding of 2nd cut regrowth warrants spraying. (www.fieldcropnews.com/?p=3108) Armyworm is beginning to be reported in some hayfields. Control is warranted when 5 or more larvae (smaller than 1 inch) per square foot are found, or 2 – 3 larvae in new seedings. http://www.bit.ly/11rGJsD. Making “baleage” can provide quality forage by reducing the risk of rain damage in shorter harvest windows. However, the risk of spoilage can be frustrating to novices. There is little room to cut corners. Be sure to use dense bales and enough plastic! Avoid wrapping haylage that was rained-on. (www.fieldcropnews.com/?p=3531)
Pastures: Soil moisture levels are very good which has resulted in excellent growth. Pastures that have been grazed short (less than 7.5 cm or 3inches) need to be rested and given an opportunity to re-grow or they will not be productive during the remainder of the growing season. Applying nitrogen to pastures will stimulate improved productivity and forage quality, 40 kg/ha of actual nitrogen is the recommended rate for grass based pastures. On pastures where the grass has headed and is mature consider clipping or making hay to stimulate new growth.

Soybeans: Horst Bohner
Fields seeded during the first half of May have emerged well and are growing rapidly. Some fields are up to the 3rd trifoliate leaf stage. Heavy downpours have caused emergence issues in fields seeded over the last two to three weeks. Significant water pooling, root rot and insect feeding are causing plant stand issues. When assessing a questionable plant stand it’s important to wait for all the seedlings to emerge. Do not rush when making a replant decision. Soybeans have the ability to adapt to thin stands. If there are 100 000 plants per acre the field should be left alone (120 000 on heavy clay). If plant stands are very thin the best approach is to seed right on top of the existing stand. The final population should not exceed 225 000 plants per acre as a maximum so a supplemental seeding rate of 125 000 seeds per acre is usually adequate. Use the same variety if possible; this will reduce maturity differences in the fall.

Weather Summary: Source: www.weatherinnovations.com/weather.cfm

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

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OMAF CROP REPORT: May 29, 2013

Prepared by the Field Crop Unit Team.
Canola/Edible Beans: Brian Hall
The majority of canola has now been planted. Canola planted in last week is emerging in 4-7 days. The frost on the weekend had minimal impact on emerged canola. Last week’s cold and wet weather limited flea beetle feeding. Seed treatments provide 2-3 weeks of protection, but flea beetles must bite the plant to die. Expect to see some leaf feeding damage. Foliar control is warranted as soon as you observe 25% leaf damage prior to 4th leaf stage. Canola develops rapidly between 1-6 leaf stage. Control weeds early, prior to 4 leaf stage of canola to prevent yield reductions. When using Liberty herbicide, wild oats and volunteer cereals control is improved by use of a grass herbicide. Check canola populations and keep a record along with seeding rate to make adjustments for future years. Optimum stand is 8-10 plants/ft2 , but a healthy stand of 4-5 plants/ft2. can yield close to full yield potential with management.

Cereals: Peter Johnson
Frost injury is evident in a few fields in Kent County. Cereals have zero frost tolerance during the critical pollination stage. Only the earliest fields are affected, with the vast majority of the crop not quite at the susceptible stage. Recent rains have dramatically increased the risk for fusarium. Apply Caramba or Prosaro at Day 2 to Day 4 (Day 0 = 75% heads fully emerged). Use alternating turbo floodjets or forward/back nozzle configurations. Be sure to do an excellent job of tank clean out and flush boom end caps thoroughly. There can be tremendous leaf burn from fungicide/herbicide combinations or late N applications. Many growers continued to apply herbicides well after flag leaf emergence. Risks are greatly increased at this stage, and benefits greatly reduced. In future, consider fungicide applications only if proper weed control timing is missed. Earliest spring cereal fields are just reaching stem elongation. All weed control should now have been completed. Scout for disease and control if warranted.

Corn: Greg Stewart
Ground frost occurred across many parts of Ontario on May 25-26, 2013. As a result corn leaves are discoloured and appear straw coloured to pale green to grey or black. In some cases corn collapsed onto the soil surface. In most cases when the plant is at the 6th leaf stage or younger the growing point of the corn plant is below the soil surface and will not have been damaged by frost . This corresponds to V4 corn (four fully expanded leaves with leaf collars visible on the stem) or to 7 leaf tips being visible. Most corn in Ontario was somewhere between emergence and 6th leaf stage during this cold period. Plants that have not had any injury to the growing point will generate new green tissue within 3-5 days. To examine the growing point more carefully, it is located about 2 cm below the soil surface and should be white or pale green and firm. Damaged growing points may appear grey and water soaked. Examination of the growing point will be more successful when 2 or 3 days have passed since the frost. Post emergent N applications using UAN flat fan nozzles should not be done once corn has passed the 2 leaf stage. Streamer nozzles cause little corn leaf damage when used up to the 4-5 leaf stage.

Forages/Pastures: Joel Bagg/Jack Kyle
Forages: First-cut dairy haylage is underway in southern Ontario. Yields are quite variable. With the cooler weather, grass maturity is more advanced than alfalfa. Frost damage to alfalfa seems minimal. Applying liquid manure immediately after alfalfa harvest improves both yield and forage quality (
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/field/news/croptalk/2007/ct-0307a5.htm
). Respiration, harvest, fermentation, storage and spoilage losses are very real and very costly, although largely invisible to us. Rapid wilting with wide swaths minimizes respiration losses. Reducing fermentation dry matter losses (shrink) and improving bunklife and forage quality by using a research proven haylage inoculant easily pays (Silage Inoculants FieldCropNews.com). Fill, pack, cover and seal horizontal silos quickly. Pack in thin layers (<15 cm) with adequately sized tractors for sufficient packing time per tonne. Cover with an oxygen-barrier film and silage grade (UV protection) 6-mil plastic. Avoid rainwater draining off the plastic down the wall into the silage to avoid nutrient leaching and butyric acid in the bottom and corners of the silo. (Packing & Covering Bunker Silos FieldCropNews.com).
Pastures: Most cool season grasses have headed. For optimum growth and forage quality the grass should be grazed before maturity advances. Quick rotations will help to maintain good quality forage. Consider harvesting one or more paddocks as hay/baleage if you have more mature forage than the livestock can graze. These paddocks will then be at the proper grazing stage in about 3-4 weeks. Annuals for summer grazing should be planted during early June for grazing in August. Remember that it is the rest and recovery period that grows more pasture. “Take half and leave half” on each rotation is a big step to optimizing pasture yields.

Soybeans: Horst Bohner
Rain and warm temperatures have resulted in fast emergence and vigorous early season growth. The seedbed was dry in some regions at planting time, leaving seed in dry ground. Those areas now received moisture so plant stands are expected to be good. Frost damage was limited as most fields had not emerged yet when the frost hit. For fields that were emerged, if frost damage penetrated below the cotyledons they will not recover. If the top of the plant is destroyed but not the stem portion below, the plant will send out new shoots from the base of the leaves or cotyledons. It usually takes 3-5 days to see if new growth will emerge. If plants survive there is no yield loss associated with early season frost unless the plant stand has been substantially reduced. Soybeans can tolerate -2.4 C for up to 4 hours before they are destroyed.

Weather Summary: Source: www.weatherinnovations.com/weather.cfm

FOR MORE INFORMATION: