For more information:

• Telephone: CropLine at 1-888-449-0937 or visit
• Online: www.omafra.gov.on.ca/croppest

Canola/Edible Beans: Brian Hall
Most canola has been planted into warm, moist soil conditions resulting in good emergence in 5-7 days. Monitor emerged canola for flea beetles up to 4 leaf stage. Good growing conditions will allow canola seedlings to outgrow light to moderate flea beetle damage. Highest populations of flea beetles are in outside margins of fields, as adults migrate in from overwintering shelterbelts and fence rows. In some cases only the outside area of a field may require treatment. Foliar products have only a short residual providing only 3-4 days of protection. Swede midge adults are now being caught in insect traps. A monitoring project has been established in most canola growing areas. Updates will be posted on http://ontariocanolagrowers.ca/ and http://fieldcropnews.com/.

Cereals: Peter Johnson
Early wheat fields in the deep southwest are heading. The majority of the crop is at flag leaf emergence, and all herbicides should have been applied a week ago. Late wheat or wheat in shorter season areas is at first node. Rye for forage harvest is complete, with good yields and quality. Significant N loss is apparent on heavy clay soils where early N applications and 6+ inches of April rain occurred. Dry May conditions have exacerbated this problem. Wheat will respond to late N applications where N is deficient. In severe situations immediately applying additional N would increase yield. Tremendous leaf burn has occurred from spray applications of any nature although yield impact will be minimal. This has been caused by predominantly cool, cloudy conditions which result in thin cuticles more susceptible to leaf injury. Shallow planting depths and aggressive tillage, coupled with dry weather have resulted in extremely variable spring cereal stands in Eastern Ontario. Seeding into moisture is critical in achieving vigorous uniform stands. Early fields are tillering. All spring cereals are now at the critical stage for weed control.

Corn: Greg Stewart
Corn planting is virtually complete across the province. Corn planted at the beginning of May is at the 3rd leaf stage. Localized intense rainfall events have reminded us of the importance of leaving 30% residue cover on all soil surfaces. Replant decisions on some of the thinner stands may benefit from the Replant Decision Aid posted to http://www.gocorn.net. Be sure to get accurate plant counts of the current stand and to consider all of the replanting economics (yield potential, crop insurance, seed, herbicide and equipment costs, etc). Weed control should be the priority for those crops that are moving into that critical 3-4 leaf stage. Delaying herbicide applications past the 4th leaf stage in order to have more weeds emerged to the first pass is almost always the wrong decision. Producers applying UAN via streamer nozzles in the next few weeks should use the full pre-plant rate not the side-dress rate which is typically 10-20 % lower. Refer to the N Calculator at http://www.gocorn.net for rate selection. The annual provincial soil N survey of corn fields will be reported at http://www.fieldcropnews.com by late Friday June 7th.

Forages/Pastures: Joel Bagg/Jack Kyle
Forages: First-cut forage yield expectations are variable with reduced yield expected in drier areas or where winter damaged, older, and fall harvested stands are showing stress. Harvest of dairy haylage is likely to begin the week of May 27th. Dairy producers should target 1st cut haylage harvest at an optimum 40% NDF. Using “Scissors-cut” sampling/rapid lab analysis, “PEAQ sticks” and Growing Degree Days (GDD) estimates can help predict optimal harvest dates. If practical, delaying harvest of stressed fields will improve plant health and increase yield. Grass maturity in mixed stands influences cutting decisions. Refer to optimize Forage Quality, http://fieldcropnews.com/?p=2610. Alfalfa weevil larvae are reported in the south-west with some above treatment threshold, suggesting scouting at this time is important. Feeding damage starts as leaf pinholes, progresses to feeding between the leaf veins and results in a skeletonized appearance. Larvae are bright green with a distinctive white stripe down the centre of the back. Insecticide is recommended only when cutting is impractical, such as when it is too long to optimal harvest date. (Alfalfa Weevil, http://fieldcropnews.com/?p=3108)

Pastures: Where Orchardgrass is starting to head graze immediately to maintain quality and stimulate new leaf growth. Moving livestock to new paddocks when half of the available forage is eaten will manage this early growth and prepare pastures for continued production during the coming months. High stock densities can assist with weed control, especially early in the season when weeds are lush, vegetative and more palatable than during flowering. Monitor cattle on pasture for any potential problems such as grass tetany, caused by rapidly growing fresh grass. Providing loose salt and a mineral with magnesium will help reduce the risk tetany. http://bit.ly/omafrapastures4

Soybeans: Horst Bohner
The majority of soybeans have now been planted although considerable acreage is yet to be seeded in some areas. Soil conditions have generally been excellent and early planted fields have started to emerge. Although many producers roll fields immediately after planting, some rolling does occur after emergence. Rolling soybeans after emergence does not reduce yields, but keep these points in mind:
- Roll during the heat of the day to ensure that soybeans are limp. Soybeans are most turgid (stiff) during the morning hours, so rolling during this time will result in more plant injury.
- Do not roll soybeans that are in the hook stage since they are most vulnerable to stem breakage when just emerging out of the ground. The best time to roll soybeans is during the unifoliate stage since all beans will have emerged by then. Rolling can be completed successfully up to the second-trifoliate leaf stage.

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

Canola/Edible Beans: Brian Hall
Canola: Some growers are asking about impact of planting date on yield. The most important yield determining factor is temperature conditions during flowering, with 20°C being ideal. some growers have experienced good success with later planting which may be the result of favourable moisture and temperature during flowering. Canola varieties typically begin flowering within 45-50 days after planting. Also, consider when the crop will be ready for harvest, which is typically within 95-110 days after planting. Canola planted now should be monitored for swede midge. Flea beetles are now also evident in emerged canola, on volunteer canola and weeds. Monitor canola up to the 4 leaf stage for flea beetle. Seed treatments provide control for 3-4 weeks for low-moderate levels of flea beetles.
Edible Beans: Seeding rate for white or black beans in 15 inch rows is 150,000 seeds/ac (3 – 4 seeds/foot of row), 110,000 seeds/ac in 21 inch rows (3.5 – 4.5 seeds/ft) and 90,000 seeds/ac (4.5 – 5 seeds/ft) in 30 inch rows. Dry beans require significant moisture to germinate. Plant into excellent soils conditions, at a uniform depth of 1.5 – 2.5 inches, striving to have the seed placed 1.25cm (½ inch) into moist soil.

Cereals: Peter Johnson
Advanced wheat in Essex is at full flag, with most early seeded wheat at second node and later planted at first node. Weed control products need to be applied before the flag leaf stage. Early forage rye is approaching boot stage and needs to be cut immediately if quality forage is desired. Winter barley development is slow: the crop may have suffered from cold injury. Sulphur deficiency is prevalent in fields with no S applied. Symptoms are a general yellowing of eroded knolls or low organic matter areas. Correct immediately! Apply (11 kg/ha) 10 lbs/ac of actual S as sulphate (SO4), either foliar or soil applied. Mn deficiency is also evident. Apply (2.25 kg/ha) 2 lbs/ac of actual Mn as a foliar application. Disease levels remain low. Cereal leaf beetle damage is evident in traditional hot spots. Scout and spray if needed.
Spring cereals are emerging, with some variable stands in the drier parts of Eastern Ontario. Some barley fields are quite yellow after cold temperatures, but should rapidly recover. Frost seeded crops are at the early tillering stage, and weed control needs to be completed immediately.

Corn: Greg Stewart
Corn planting continued to progress rapidly, with 85% of the crop in the ground by May 15th. Some exceptions are areas where heavier soils continued to dry slowly or where rainfall amounts were higher. Crop Heat Unit (CHU) accumulation in the first 14 days of May has been 203 and 222 for London, and Ottawa respectively, with the 30 year average being 156 for both locations. Since corn requires approximately 180 CHU to emerge, most of the corn planted in the first few days of May has emerged. Localised pounding rains have caused some crusting. Keep an eye out for fields that might benefit from a pass with the rotary hoe. If rain was not received within 5-7 days after application of pre-emergent herbicides, a shallow cultivation is required to activate the herbicides.

Forages/Pastures: Joel Bagg/Jack Kyle
Forages: Early maturing orchard grass varieties have headed. Dairy producers are monitoring alfalfa maturity and will begin harvesting haylage soon. Growing Degree Days are currently normal, but 2 weeks behind last year. Scissors Cutting and PEAQ (Predictive Equations for Alfalfa Quality) Sticks are also methods used to determine when to harvest for optimal quality. (Using “Scissors Cutting” To Optimize Forage Quality http://fieldcropnews.com/?p=2610). Watch new seedings closely for annual broadleaf weeds and to determine optimum time of spraying. The risk of injury to alfalfa seedlings is greatly increased when 2,4-DB application is made outside of the first- to the third trifoliate stage window. 2,4-DB can suppress legume growth for a period of 2 – 3 weeks and severe injury can occur under drought or high temperatures.
Pastures: Grasses are advancing quickly with orchardgrass now starting to head. Using a quick rotation to graze all paddocks before the grass becomes mature is important. In a rotational system, look to the last paddock in the rotation and adjust the rotation speed to arrive at the last paddock before the grasses have headed out. To maintain good growth throughout the summer, do not over graze pastures, leaving 7-10 cm (or more) of green material will allow the plants to recover quickly. Applying 40 kg/ha of nitrogen after the first or second rotation will stimulate growth. If you will need to source extra forage consider planting an annual crop for grazing. For more information on annual crops follow this link http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/pub811/3species.htm#annual.

Soybeans: Horst Bohner
Soybean seeding is well under way. Some growers have finished seeding. Soil conditions have been good. Soybeans should not be seeded too deep at this date because cooler soil temperatures will slow emergence. As long as the seed is put into moisture, a 2.5 cm (1”) seeding depth is sufficient in no-till. Seed should be placed about 1 cm into moisture. Switching to shorter maturity beans rather than adapted varieties to a specific area is not recommended unless planting date is delayed past June 15th. Choosing a shorter day bean now is unnecessary and can significantly reduce yield potential even if winter wheat is to be seeded this fall. If planting is delayed into June seeding rates should be kept high unless the field has a history of white mould. If planting later than the first week of June increase seeding rates by 10%.

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

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

• Telephone: CropLine at 1-888-449-0937
• Online: www.omafra.gov.on.ca/croppest

Open to members, member’s families, and on a recognition basis only: OSCIA paid staff and Board of Directors.

Contest theme: What does the OSCIA mission statement mean to you?

OSCIA Mission Statement: To facilitate responsible economic management of soil, water, air and crops through development and communication of innovative farming practices.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

• Click here to go to the OSCIA website (includes a link on this page for a printable, downloadable PDF of the rules)

Here’s your chance to share them with your fellow Golden Horseshoe members!

A new “Photo Album” page has been added to our website, “Crop Year 2013″. If you have photos you want to share, please email them along with caption details to goldenhorseshoe.scia@rogers.com with the subject line, “Crop Year 2013″. Submission implies permission to use the photos on the website and/or in the newsletter, as space permits.

Three photos from this week are now available on this new page. One from Peel, in the northern most end of our region, with two from Norfolk in our far south. To check them out, click here.

Spirit Tree Estate Cidery has won numerous awards and appeared in several newspapers and magazines (including our own goldenhorseshoe newsletter, Fall 2011) and now they are going to be featured on an upcoming television show. Be sure to watch to learn more about Spirit Tree Estate Cidery on PBS-TV’s ”Discover Canada Night” as they explore New Brunswick, Ontario and Alberta.

• Show: Off the Beaten Palate
• When: Thursday, June 6th 2013
• Where: DPTV-PBS at 7:30PM EST (check your local listings)

For more information on Spirit Tree Estate Cidery:

• Click here for website.
• Click here for Facebook
• Click here for blog
• Click here for Twitter.

Many of the farm family businesses and the communities themselves in this area of the province were built on the success of the once-thriving tobacco industry.

But the stronghold of that industry was not to last.

With the tobacco industry challenges and obstacles, many of the farm families had to re-focus and re-direct their energies and from this has flourished new and innovative opportunities in the farm community, including the growth of several specialty crops.

This week Ontario’s farm writers, agriculture industry communication staff and agency personnel gathered together in Norfolk County to see and experience first-hand this amazing and exciting diversity.

Norfolk County SCIA member Remi Van De Slyke was one of the tour hosts, giving many of the tour participants their first up-close-and-personal introduction to Ontario-grown ginseng and hops.

It was exciting to have the Eastern Canadian Farm Writers’ Association convene in Norfolk County to see the beauty of what our Golden Horseshoe region has to offer. Thanks to all the tour hosts, with a special call out to Remi Van De Slyke–doing Norfolk and Golden Horseshoe SCIA proud.

Revisions for 2013 are highlighted in yellow.

To access the online copy, click here.

To access the blog, click here.

Information on ginseng, tobacco and a wide range of specialty crops will be posted on the blog throughout the growing season as issues occur. Clicking on the tags in the right column of the blog will allow you to quickly access articles that match that topic or crop.

Subscribers to the former Ginseng and Specialty Crop Report will receive a weekly summary (Specialty Crop Update) throughout the growing season of all blog posts for that week, with a link to each post. If you want to receive notice of new posts as they occur, you can subscribe to the blog directly under “Email Subscription” in the right column. Ginseng growers who have signed up for the fax version of the Ginseng Crop Report will still receive a fax on a regular basis.

Click on the titles below to link directly to that article in the blog:

• Ginseng Crop Update
• Ginseng Scout Training – May 16th Simcoe   **Note: we do not yet have the minimum of 5 registrants, Friday, May 10th is the deadline**

Cereals: Peter Johnson
Rye for forage is advancing rapidly, with early planted fields approaching flag leaf stage. Highest protein is achieved at flag leaf, but yields are much higher at later stages. Winter wheat has entered the rapid growth stage with stem elongation underway. Temperatures have been ideal for cereal growth: no high temperatures or warm nights to increase lodging concerns. Nitrogen applications are complete. Advanced wheat is at second node, perfect timing for the first fungicide application: most wheat is at first node. Disease levels remain low. Annual weeds have germinated and herbicide applications are underway, far too late for control of dandelion or winter annual weeds. Manganese and sulphur deficiency are evident on fields with a history of the respective nutrient deficiency. Correct these shortfalls immediately to avoid significant yield loss. Spring cereal plantings are winding up, with quick emergence and excellent stands. Frost seeded cereals have a huge jump this spring, already at the 3 to 4 leaf stage as other spring cereals just emerge.

Corn: Greg Stewart
Seventy percent of the provincial corn crop has been planted; most in the last 5 days. The crop left to plant is on heavier land that is just now reaching planting condition. Ontario farmers are now equipped to plant 15% of the corn crop per day. There has been a bit of a fertilizer supply issue, or really a logistical issue in getting fertilizer delivered to farms since so much activity has occurred in such a short time span. Farmers are encouraged to plant the crop to achieve optimal planting dates and field conditions, and not delay waiting on fertilizer application but ensuring at least 34 kg/ha (30 lbs/ac) of nitrogen (N) goes down with the planter. Conditions for the crop planting have been near optimal. The earliest planted corn on light textured soils has emerged. With weather conditions to date, expect corn to emerge in 7 to 8 days. Pre emergent herbicide application is in full swing. With the rapid emergence of corn watch staging and product labels carefully. Pre emergent herbicides require moisture to be effective. If rain is not received within 5-7 days after application, a shallow cultivation is recommended to activate the herbicides and kill the first flush of very small whitish/green weeds. Most pre emergent herbicides will not control emerged weeds, especially grasses, even when the weeds are still essentially invisible.

Forages/Pastures: Joel Bagg/Jack Kyle
Forages: Alfalfa winterkill is particularly severe in the Ottawa Valley and New Liskeard. There are many options, depending on the calendar date, urgency for short term feed, and forage yield and nutrient quality requirements (http://fieldcropnews.com/?p=6680). Forage supplies are extremely tight, and acreage needs to be increased to rebuild inventories. The best option is to replace the winterkilled stand by seeding a new forage stand in a new field in the crop rotation. Corn can follow the winterkilled alfalfa to take advantage of the 123 kg/ha (110 lb/ac) N credit and the rotational benefit of 10-15% corn yield increase. A direct seeding can be done, or use a companion crop such as cereals or cereal-pea mixtures. Do not reseed alfalfa into a winterkilled alfalfa stand, unless it was seeded the preceding spring. Autotoxicity reduces the germination and growth of new alfalfa plants for the life of the stand. Nitrogen application can increase yield and protein in good grass stands.

Pastures: Pasture growth has progressed well over the past week with warm temperatures. Growth over the next couple of weeks will be rapid; this first rotation is when you get your pastures set for the remainder of the season. Do not over graze, leaving 3 – 4 inches of grass behind will allow for rapid re-growth and the development of a strong stand. Assess your pasture now to determine if an annual crop will be needed for mid or late summer grazing. Sorghum-sudan, brassicas, cereals, annual rye grass or corn are crops to consider.

Soybeans: Horst Bohner
Soybean planting has started in much of the province. Soil conditions have been excellent in dryer areas and soil temperatures have been ideal. Some growers have finished planting both corn and soybeans. When temperatures are warm soybeans can emerge in less than one week. Glyphosate burndowns should be applied 5 – 7 days before planting to ensure adequate translocation into perennial weeds. If annual weeds are the target, a 3 day pre-plant interval is adequate. It’s estimated that up to 20% of Ontario fields are below ideal levels of potassium (K) for soybeans. Applying K before planting is an acceptable practice for fields with low soil test levels. Any field with less than 100 ppm K in soil test results may suffer significant yield losses, especially in dry years. A 50 bu/ac crop removes about 70 lbs/acre of potassium.

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

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

• Telephone: CropLine at 1-888-449-0937
• Online: www.omafra.gov.on.ca/croppest