Good weather conditions speed up soy growth in Ontario

Warm temperatures along with adequate moisture have resulted in rapid emergence and growth of soy crops in Ontario, according to the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture.

A few early planted soy fields have been replanted in the southwest, the report said. Many soy fields were now in the first trifoliate leaf stage of development.

Most of the corn in the province was at the six-leaf stage of development or beyond and was looking very good, the report said. The growth of the crop was seen as approximately a week to 10 days ahead of average. Producers were now in the process of trying to control weeds, the report said.

Advanced spring barley fields in the province have headed, with oat and spring wheat at the boot stage of development, the report said. Leaf disease pressure among the spring cereal crops was seen as low.

Meanwhile, hot, sunny weather has advanced canola growth in Ontario rapidly. There is considerable variation in stands with some excellent stands, while others are thin from lack of moisture, the report said. Canola planted early to mid April was in the bolting to bud stage of development.

Early winter wheat crops were well headed in May, with later fields heading out the first week of June. Fusarium went from low risk to high risk in many areas in late May. Leaf diseases were moving up in the canopy, with leaf rust now confirmed in some isolated fields, the report said.

With hot, sunny weather, considerable first-cut has been harvested as both high quality haylage and hay. Alfalfa stands were quite variable, with some in excellent shape, while others were suffering from lack of moisture, the report said.