June 25, 2008

 

Bug problems surface in Canada's Ontario due to wet weather

Frequent shower activity across Ontario slowed crop development in some regions but helped emergence of crops in others, according to the Ontario Agriculture and Agri-Food Department's field crop update for the week ended June 18.

 

The report noted that a large portion of the soy crops in the province have experienced good-to-excellent emergence. Bean leaf beetle feeding has been found in many areas, though damage has been minimal.

 

Rapeseed stands in most areas are excellent, the report said. April planted rapeseed is now at the bolting to first flower stage. Cabbage seedpod weevil was evident in many fields at below threshold levels.

 

Edible bean planting in Ontario was 80 percent to 95 percent complete in the southwest, and 10 percent to 80 percent complete in other areas. Emergence has been uniform in most fields, with root rot now evident in some fields.

 

Persistent shower activity across the province has made it difficult to complete competing weed control and nitrogen side dress operations for corn, the report said.

 

Many fields are yellow due to cool wet weather or from late control of weeds.

 

Most of the spring wheat in the province was at the flag leaf stage of development. Early seeded spring wheat and barley were beginning to head.

 

The main leaf diseases present in the province's cereals crops include powdery mildew and septoria leaf spot on wheat, net blotch and scald on barley, and some septoria leaf spot on oats, the report said.

 

Most of Ontario's winter wheat crop was in the early milk to soft dough stage of development, the report said. Armyworms have been found in many parts of southwestern Ontario above threshold levels.

 

Wet weather has delayed haying in many parts of the province and forage quality is decreasing quickly with advancing maturity. A considerable amount of hay has been rain-damaged, the report said.