June 27, 2006

 

Canadian corn in Ontario benefits from return of hot weather

 

 

The return of hot temperatures to much of Ontario were beneficial to the corn crops, according to Ontario Agriculture and Agri-Food Department's crop update for the period ended Jun 21.

 

Much of the early planted corn has almost filled in between the rows, the report said. Rainfall has been spotty with some areas receiving very little and others receiving heavy thunderstorms with hail. In general soil moisture is holding up well, the report said. The warmer weather and rains have greatly improved the appearance of the crop. The crop is entering the period of rapid growth.

 

Some isolated locations received hail that damaged corn leaves.

 

Most of the spring cereals were at the flag leaf to pollination stage of development, Ontario Agriculture said. Leaf disease pressure (Powdery mildew, Septoria, Tan spot, Net blotch in barley and Septoria leaf blotch) was seen as variable, but generally remains low.

 

Planting of Ontario's soybean crop is now complete, and emergence has been good in most fields, the report said. Significant replanting of some soybean fields occurred in south-western Ontario on clay type soils due to crusting and soil consolidation. Those fields have now emerged and were in the cotyledon to 1st trifoliate stage of development. Isolated intense storms along with hail resulted in significant stand damage and loss, with replanting in a few areas.

 

Soybean aphids have been found in isolated fields from Windsor to Ottawa. Populations are very low at present, the report said.

 

The Ontario Asian soybean rust sentinel plot network for 2006 has been established and the 37 sentinel plots represent the main soybean-producing areas of the province ranging from Windsor through to Ottawa, the report said. They are presently being scouted on a two-week basis and no soybean rust has been detected. At present the soybean rust risk for Ontario is still low, but the next few weeks will provide a further indication to the 2006 risk for soybean rust in Ontario.

 

Planting of the edible bean crop in Ontario was also finished now in most areas, and emergence has generally been good, the report said. In a few areas dry soil conditions have resulted in uneven emergence. Isolated thunderstorms with hail have resulted in a few replants.

 

Winter wheat was mostly at the early milk to early dough stage of development, the report said. The earliest crop should be ready to harvest the first week of July.

 

The first cut hay harvest was well ahead of normal for the first day of summer, but there was still a large volume of hay to come off the field, the report said.

 

Ontario Agriculture said most of this hay will be destined for markets where high protein and energy is not as important as for high producing dairy cows, but it would be a mistake to assume that this hay is low quality, and therefore not worth protecting.

 

Pasture growth in Ontario has begun to slow in areas that have received little rain since mid-May, the report said.