July 14, 2009

The spring cereal crop in Ontario is progressing well with early planted fields now finished flowering and into the grain filling stage, according to the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs department's field crop update for the week ended Thursday (Jul 9).

 

Rust and septoria leaf spot is evident in some fields of oats and scald in the barley, the report said.

 

The province's corn crop has been developing, but at a slower pace than usual due to the absence of heat units.

 

The total cumulated heat units for May and June in some of the key growing regions were well behind the 30-year normal, the report said.

 

Normally, tasselling of the corn crop in Ontario would occur around July 21, but because the heat units are lacking, that process was expected to occur a bit later, the report said.

 

Overall, the condition of the corn crop varies widely by area, soil type, and soil management. Stress from excess moisture, poor drainage, poor planting conditions, and soil compaction are very evident as very uneven growth and yellowing of plants.

 

The soy crop in Ontario ranges from fourth trifoliate stage of development to beginning bloom stage.

 

In southwestern Ontario, a number of fields have closed canopy in early July and this is ideal for maximum yield potential. Early planted soy fields are in flower and later planted soy should be in flower shortly, the report said.

 

Weed management is complete on most soy acres, aside from some late emerging weed escapes.

 

Soy aphids continue to be found in fields across the province, but populations are still very low.

 

The harvest of winter wheat was expected to begin shortly in some areas, but most of the crop was still in the early grain fill stage.

 

The report said there was some black point in the grain on early maturing fields due to frequent rainfall during June. Fusarium was also present at low levels in most fields, but there were isolated fields which have moderate levels of infection.