While some areas of Ontario have crops that are developing well, other areas still have significant acreage to be planted, according to the latest field observations from the Grain Farmers of Ontario on Thursday.
Fields that have been planted seem to be progressing well, with corn staging up to V7 and soybeans V4, while winter wheat is in the flowering to milk stage.
Corn planting is estimated at about 90% complete, with the remaining acres soon to be switched to soybeans if they haven’t already. Meanwhile, soybean planting is pegged at about 80% complete.
Corn:
Those who have livestock and need corn for feed will be changing hybrids to account for the later planting. The Agricorp corn planting deadline for crop production insurance is June 15. Initial and replanted acres must be planted before the deadline to be insured. Replanted acres planted after the deadline will need to be kept separate at harvest.
Weed control has been challenging this year due to wet ground and high winds.
Soybeans:
There are still lots of soybeans to go into the ground in areas that have received excessive and continual rains.
There have been some replant decisions made this year due to heavy rains causing crusting, poor emergence, and slug damage. There has been some bean leaf beetle pressure on emerged fields.
Cereals:
Winter wheat is staging from flowering to milk stage (GS 63, flowering ¼ complete to GS 77, late milk). T3 fungicide timing (during flowering) is still occurring across the province. With the weather being cooler, damp, and rainy in recent days, it is a prime setup for fusarium head blight.
The cooler weather is also a bonus for grain fill; the longer the grain fill period, the better the chance for higher yields, but as is known, things can change, and change quickly, as 30 degree Celsius days are on the way next week, which will increase the rate of grain fill.
