Call it a lot of bad news contrasting against the potential for some upside. Yes, early July — particularly in the southwest corner of Ontario — was not only wet, it was very wet — a deluge that has damaged some crops and probably lowered yield. But the bright spot to this wet first half […] Read more
Ontario crops: not just wet, but very wet
Pearce: Can we hybridize wheat?
Considerable discussion in the past few years has focused on improving wheat, both in terms of quality and yield. Much has been made of corn’s hybridization and the advances that came from that plant breeding process — and that’s led to similar debates on the ease or difficulty of hybridizing wheat, or even soybeans. Highlighting […] Read more
Pearce: With wheat in head, Ont. aerial applicators get ready
One farmer’s deliverance can be another farmer’s delay — and that seems to be the case for many growers in parts of southern Ontario. Rains in the past week have left some fields with flooded portions, mostly at the headlands. In spite of appearances, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of concern for those […] Read more
Pearce: Rain a good sign to most Ont. soybean growers
Some Ontario growers were happier than others to see the end of May — and for more than one reason. The planting season across much of Ontario is all but done, and in spite of later-than-desired planting for corn, soybeans went in as expected. Yet aside from a late-month deluge, things were getting a little […] Read more
Pearce: Glyphosate-resistant weeds come to Huron County
Glyphosate resistance continues to be a hot topic as more Ontario growers head into the field to finish off their corn planting and begin work on their soybean acres. Yet according to Dr. Peter Sikkema, a recent find of glyphosate-resistant Canada fleabane and giant ragweed in Huron County comes as something of a surprise. Sikkema, […] Read more
Pearce: Ruling over Ont. wind farm does more to confuse
Many a battle over rural resources and farm development has been waged between rural neighbours in the past 15 years — ranging from legal challenges surrounding hog barn constructions to the development of gravel pits beneath arable land. In the latest such battle, a recent ruling by an Ontario Superior Court of Justice would appear […] Read more
Pearce: Warmer Ont. weather opens window to plant
Two weeks ago, the word on corn planting in southern Ontario was so limited it wasn’t even expressed as a percentage, just as “a few acres” in the immediate area. The biweekly meeting of certified crop advisors and provincial ministry staff, held near Exeter, north of London, was more focussed on nitrogen applications on wheat […] Read more
Pearce: Concerns over glyphosate resistance seen rising
A recent survey by Stratus Agri-Marketing of Guelph has found concerns on the rise about herbicide-resistant weeds among farmers in Eastern Canada — specifically, resistance to glyphosate is gaining more attention. In the U.S., an online survey in 2012 found upward of 61.2 million acres of cropland have some species of glyphosate-resistant weed. That’s almost […] Read more
Pearce: Planter row unit’s launch helps boost growers’ spirits
Commodity prices are higher than 10 years ago, but growers are still looking for that competitive edge — that one parameter that boosts their production on a per-bushel basis. In the past year, one theme that has popped up repeatedly is “Control the controllable,” referring to everything from fertility to tillage and from crop rotations […] Read more
Pearce: Lots of anticipation, not much Ont. planting yet
The status of winter annual weeds, and the progress of nitrogen application on wheat, were two of the key topics at the latest biweekly meeting of certified crop advisors (CCAs) and provincial ministry staff, near Exeter, Ont. This marked the second such meeting of dealers, retailers and consultants, yet in the time between this meeting […] Read more
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