News Seeding/Planting
OMAFRA’s first crop report of 2021 now available

Field Crop News has released its first crop report of the 2021 growing season. Produced by the field crop specialists of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), these crop reports provide a snapshot of progress and factors affecting production throughout the season.

Winter wheat is in fine shape, with fluctuating temperatures causing some frost damage (unlikely to cause yield damage) while keeping disease pressure low. Spring cereals were planted in good conditions and are emerging uniformly.

While planting varies widely across the province, soybean planting is estimated to be at around five per cent complete, as growers have been focusing on corn. Planting varies by rainfall and soil type, but corn croppers were busy over the first weekend in May.

Winter canola fields have begun flowering, and growers are advised to keep an eye out for cabbage seedpod weevil and white mould, which affect the crop at this stage. Seeding of spring canola is ongoing, and growers (especially those in the Temiskaming area) are advised to watch for signs of flea beetle feeding.

Some frost damage has been reported on alfalfa, but it is not expected to have a yield impact, being largely superficial. The April forage report has more complete detail on the progress of those crops. |READ MORE