News Corn
Ontario corn summary shows frequent rain affected – but didn’t defeat – crop

In April 2023, Statistics Canada estimated Ontario farmers intended to plant 2.3 million acres of grain corn – 5 per cent higher than the five-year (2018-2022) average seeded acres of 2.19 million acres. OMAFRA’s final grain corn planting estimates for the province were 2.26 million acres.

A cold, damp spring meant most acres were planted in May, starting in earnest in the second week of the month. Very hot and sunny weather in May’s final week resulted in exceptionally quick corn growth.

The wildfires of June – and the abundance of smoke they produced – likely didn’t have much of an effect on the corn crop, but the air quality and strangely coloured skies were notable.

July and August were subject to weather instability and frequent rain and thunderstorms, with significant localized rainfall events happening occasionally. That, in addition to cooler than normal temperatures, leading to late maturity, high moisture levels and a slow start to harvest. |READ MORE