Top Crop Manager

News Seeding/Planting
Ontario producers rethink plans amid slow planting progress

June 3, 2019  By Top Crop Manager


Planting progress in Ontario remained slow for all crops and poor weather significantly delayed spray applications, according to the latest crop report from Ontario’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA).

Temperatures forecasted for early June are relatively cool, remaining around or below the 20 degrees celsius mark in many regions.

Corn and soybean progress are behind schedule, but nothing compared to what U.S. corn farmers are dealing with in the Midwest where there has been non-stop rain. The United States Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency stated that corn planting progress was only 58 per cent complete at the end of the May – the slowest pace ever recorded since records began in 1980. Currently the Midwest is set to break records with analysts predicting six million acres of unplanted corn for 2019.

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In Ontario, corn planting progress at the end of May was estimated to be less than 50 per cent complete. In some regions, corn planting was followed by up to seven inches of rain so producers are encouraged to check their crop and determine if replanting is necessary.

Other highlights from the latest crop report include:

  • Soybean planting across the province is estimated to be five per cent or less.
  • Soybean producers are encouraged to assess whether their variety is adapted or long for their region and plant the longest maturing variety that will mature in the fall.
  • Soybean producers are also encouraged to increase seeding rates by 10 per cent if planting after June 1, to maintain yield.
  • Risk of Fusarium for winter wheat is high due to prolonged wet conditions.
  • Dry edible bean producers will begin planting, once conditions are fit. A heavy rain after planting can have a greater negative impact on yield than planting date.
  • Most winter canola is in full bloom and beyond fungicide application timing. Fields should be scouted for cabbage seedpod weevil.

Read the latest crop report from OMAFRA’s field crop team.

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