Top Crop Manager

News Seeding/Planting
Planting progress: Break in weather provides relief for Ontario

June 17, 2019  By Top Crop Manager


After weeks of wet weather, Ontario producers received a break in the weather that allowed for significant planting progress to be made, according to the latest crop report from Ontario’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA).

Sunshine and warm temperatures dominated for a string of days and many areas reported corn planting reaching 90 to 95 per cent complete. Regions with heavy textured soils did not progress to the same extent, but some have been able to start planting corn, a step up from the small amount of areas where field work hasn’t been able to be started.

Despite the calendar date and reduced yield potential of later planting, producers continued to plant corn noting the competitiveness of returns relative to soybeans. The situation might change with weather reports suggesting more rainfall to come, meaning that growers who were unable to plant corn last week will likely switch to soybeans.

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The crop insurance planting deadline for soybeans has been extended by five days until June 25, or July 5 for some regions, making it an option for producers who didn’t plan corn before the corn planting deadline of June 12 or 17. The production insurance planting deadlines for corn and soybeans were extended in response to the difficult and wet planting conditions across the province.

Other highlights from the latest crop report include:

  • Agronomist are reporting good emergence and crop stands in corn, despite planting conditions that were pushed in many fields.
  • Significant planting progress has been made for soybeans, with planting progress reported as high as 50 to 75 per cent in some areas — a step up from the previous crop report that only reported less than 10 per cent progress.
  • Soybean producers are encouraged to increase seeding rates by an additional 10 per cent to compensate for plants with fewer pods.
  • Given continued wet conditions, the risk for Fusarium head blight is still high in winter wheat and T3 fungicide applications are recommended.
  • Edible bean planting is slowly progressing. Edible beans are generally more sensitive to cool wet planting conditions than corn and soybeans.
  • Canola planted in northern Ontario is reported to be around the 1st leaf stage and flea beetle control has been warranted in some fields.
  • Swede midge for canola is also a concern, and fields should be scouted while the crop remains susceptible which is up to the bolt stage.

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

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