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Author Archive for: Agronomy Team
Entries by Agronomy Team
Understanding in-field variability: soil sampling
Written by Alex Richardson, Agricultural Consultant, Thompsons – Blenheim. Wheat harvest is complete and yields have given us great insight about our fields once again. Variability was evident, and the results remind us it’s time to soil sample. Soil sampling after wheat harvest is a great option to allow for the right conditions, and the […]
Late season nitrogen application
Late season nitrogen application has been a hot topic amongst farmers and uptake in this practice has increased in recent years. The expense and environmental impact has made growers think differently about nitrogen application. Weather extremes has also caused growers to change the way they apply nitrogen to mitigate loses from excessive rainfall when applying […]
Wheat leaf diseases
What increases the risk of infection? Cool temperatures Prolonged periods of wet weather Rust problems in the southern US states and Mexico could mean the same for Ontario as storm systems carry the spores north Planting susceptible varieties.Planting after another cereal or corn crop. How do I know when to apply a fungicide?
Soybean Storage and Conditioning
Now that your crops are in the bin, it’s important to learn how to keep them conditioned and stored properly. Throughout the winter months it’s important to monitor your soybean temperature, and to aerate your bins. If you haven’t sold any beans then coring out your bin can be an option to remove some fines, […]
The dirt on soil tests
With soil nutrient levels dropping, how do you need to change your soil-testing program and fertility rates? By Ralph Pearce, CG Production Editor Fewer farmers are sampling their soils. In Ontario, the numbers say fewer than 30 per cent of farmers test every three years, even though this trend is leading to a data gap at […]
Estimating Corn Yield
Early corn yield estimations are a great way to get out into your field and start to predict the yield of different varieties given the growing season. It allows a grower to start making harvest decisions, marketing decisions, and to estimate needed storage capacity. How many spots should I sample from? Generally doing a kernel […]
Estimating Soybean Yield
Calculating soybean yields can be difficult. Plant spacing, soil types, environmental factors, insect and disease stress can all affect the final yield. Pod numbers, seeds per pod, and seed size will all control yield. When do I begin counting? The earliest time to begin yield counts is around R5-R6 stage with the R6 stage being […]
Gibberella Ear Rot in corn
What is it? Gibberella Ear Rot, or Red Ear Rot, is caused by the fungus, Gibberella zeae (Fusarium graminearum). This disease can occur throughout the U.S. Mid-West and Southern Ontario. The pathogen overwinters on corn, wheat and barley debris. Spores produced on the debris lead to infection during silking. Red Ear Rot is more prevalent […]
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