Insights

Keep on top of weed control for soybeans

Pat Lynch

Every year there are challenges in growing soybeans. This year weed control will be one of these challenges. This is partly due to lack to product but also due to some challenging weather, that has allowed weeds to get pretty big.

When spraying Roundup Ready soys, recognize that if you can see the weeds from the road you are losing yield. You have to get that first weed flush out early. If there is a second flush, deal with it later.

Posted on: 
June 3, 2009

Quick fixes for soil crust

Pat Lynch

Soil crusting has occurred in many fields across Southern Ontario. Clay pottery is made by mixing soil and water and then baking it. The combination of lots of rain and bright sun has duplicated this “clay baking process” in many Ontario fields.

How do you know you have a crust?

If you walk across the field and you can feel the soil move under your feet you do not have a crust. If it feels like your are walking on a road you have a crust. This crust must be removed.

Posted on: 
May 21, 2009

Daughter-in-laws don't work the same

Richard Cressman

One works in town at a well-paying job. When she comes home she continues to put in long hours working in the barn. The other quit her job soon after they got married and helps around the barn only when necessary

Posted on: 
May 19, 2009

Temperature affects herbicides

Pat Lynch

One of the rules for good weed control is that weeds must be actively growing. When you have cool weather without sunlight weeds are not growing as well as when the sun is shining and the temperatures are above 10 oC. This makes them harder to kill. 

Posted on: 
May 15, 2009

Late wheat planting may mean more disease pressure

Pat Lynch

Winter wheat weed control is more important in 2009 than most years.

The late planting last fall means that weeds have less competition from wheat than most years. Many fields have some killed-out spots or thin areas that will be a good place for weeds to grow.

The actual yield loss in wheat from weeds is not as big a deal as the other problems weeds cause in wheat fields:

Posted on: 
May 6, 2009

Plant corn now

Pat Lynch

The most important thing you can do to increase corn yield is to plant early. Even if the soil is not warm enough for fast germination, start planting. The soil will warm up. If you can make a good seedbed do it and get planting.

You have about 100 hours ideally to plant corn without losing yield. There are calculations to indicate that your time is worth about $100.00 per hour during corn planting time. If you have other jobs that you can hire out so that you can keep planting, hire those out. If you can hire someone that you can trust to plant while you cannot plant, hire them.

Posted on: 
April 27, 2009

Spring and winterkill affects Ontario's alfalfa crops

Pat Lynch

Check your alfalfa right now because a lot of fields have had significant spring/winterkill. Fields in eastern Ontario are more affected than those in western Ontario.

The great sap weather during the first days of April lead to significant alfalfa heaving.

When checking fields, consider dead any alfalfa plants that are easily pulled out.

If plants have not started to grow yet they may still be alive.

It is not uncommon to have some alfalfa plants with one to two-inch top growth and other plants with no growth at this time of year.

Posted on: 
April 22, 2009

How to assess your wheat stand

Pat Lynch

Around the province some wheat stands are not as good as you would like. Each field has to stand on its own merits.

If a wheat field has seven or more plants per foot of row that field has the potential to yield 90 per cent of its potential. (We normally seed 20-23 seeds per foot of row.)

The problem fields are those with dead patches.

Posted on: 
April 17, 2009

Brother and father don't get along

Richard Cressman

My brother and I want to take over the farm from our father. The issue is my brother and my dad seem to be at each other's throats all the time. Where do I go from here?

Posted on: 
April 15, 2009