Army worms advance Wednesday, June 6, 2012 by SUSAN MANNIf you have the greenest, most advanced winter wheat fields in your area watch out for armyworms.That’s because armyworm moths can “actually sense how green the field is and they will lay their eggs in the greenest or the best fields,” Ontario agriculture ministry cereals specialist Peter Johnson says.This year there is significant armyworm pressure in some fields but it’s not everywhere, Johnson says. One particularly hard hit area is the north shore of Lake Erie as armyworm moths fly into Canada on the trade winds from the United States.But “we’ve had reports of heavy armyworm pressure from Niagara Falls to Windsor to as far north as Exeter,” he notes.Johnson recommends farmers get out into their field and scout at dusk so they can act before the larvae get too big to control. The threshold is five larvae per square foot under one inch in length.One unusual feature about this year is “there is quite an extended range of armyworm out there” whereas normally there is just one flush of the pests, he says. On the more advanced fields, the armyworms are already quite large and beyond control.Once the armyworm larvae are more than one inch long the damage is effectively done. They don’t feed much more after they get to that size. When they’re about an inch and a half long they pupate, become moths and fly off to Quebec.For some of the less advanced fields, the armyworms are extremely small, just one-quarter of an inch long, but are at quite high numbers. They need to be sprayed. “Don’t let them feed on the leaves forever,” he advises.Johnson says this year’s armyworm infestation isn’t as bad as the one five years ago when growers didn’t catch it early enough in many fields. Farmers spayed anyway “because their wheat had no leaves left on it.” But once they’re an inch and a quarter long, it’s too late to spray them.In addition to wheat, Johnson says they’re seeing armyworm damage in forages and a little bit in corn. For wheat, armyworms feed on the plants’ leaves. They can also start feeding on the bottom of the heads and chewing through the stems. That causes the heads to fall off. BF Horse racing study panel welcomed says OHRIA president Marketing commission revokes tomato processor's licence
RaboResearch says tariffs are disrupting global pork trade Saturday, May 24, 2025 According to a recent report from Rabobank, pork prices have rebounded and remain strong despite shifting trade flows and growing economic and consumer uncertainties. Rabobank is a Dutch multinational banking and financial services company specializing in the global food and agricultural... Read this article online
Livestock Research Innovation Corporation welcomes new board members Friday, May 23, 2025 Two new board directors have joined the leadership of Livestock Research Innovation Corporation (LRIC). Mohamad Yaghi with Farm Credit Canada (FCC) and Sonya Fiorini from Burnbrae Farms both fill appointed director positions on the LRIC board. Yaghi replaces Franco Naccarato from Meat and... Read this article online
Northern Ontario Farms Get Ag Plastic Recycling Wednesday, May 21, 2025 Northern Ontario agriculture communities have compacted 27 metric tons of agricultural plastics. The Northern Ontario Farm Innovation Alliance (NOFIA), in partnership with the northern caucus of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA), is proud to announce major progress in its... Read this article online
Ontario's Foodbelt: A Bold Move to Protect Farmland and Food Security Tuesday, May 13, 2025 The Ontario Federation of Agriculture, the National Farmers Union, Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario, and Ontario Farmland Trust are collaborating with Ontario Greens Leader Mike Schreiner and Haldimand-Norfolk independent MPP Bobbi Ann Brady to introduce legislation aimed at... Read this article online
Protecting Plant Health Supports All Life Monday, May 12, 2025 Healthy plants are vital to the survival and well-being of people, animals, and nature. They clean the air, support biodiversity, and are the foundation of food and economic systems. On May 12, Canadians celebrate International Day of Plant Health. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)... Read this article online