Bean leaf beetle numbers modest - so far Sunday, June 8, 2008 by GEOFF DALE“Some fields are reporting a bit of activity but with the spring delayed it’s difficult to say whether it will be worse than or as bad as previous years,” says provincial field entomologist Tracey Baute.Mild winters in the past few years have allowed the brightly coloured beetle to flourish and progress further north, she says.“We’ve had some reports from Iowa down in the States that, based on their modeling, this year may not be as bad as 2007,” she adds. “They’re saying the winter there was much harsher and may have taken care of the insect.“But it’s still a problem here and producers have to keep a careful eye on seedlings and when the pods are forming.”In the past the insect was mostly confined to the southwest sector including Huron, Perth, Middlesex and even some parts of Elgin and Oxford Counties but they have been showing up recently in Bruce and Simcoe Counties.Ontario Soybean Growers research Crosby Devitt agrees mild winters are the chief culprits for the insect proliferation, noting the 2007 season began early so damage to seedlings were recorded in May.“We haven’t done much formal tracking before but this year, in cooperation with OMAFRA, we started a project that will monitor 35 sites weekly across the province,” he explains.As for the economic impact the beetle has on the provincial soybean industry, no real dollar figure has been set. However, Devitt stresses the impact on producers’ pocket books can come from: overall yield reduction; pierced pods affecting the seed quality; and cost of preventative measures like insecticides.Essex County grower Leo Guilbeault, also chair of the growers’ board, says it’ll be into summer before producers can determine the beetle’s impact on the 2008 yield.“Weather and the area are always the two major factors,” he added. “Two years ago it was severe right from the spring through to the end of the season. But last year it was more isolated and in Essex, there were fewer outbreaks.“Now there are lots of beans emerging but not a lot of beetles. We’ll wait and see if that pattern continues.” BF Producer information theft couldn't happen here says ACC chief Maryland alleges pigeon fraud
Tips for first year university students Friday, August 29, 2025 The final weekend of summer is here, and students across Ontario will be returning to class next week. That includes at the University of Guelph’s Ridgetown Campus, where staff, faculty, and volunteers are preparing to welcome a new crop of first year students. “There’s definitely a... Read this article online
Sterling buckle marks 170 years at Spencerville Fair Friday, August 29, 2025 For its 170th anniversary, the Spencerville Fair is presenting a distinctive piece of Canadian silverwork that reflects nearly two centuries of agricultural tradition. The 170th Anniversary Spencerville Fair Sterling Silver Buckle was designed and handcrafted by Alex Dordevic of TRIBE, a... Read this article online
Corn and Soybean Crops Fall Short in 2025 Predicts Great Ontario Yield Tour Thursday, August 28, 2025 Ontario’s 2025 corn and soybean harvest is shaping up to be one of the most challenging in recent memory, as persistent drought and heat have pushed yields below the Agricorp 10-year average say experts and master scouts Moe Agostino and Henry Prinzen of the 2025 Great Ontario Yield Tour.... Read this article online
Global grain trade gets a shake-up: What it means for Canadian farmers Thursday, August 28, 2025 The global grain and oilseed trading industry is undergoing a major transformation—and Canadian farmers should take note. A recently published study in the September 2025 issue of discussed how the traditional dominance of a few multinational giants is giving way to a more competitive,... Read this article online
Ontario Farmers Share Yield Strategies Amid Drought Wednesday, August 27, 2025 The Great Ontario Yield Tour held an event at Petersen Custom Farming in Osgood, Ontario, on Thursday, August 21, 2025. The farmer panel during lunch was one of the highlights of the event. Farmers and industry experts gathered to discuss yield strategies and the realities of this season’s... Read this article online