Prospects dwindle for corn planted on lighter soil Friday, July 29, 2011 by SUSAN MANNThis month’s high temperatures have helped push Ontario’s corn crop development particularly in fields planted late in the growing season but more rain is needed.Greg Stewart, Ontario agriculture ministry corn specialist, says most areas across the province have been significantly short of the rain that’s needed this month. Corn on light, sandy soils south of Highway 401 in the Cambridge and Norfolk County areas has been significantly hurt by the dry weather and probably isn’t going to recover.“There’s been some significant impact on yield on the lighter soils,” he says.On the heavy clay soils, the plants looked pretty tough because those soils have a hard time releasing their water to the roots.Sixty per cent of the corn throughout Ontario was planted May 8 to 13. But rain delayed some planting and a fair bit was left to finish off in June. Some corn was planted into tacky soils and those soils hardened in the dry spell.Growing conditions started out tough with too much rain. Even on loamy soils where water isn’t usually a problem there are many holes in the fields where water sat and either killed the corn or farmers couldn’t plant in those areas.Fields were much more variable than normal due to excessive spring rains. Then came the dryness.“You never really want to follow a wet spring with a really hot, dry July because the soils are tight and elevated water tables in the spring prevent root growth,” Stewart says.But on the positive side corn planted late is benefiting from the hot weather. Growers were hoping for heat to push development so “you don’t have the crop maturing too late into the fall,” he explains. On Wednesday, fairly widespread rains hit areas from Essex to Elora and that’s taking some of the pressure off.For corn planted in May it’s in the critical pollination period and it’s “trying to determine how many kernels are going to be on the cob,” Stewart says. Dry conditions now can impact the number of kernels that set on the ear. Even if conditions turned around marvelously on August 10 the number of kernels on the ear can’t be changed. Still with improved weather, the kernels can be filled better and will be bigger. BF Goat cheese makers get expansion money Justice finds whistle blower not in contempt
Ontario Promotes Local Food to Boost Economy and Jobs Thursday, June 5, 2025 Ontario is celebrating Local Food Week from June 2–8, 2025, honoring the people behind the province’s strong and self-sufficient food supply. From farmers and food processors to retailers and restauranteurs, these individuals contribute to the economy and food security. The agriculture... Read this article online
Scientists at Guelph Target Avian Threat Thursday, June 5, 2025 The University of Guelph (U of G) is activeey engaged against the spread of avian flu. Experts from a variety of departments, including virology, engineering, veterinary medicine, and computer science, are working together to stop this growing threat. “This is not just a crisis for the... Read this article online
Trouw Nutrition launches IntelEgg Thursday, June 5, 2025 Trouw Nutrition has announced the launch of , a digital platform designed to empower layer producers with real-time insights and data-driven decision-making tools. The image above shows an demo screen. This browser-based application is set to transform how poultry farmers monitor,... Read this article online
New Report Highlights Farm Housing Needs in Greenbelt Areas Wednesday, June 4, 2025 The Greenbelt Foundation has released a new report titled Housing Needs and . It highlights the urgent need for housing solutions in rural Ontario for farm families, farm workers, and agri-business employees. As the farming community knows, agriculture is a vital part of Ontario’s... Read this article online
New Precision Ag Digital Digest Coming Soon Wednesday, June 4, 2025 The Summer 2025 Farms.com Precision Ag Digital Digest will be released on June 11. Summer is upon us! Tillage and seeding are mostly completed (…hopefully), so we are shifting focus to irrigation, baling, spraying, guidance, and harvest (among other topics and technologies). In... Read this article online