Hot, dry growing season takes its toll Tuesday, August 23, 2011 by SUSAN MANNOntario farmers will see a smaller corn crop this year as the growing season’s hot, dry weather conditions and spotty rainfall are expected to take a bite out of yields, according to a report from Statistics Canada.Grain corn production in Ontario is expected to decrease by 14.8 per cent to 6.6 million tonnes this year compared to last year. That’s due to an anticipated decline in yield of 25 bushels per acres, it says in Statistics Canada’s principal field crops report released today.The numbers don’t come as a surprise to Grain Farmers of Ontario. Ryan Brown, vice president of operations. Brown says the combination of farmers having to plant significantly later in the year than normal due to a wet spring and some growers switching hybrids so they could get a crop in the ground “would suggest that we were looking at reduced yields.”As part of its annual budgeting process, Grain Farmers began reducing some of its own forecasts in the spring due to the continued delay in planting. The drought conditions that hit the province in July were also tough on soybeans and corn in some areas. Brown says at a recent Grain Farmers board meeting some directors noted in some areas the corn will never come back and produce a cob because of the severe drought stress it was under. But that doesn’t apply to all areas because crop conditions are variable across the province.Statistics Canada also reported that soybean production in Canada is expected to decline 11.1 per cent to just under 3.9 million tonnes. Ontario and Quebec account for roughly 90 per cent of the country’s total soybean production.Brown says rains during the past several weeks have helped revive crops in some of the drought-stricken areas. In the areas that weren’t as severely hit the crop is starting to come back and look excellent.Grain Famers will continue monitoring yield projections and “certainly adjust the organization’s budgets accordingly to make sure that if the conditions are tough out there and as a result funding to the organization is decreased then we’re going to take the necessary steps to address that as well,” Brown says. BF Dairy producers get funds to process, market Agriculture one of Canada's top five industries: FCC
Ontario farmers get boost for energy upgrades Friday, July 11, 2025 The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing up to $3 million in the third round of the Agricultural Stewardship Initiative (ASI). This funding will help farmers improve the energy efficiency of their operations and support the long-term sustainability of the agriculture... Read this article online
Swede midge and cabbageworm found in Ontario canola Thursday, July 10, 2025 As reported on the OMAFA website fieldcropnews.com, Ontario canola crops are at various growth stages, ranging from seedling to full bloom depending on planting time and region. Winter canola is now fully podded, and harvest is expected to begin soon in Essex and other southern... Read this article online
Early Career Research Award supports two Guelph research initiatives Friday, July 4, 2025 The was presented to two University of Guelph researchers at the recently held Livestock Research Innovation Corporation (LRIC) symposium. Dr. Kelsey Spence received $40,000 towards her work in on-farm biosecurity research, and Dr. Sam Workenhe was awarded $60,000 to further his... Read this article online
Grape Growers 40th Annual Celebrity Luncheon has Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser Friday, July 4, 2025 The Grape Growers of Ontario’s marks the opening of the by showcasing Canadian personalities and celebrating the annual grape harvest. This year, in partnership with Meridian Credit Union, Ontario’s largest credit union and the third largest in Canada, the Grape Growers of Ontario... Read this article online
Ontario crops respond to summer heat Wednesday, July 2, 2025 According to the OMAFA Field Crop News team, Ontario field crops are showing rapid development as summer-like temperatures have dominated late June early July. The warm spell has accelerated growth and helped reduce the heat unit deficit from a cool spring. Corn fields have seen a burst... Read this article online