Crop update May 16
Corn-The region is 85% done planting corn. A few acres remain to go in. Very little has emerged to date due mainly to cold soils slowing growth. Frost over the weekend and this morning has nipped the tips of what has emerged but should have little impact overall. There is some concern that soil temperatures were at freezing 1-2 inches deep. This may have killed the growing point underground but it will take 3-4 days to determine this effect. Attached below are the frost maps from the past 2 days. If the corn is emerged, do not spray any herbicides until the plants have time to recover(48 hours preferred). On the upside, most fields have received good rainfall for activating soil applied herbicides. Be sure to send us all of your planting dates so we can keep on track with the crop emergence in your fields.
Winter Wheat-there is a broad spread in wheat development across the region and province. Some areas in the deep south are seeing flag leaf emerging and plants are well ahead of schedule. However most through this region ranges from first to second node. The cold temps have been holding the crop back and we are on more of a "normal" maturity target now as opposed to early wheat harvest. Due to the cold temps and lack of rainfall there has been significant Sulphur deficiency appearing in wheat with no S applied. A good S target to use is a 10:1 ratio with Nitrogen. Symptoms are very similar to 2012 when we did not have much spring rainfall. Some fields are beginning to look "hungry" and our nitrogen usage to date has been very limited too. Without rainfall the nitrogen stays where it falls. Streamer nozzle patterns are still evident in fields indicating the nitrogen has not made it into soil water solution. This past rainfall and some heat on the way should really improve the overall appearance of the winter wheat. The timing for a second pass of nitrogen is between second node and flag leaf. This window is just starting in most fields. The later you leave that application the better it is for protein and head size. However a "hungry" looking field should be applied as soon as it is fit. Due to the extent of overall S deficiency around I encourage additional S with the second pass-2 gal ATS or 5-8 Lb S Lot of herbicide to get on still but cold temps have been disrupting these activities. There are frost advisories out for tonight(May 16) again, so best to wait at least another 24 hours. Winter rye and winter barley will be more advanced usually than wheat so prioritize these farms first for spraying when conditions improve.
Canola-big concern due to the frost. About half of the crop is emerged and vulnerable to frost damage. The growing point is right at the top of the plant between the cotyledons. It take 2-3 days to know the extent and we will be checking these farms for damage. Swede midge traps have been installed in emerged fields.
Spring Grains-emergence has been excellent. We will be scouting those fields as they approach tillering stage.
Soybeans-quite a range of planting completed to date. Some producers are fully finished planting, others have been waiting for some heat and drying to begin planting. Let us know your soybean planting dates too. Fortunately the soybeans have not emerged yet so we should see little if any impact from the frost. Pre-emerge chemistries have been activated by the weekend rain. We are on the lookout for resistant fleabane as we are scouting. Be sure to let us know if you find some you suspect are resistant and we will have them analysed.
