Crop Update
News Vol 5, 7 Jun 2016
Corn-quickly approaching 6 leaf stage. We are beginning our second scout and nitrate/tissue tests for the corn. Some pre-emerge herbicides have not held the weeds back and a clean up pass will likely be needed. Some stands have gaps due to pest pressure and/or cold injury. Stand loss greater than 15% due to pests automatically qualifies for neonic treated seed for 2017. A stand loss assessment or a soil pest assessment must be completed to place your treated seed order next fall. The stand loss assessment must be done on plants grown from non-neonic treated seed.
Plan for second pass nitrogen applications mid-late June. I am concerned about the sulphur status of some corn. If you haven't used Sulphur in your starter or preplant broadcast, it should be considered now. Some comments on leaf burn from herbicides but I generally consider this cosmetic. The rapid growth in late May has made for some sensitive leaf surfaces but it also makes for quick activity for weed control. Lots of interest in establishing cover crop into standing corn. Be sure to check compatibility with your herbicide plan and time broadcast seed around the 6 leaf stage.
Yield 360 SoilScan-our new tool addition is going to allow us to analyse and track more soil nitrate tests with a faster turn around time. We have used it in several cases already as a diagnostic tool. As a quality control check we run numerous samples through regular lab channels for verification.
Soybeans-earliest seedings from May 2nd are 1-2 trifoliates and the latest seeding are emerged following last weekends rainfall. Many experiments with varying row widths in fields. We are working through our first checks in soybeans. Some pre-emerge herbicides have not held the weeds in soybean fields either. IP soybeans have been prioritized for weed checks due to limited spray options. So farm I expect a significant number of resprays. Many Roundup Ready fields are ready for their first pass of glyphosate when fields dry up. A second mode of action beyond glyphosate is important with the resistant species of ragweed and fleabane in the area. There is significant feeding activity from seedcorn maggot in untreated soybeans. This pest loss also qualifies for neonic treatment for next years crop. Unfortunately slugs have been active too. So far only a few replants mainly due to tight or crusted soils. Optimum stand counts are around 140 ooo plants per acre. A critical level to consider replanting is below 110 000 plants per acre. Please advise us where your non-neonic soybeans are planted so we can monitor them closely for stand loss and/or aphids.
Winter Wheat-heading fungicide sprays are happening between showers and wind this week. Rainfast for Prosaro and Caramba is dry on the leaf/head. Company Reps from both brands have said there is no concern with cold temperatures during use of these products. Don't be too concerned about missing the window for application. The window of application is roughly 5 days with early flower being optimum. The cooler temperatures this week have slowed wheat development down again. And is also extending the heading window. We have been finding trace levels of stripe rust in numerous fields of wheat across the region but the early fungicide pass has been critical for holding it at bay. These cooler temperatures are ideal for pollination over the next 10 days. Wheat maturity is running 5-10 days ahead of normal. Armyworm has been confirmed in the Tilbury area at very low levels. We will continue to do random spot checks for pests over the next few weeks.
Spring Grains-the weed control pass has been wrapped up for most. Early Nitrogen passes with UAN have left a considerable amount of scorch. Be sure to check that all of your fields have a fungicide applied. Disease pressure is unpredictable but with the stripe rust across the region the risk is high for infection. Even forage oats/peas should be considered for application. Cereal leaf beetle pressure is low to moderate in many spring grain fields. We are monitoring this. Anticipate early heading dates especially for barley.
Canola-it has been a fantastic start to the canola crop. Vigorous growth and low flea beetle pressure has meant some excellent stands of canola. Earliest seeded fields are bolting. Swede midge counts have been low but numbers are starting to climb. Traps are posted in fields and I will let you know if threshold is met and spraying is warranted. Cabbage seedpod weevil is present in many fields this year. Its presence does nothing until the early flower stage when they lay their eggs in the pods and the larvae feed within the pods. Control measures will potentially overlap with early white mould spray timing. We will update pest pressures next time through the fields.
Edible beans-perfect timing with last weekends rainfall. Emergence has been excellent and herbicides have been activated.
New Seedings-So far we have seen a great catch of newly seeded alfalfa. Stand counts have been great. Most fields have had herbicide and the remaining fields will be sprayed this week. Use caution spraying new seedings under the cool conditions.
We are currently in the peak of herbicide and fungicide spray applications. Sprayer clean-out is critical to not impacting your crop.
