Field research shows that the best time to tackle tar spot with a fungicide is the VT/RI stage of corn development — when the tassel is visible and silks are emerging. That’s the case again this year, says Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness plant pathologist Albert Tenuta. He’s been testing fungicide treatments to… Read More
Category: Corn School
Like most crops, a strong, high yielding corn crop depends on what nutrients are in the soil. Knowing what is currently in the field is key to deciding how much of what to add in. With corn being a such a big, high-yielding plant, this crop is particularly reliant on a high amount of nitrogen,… Read More
Corn plants need boron throughout the growing season. The uptake curve for the micronutrient is pretty linear from emergence to black layer, but making boron available in the ear later in the season, where it plays an important role in sugar movement and developing kernels, can be difficult. The challenge, says AGRIS Co-operative senior agronomist… Read More
After a mild winter, many growers and agronomists had to tackle some very large dandelions during the 2024 growing season. On this episode of the RealAgriculture Corn School, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Farming and Agribusiness weed management specialist Mike Cowbrough shares best practices to control the pesky perennial broadleaf weed. “First of all, it’s always… Read More
Why on earth should corn growers take a page out of wheat growers’ handbook? Paul Sullivan of Sullivan Agro near Kinburn, Ont., says there are management lessons learned in wheat that apply to corn production, too. It all comes down to managing stress at key points in the growing season. Looking to the Great Lakes… Read More
When out walking corn fields, growers will often come across what look like branches off of the main stalk of the plants. Tillers can be found on many grass plants, and while being an essential part of other crops, producers often do not know what to make of seeing them in their corn crop. In… Read More
Proper staging is important for understanding how to scout and manage corn, whether for timing fertilizer, herbicide, insecticide or fungicide applications. It’s also critical for understanding plant development, and how stressors at different stages can affect results, including yield, cob size, and kernel weight. But the problem is there are multiple ways to measure corn’s… Read More
Rainy weather during the in-crop weed control season can make it difficult to give corn want it wants to maintain maximum yield potential: that long critical weed-free period. The difference between fields that received pre-emerge applications and those that did not is quite noticeable in southern Manitoba (and many other areas) this year, as regular… Read More
It’s been a tough spring for planting corn in Ontario. Planting season started in late April and some growers are now just getting their last acres in the ground during the final days of June. That seven-week planting season will present challenges for growers as they try to assess yield potential and apply fungicides to… Read More
As the calendar turns to the back half of June in Ontario, growers typically sharpen their focus on nitrogen management as the crop pushes into its rapid growth phases. But what’s happening in the field in mid June 2024 is really dependent on where in the province you farm and whether you’ve been able to… Read More