It’s corn! And it’s time to discuss in-crop nitrogen management of corn on this episode of the The Agronomists. Host Lyndsey Smith is joined by Jason DeBruin of Corteva AgriScience, based at Iowa, and Peter Johnson of RealAgriculture, to discuss nitrogen management, minimizing loss, when the crop needs the N. They cover when N needs… Read More
Category: Corn
Minimizing erosion, better crop inputs management and higher corn yields is what Port Rowan, Ont., farmer Dan Petker was looking for when he adopted strip tillage five years ago. Farming with his family on the shores of Lake Erie, Petker turned to strip till — the process of minimizing tillage by cultivating eight-inch wide strips… Read More
A bag of seed corn checks in at 80,000 kernels and typically weighs between 35 and 65 pounds. One bag will plant roughly 2.5 acres. But the job of producing that seed is very different than growing a commercial corn crop. On this episode of RealAgriculture’s Corn School, we kick off a three-part series on… Read More
As planting of corn and soybeans nears the finish line across Ontario, farmers and agronomists are turning their attention to weed control. A stretch of dry weather that fuelled a two-week sprint of planting, with little time for spraying, means many growers are now checking the status of pre-plant applications and trying to determine next… Read More
A widespread rain sweeping across Ontario this past weekend provided plenty of moisture to activate soil-applied, pre-plant herbicides in crop fields throughout the province. With the timely rain, many growers are now asking: after activation do these herbicides have the capability to ‘reach back’ and control already-emerged weeds and grasses such as foxtail? University of… Read More
It is the year of the dandelion. The hardy perennial pests are bigger and more plentiful in fields across Ontario than farmers can ever remember. University of Guelph weed scientist Peter Sikkema has been fielding many questions about why the weed is so abundant this spring and how best to control it. When it comes… Read More
Certain herbicides have done plenty of heavy lifting when it comes to the fight against weeds over the last number of decades, but as herbicide resistance becomes more common, it’s important to spread out that workload whenever possible. Corn is often a crop where there are more herbicide options, explains Jeanette Gaultier, technical services specialist… Read More
Across Ontario, a stretch of dry weather has helped pushed corn planting past 80 per cent complete in many areas. “Things are rolling right along,” reports RealAgriculture agronomist Peter Johnson. In his area of southwestern Ontario, “corn is wrapping up and growers are rolling hard into soybeans,” he told a Tuesday morning virtual agribusiness breakfast… Read More
A European corn borer (ECB) population in part of eastern Canada appears to have developed resistance to a Bt protein commonly used in North American corn hybrids for preventing damage from the pest. On April 27th, the Canadian Corn Pest Coalition reported a sample of ECB collected near Truro, Nova Scotia, showed reduced susceptibility to… Read More
Record yields in 2022 after a late start are raising some questions about the assumption that earlier is always better for planting corn in Manitoba and other northern growing areas. Historical averages in Manitoba show a downward trend in yield with each week that passes in May, but the 2022 crop set a new bar… Read More
A properly calibrated planter can make a key contribution to corn yield but could the planter wheels be causing yield-robbing soil compaction? Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs corn specialist Ben Rosser says it’s important for growers to be aware of soil compaction on or around corn rows during planting. On this episode… Read More
Where should growers place fertilizer in strip-till strips to best protect the seed from injury while optimizing nutrient uptake? Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs corn lead Ben Rosser says Ontario does have “safe rate” recommendations for in-furrow and 2″x 2″ planter banding but no guidelines are currently available for strip-till fertilizer placement…. Read More
This spring, corn growers will be planting different seed sizes ranging from large rounds to flats and small rounds. Does the seed size impact the potential yield growers can expect to combine this fall? On this episode of the RealAgriculture Corn School, PRIDE Seeds agronomist Olivia Noorenberghe notes that all seed, regardless of size, carries… Read More
What the heck, winter? Please see yourself out, says Peter “Wheat Pete” Johnson, because Canada has a crop to plant! On this week’s episode of Wheat Pete’s Word, you’ll hear about whether or not early planted beans and corn are going to be OK, how to avoid clumpy fertilizer issues, and legacy of manure applications…. Read More
Planting corn at a uniform depth across the field is a key driver of even emergence and optimum yield. To ensure seed is planted at the desired depth, Kearney Planters operations manager Cullen Tinline says it’s critical for growers to ensure they ‘zero’ the row units before they roll into fields this spring. On most… Read More