Field observations year in review

AS ANOTHER YEAR COMES TO A CLOSE, IT IS BENEFICIAL TO LOOK BACK and see how the year progressed and what trials and triumphs there were across the province. The number of pictures I currently have on my phone of flooded fields from this year is astounding, but I’m sure that many readers of this article have more, and on the flip side, there are many pictures of spectacular- looking crops.

CHALLENGES

Planting for many was indeed a trial as the theme of this spring was rain. Many received record rainfall over a short number of days or weeks, creating saturated ground that was hard to dry up. This led to later than normal planting of corn and soybeans in some regions, with changes of corn hybrids from a full season to a shorter season or even to soybeans as the spring season passed. Planting stretched well into June for many and into July for some, with some acres not getting seeded.

Timely spraying was a test for sprayer operators this spring, as heavy and consistent rains paired with high winds on rain-free days created a bottleneck of acres that had to be navigated, leading to some advanced- stage weeds before the sprayer could arrive. However, with larger spray equipment available when there were good spray days, many acres could be covered quickly.

With heavy rains, fields were stressed from saturated soils. Some soybean fields saw yellow plants due to denitrification from prolonged ponding. As nitrogen fixation began, saturated soils impacted the fixation due to the process and associated bacteria, needing gas exchange for the activity.

Disease appeared as the environment was often conducive to its development. Root rots, stripe rust, tar spot (which spread further across the province than in past years), and Gibberella ear rot, to name a few.

And in any year, insects arrive; this year, aphids, two-spotted spider mites, corn rootworm, and western bean cutworm, to name a few.

SUCCESSES

Winter wheat was somewhat of an unknown as spring approached, with many acres being planted later than optimum in the fall of 2023. The question was if the field should be terminated or not come spring. However, as fields greened up with great conditions for growing wheat (and everyone’s lawns), wheat rapidly advanced, and fields that looked poor in the fall and early spring really came along and shocked some with bin-busting yields.

Even with spring planting challenges, it was great to see farmers and others in the industry support each other through challenging moments. When planting plans changed or replants made due to crusting from heavy rains or flooded fields after planting, the seed was made available, and planting was able to be completed.

Once crops were in the ground, crop stages advanced quickly. Most regions saw above- average crop heat unit accumulation and moisture availability, allowing for crops to thrive (if they weren’t underwater). Throughout the growing season, there was still a high degree of crop stage variation from field to field and even within the field, but heat and moisture allowed crops to reach maturity, in most cases, from what might have been late starts to the growing season.

The grain fill period for many regions was close to ideal for each of the five crops Grain Farmers of Ontario covers, leading to high yield estimates and average yields, with good quality in many cases.

Early fall saw great weather conditions, allowing winter wheat to be planted, and with warm temperatures, wheat emergence and development have been rapid. Good weather also allowed for fall weed control to be applied on winter wheat acres to manage winter annuals.

As of mid-October, there had yet to be a hard-killing frost across most of the province, allowing some of the later planted fields to reach maturity. Corn harvest had just begun with moistures in the low 20s in some cases, with field conditions so far remaining functional and not saturated.

LOOKING FORWARD

To plan for future seasons, it’s important to learn from the challenges that occurred this year and keep records of what worked and what didn’t in each situation.

Despite improvements in crop management, it is still crucial to remember to rotate crops to help break up disease and insect cycles while having the ability to rotate herbicides to manage hard-to-control weeds. Aim to apply pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides at ideal timing, when warranted, and follow any associated best management practices. Also, for plant varieties and hybrids that are less susceptible to yield-robbing pathogens and insects, GoCrops.ca is a great resource for third-party variety and hybrid performance trial data.

And above all, remember to take some time to focus on mental health. It has been a challenging year for many, for one reason or another. Be sure to take some time over the winter to rest and prepare for the 2025 season. We are so fortunate to live and farm where we do, and every year will present its unique challenges but also the ability to succeed in many ways. Always look for the silver lining and what can be done differently or better in future years.

Laura Austin Ferrier, CCA-ON, is Grain Farmers of Ontario’s agronomist. During the spring, summer, and fall growing seasons, she writes a weekly Field Observations report available in the weekly GrainTALK e-newsletter and on the Ontario Grain Farmer website, www.ontariograinfarmer.ca. •