season. Reports about spraying dry beans for western bean cutworm, yield potential of alfalfa, organic no-till soybean production, and the ins and outs of soil structure were big draws. The colourful news pages emphasized useful text and eye-catching photos that helped producers clearly identify pests and plants disease. Diagnostic Days went virtual in 2020 and 2021, then returned as a live event in 2022, with eight 30-minute sessions on topics such as waterlogging woes, foliar disease in corn, cover crop compendium, and herbicide injury and crop sensitivity. But this event retained a digital element by 8 having each session recorded and then broadcast across the province later. RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT The team also dedicated Grain Farmers of Ontario funding to updating and enhancing the Ontario Soybean Field Guide and the Ontario Soil Fertility handbook last year, as in-person events returned and producers looked towards receiving print copies of the material. They also produced an impressive, attractive publication called Field Crop Q&As, addressing questions such as what is a fair price for hay, how to control bluegrass in winter wheat, and how fertilizer and crop prices affect optimal fertilizer rates. On the horizon, the team expects cost of production to be a big driver in its extension efforts for 2023. "The cost of producing a crop is the fundamental thing that's changed," says Bohner. "Premiums are up, but costs have skyrocketed. The old question of 'can I afford to do a certain management technique' is still the key." Other efforts will be dedicated to updating the maturity map for corn and soybeans to reflect the increased heat units experienced in Ontario and updated soil fertility recommendations. l BEN ROSSER AND COLIN ELGIE OF OMAFRA AT THE 2022 ONTARIO DIAGNOSTIC DAYS. PHOTO COURTESY OF REALAGRICULTURE.COM. continued from page 6
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