17 ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER DECEMBER 2024/JANUARY 2025 PLANT ANYWHERE. THRIVE EVERYWHERE. Contact your local dealer today! 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. • 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. PHOTOS COURTESY OF LAURA FERRIER.
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