Pessimistic Return: Lowest weekly five-year crop price and a 50 per cent increase in drying costs from the five-year average. Optimistic Return: Highest weekly five-year crop price and five-year average drying costs. Average Return: five-year average crop price and five-year average drying costs. For soybeans at the Ridgetown and Elora locations, Ritsma, Hooker, and Nasielski did not detect any noticeable economic advantage to switching to shorter- or longer-season cultivars across any of these three scenarios. At Ridgetown, with early planting, yields were significantly reduced for both shorter- and longer-season cultivars compared to full-season cultivars. At Elora, yields were significantly reduced for shorter-season cultivars, with no significant difference between full-season and longer-season cultivars. The trend of full-season cultivars producing the highest profits when planted earlier was also observed at the normal planting date at these locations. However, at the Winchester study site, a longer-season cultivar consistently resulted in the greatest economic returns across all scenarios for both the early and normal planting dates. “This suggests that farmers may benefit from planting longer-maturity cultivars in some years, even under normal planting conditions,” says Ritsma. However, when soybean planting was delayed until mid-June, there was no economic advantage to switching maturity from full-season to shorter-season cultivars at any location. CORN RESULTS For corn, across all locations, there was no noticeable economic advantage to switching maturity when planting early or at a normal time. In other words, full-season hybrids produced the highest profitability. However, in contrast with soybeans, when planting was delayed to midJune, switching to shorter-season hybrids provided greater profit. This minimizes the risk of hybrids failing to reach full maturity, but Ritsma notes that even if full- and longer-season hybrids do reach maturity when planted late, they have lower test weights and higher harvest moisture levels (higher drying costs), which generally overshadows any yield benefits. FURTHER ANALYSIS The comprehensive dataset generated by this study will be further analyzed to explore various effects associated with planting date decisions, hybrid/cultivar maturity, seeding rates, stand assessments, crop physiology and developmental rates, weather impacts, grain quality and economic risk assessment. “After the data are fully analyzed and the conclusions are fully vetted and tested,” says Hooker, “the findings will contribute to the development of decision support tools and the refinement of recommendations for hybrid and cultivar maturity selection, as well as planting date management strategies.” • ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER RESEARCH 13 planting recommendations summary 2025 • Aim to plant corn in late April to the first half of May to utilize the full growing season and maximize yields. • Also plant soybean in late April or early May for the highest yield potential. • New data shows that corn should be planted first, because yield declines are greater than soybean, if planting is delayed, even in higher crop heat unit areas similar to Ridgetown. • Corn hybrid selection: Choose full-season hybrids for early and normal planting dates to achieve the highest yields. For late planting, shorter-season hybrids are best, as always. • Soybean variety selection: Contrary to current recommendations, this study shows that with early planting, corn yield was almost always greater with a longer-season hybrid and in Winchester for soybeans as well. That is, says Nasielski, you don’t need a longer-season corn hybrid to take advantage of early planting, but it appears to help. Ritsma says crop breeders, knowing typical planting dates for farmers in their region, adapt varieties (full-season) to local photothermal regimes and growing season lengths, selecting for traits (e.g. yield) while ensuring that grain-fill is completed before the first killing frost. These adapted varieties are based on when planting ‘typically’ occurs in Ontario. When planting occurs earlier or later than the typical planting date, it’s been thought that crop maturity should be increased or decreased as the growing season has been extended or shortened. • Soybeans planted after wheat after July 15 are highly risky, especially with full-season or later cultivars. • Use soybean seeding rates between 130,000 and 160,000 seeds per acre to balance yield potential and seed costs. Adjust rates based on soil conditions and expected emergence. • Monitor for corn diseases like tar spot, especially with delayed planting. Select hybrids with better disease tolerance and consider fungicide application, if necessary, especially with late plantings. CORN & SOYBEAN
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