Search
Better Farming OntarioBetter PorkBetter Farming Prairies

Better Farming Ontario Featured Articles

Better Farming Ontario magazine is published 11 times per year. After each edition is published, we share featured articles online.


Prospects dwindle for corn planted on lighter soil

Friday, July 29, 2011

by SUSAN MANN

This month’s high temperatures have helped push Ontario’s corn crop development particularly in fields planted late in the growing season but more rain is needed.

Greg Stewart, Ontario agriculture ministry corn specialist, says most areas across the province have been significantly short of the rain that’s needed this month. Corn on light, sandy soils south of Highway 401 in the Cambridge and Norfolk County areas has been significantly hurt by the dry weather and probably isn’t going to recover.

“There’s been some significant impact on yield on the lighter soils,” he says.

On the heavy clay soils, the plants looked pretty tough because those soils have a hard time releasing their water to the roots.

Sixty per cent of the corn throughout Ontario was planted May 8 to 13. But rain delayed some planting and a fair bit was left to finish off in June.  Some corn was planted into tacky soils and those soils hardened in the dry spell.

Growing conditions started out tough with too much rain. Even on loamy soils where water isn’t usually a problem there are many holes in the fields where water sat and either killed the corn or farmers couldn’t plant in those areas.

Fields were much more variable than normal due to excessive spring rains. Then came the dryness.

“You never really want to follow a wet spring with a really hot, dry July because the soils are tight and elevated water tables in the spring prevent root growth,” Stewart says.

But on the positive side corn planted late is benefiting from the hot weather. Growers were hoping for heat to push development so “you don’t have the crop maturing too late into the fall,” he explains.

On Wednesday, fairly widespread rains hit areas from Essex to Elora and that’s taking some of the pressure off.

For corn planted in May it’s in the critical pollination period and it’s “trying to determine how many kernels are going to be on the cob,” Stewart says. Dry conditions now can impact the number of kernels that set on the ear. Even if conditions turned around marvelously on August 10 the number of kernels on the ear can’t be changed.

Still with improved weather, the kernels can be filled better and will be bigger. BF
 

Current Issue

December 2024

Better Farming Magazine

Farms.com Breaking News

Snow Begone: The RapidTrak Series

Friday, December 20, 2024

BYLINE: Zahra Sadiq Winter is upon us, and with it comes thick layers of snow, making everything just a little more difficult. But it doesn’t have to be that way, thanks to the RapidTrak Snow Blowers by Ariens. This company’s story starts in 1933 when Henry Ariens took his sons... Read this article online

The 2024 Topigs Norsvin Canada Awards Banquet

Thursday, December 19, 2024

Topigs Norsvin Canada Inc.—headquartered in Oak Bluff, Manitoba—is a global leader in swine genetics, and recently held its in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Stratford, Ontario, via two events for its producers. The banquets blended recognition for outstanding production achievements and... Read this article online

BF logo

It's farming. And it's better.

 

a Farms.com Company

Subscriptions

Subscriber inquiries, change of address, or USA and international orders, please email: subscriptions@betterfarming.com or call 888-248-4893 x 281.


Article Ideas & Media Releases

Have a story idea or media release? If you want coverage of an ag issue, trend, or company news, please email us.

Follow us on Social Media

 

Sign up to a Farms.com Newsletter

 

DisclaimerPrivacy Policy2024 ©AgMedia Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Back To Top