OMAFRA releases latest Field Crop Report 17 Aug 2016

Aug 18, 2016

Report issued August 17

By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content
Farms.com

OMAFRA’s Field Crop Team released its August 17 Field Crop Report and the recent rain appears to have helped the suffering crops.

“Crops that will benefit most are hay, pasture, longer day soybean varieties and emergency forage and cover crops seeded after winter wheat and spring cereal harvest,” the report said.

When it comes to wheat, the report indicates the winter wheat harvest is complete and most of the spring cereals have also been harvested. Despite a high-quality crop, the Field Crop Team said spring cereal yields have been average to mostly below average.

As far as soybeans go, the report says the shot of precipitation will go a long way for some struggling fields.

Image of Soybeans Corn and wheat

“Some fields have started to turn colour, but flowering continues and pods continue to fill, so soybeans will benefit from this recent rain. As well, the recent rain should reduce the spider mite pressure,” the report said.

Despite the rain, it appears some corn fields across Ontario are still struggling. Farmers are considering different ways to use and market weaker crops.

“Many fields are under-developed and have incomplete pollination due to the dry weather,” the report said. “Several growers are considering selling drought-stressed corn as silage off the field to local livestock producers.”

Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.