June 2018 Forage Report

Southwestern:

• Reports indicate yield and quality of first cut hay was good. Regrowth has been slow in dry regions.
• Most alfalfa weevil damage occurred during the week of June 4th. Feeding on regrowth after first cut gives fields a greyish tinge when viewed from a distance.
• As of the 24th, rainfall across the region has been variable: western Ontario and Chatham-Kent were drier than average for June, while Middlesex, Oxford, Elgin, and Norfolk received higher than average amounts of precipitation. The rest of southern Ontario had average rainfall for June.
• Potato leaf hoppers are blown in from the southern U.S. on storm fronts. Once in Ontario, they will continue to reproduce many generations until the first killing frost. Growers should start scouting their fields for PLH pressure.

Central and Eastern:

• Reports indicate yields for first cut hay were variable but quality was good. Regrowth has been slow in dry regions, but otherwise good.
• Most alfalfa weevil damage occurred during the weeks of June 11th and June 18th. Feeding on regrowth after first cut gives fields a greyish tinge when viewed from a distance.
• As of the 24th, central and eastern Ontario received below-average to average amounts of precipitation for the month of June.
• Potato leaf hoppers are blown in from the southern U.S. on storm fronts. Once in Ontario, they will continue to reproduce many generations until the first killing frost. Growers should start scouting their fields for PLH pressure. Pea aphids have also been reported.

Northeastern:

• Winterkill has been an issue for legumes across the region due to freeze/thaw cycles in January. In severe cases grasses have also been affected.
• First cut is underway, with dairy farmers starting the week of June 11th in Manitoulin, and June 18th in Temiskaming.
• Reports indicate yields are below average. Grasses continue to be more mature than legumes. Quality may be affected by reduced legume contents. Regrowth has been slow in dry regions.
• As of the 24th, Cochrane District received above average amounts of rainfall for June, while the rest of the region had less precipitation than average.

Northwestern:

• First cut on dairy farms started the week of June 11th in Thunder Bay District.
• Reports indicate yields are below average, but quality is expected to be good.
• As of the 24th, most of the region received below average amounts of precipitation, although a pocket in Kenora District received much higher rainfall than average.

Percent of average precipitation, June 2018