Ontario farmers made significant planting progress over the past week as improving field conditions allowed producers to finish seeding and catch up on delayed acres following a wet May, according to the latest weekly field observations from Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO) on Thursday.
Field activity has shifted increasingly toward crop scouting, with growers beginning to monitor fields more closely for weeds, insects, and disease pressure as crops emerge across the province.
Corn planting is estimated by GFO at 93% complete as of Wednesday, up from 86% the previous week, with crop development ranging from emergence to the five-leaf stage.
Soybean planting also advanced rapidly, reaching 80% complete, a jump of 19 percentage points from the previous week, although some heavier clay soils only recently became fit for equipment after prolonged wet conditions. With planting stretching into June in some regions, discussions have emerged around switching to shorter-season varieties, adjusting seeding rates, and the potential impact on yield prospects. Soybeans currently range from emergence to first trifoliate stage.
Spring cereal planting is now effectively complete at 100%, up from 90% a week earlier, while winter wheat development continues to advance under favourable conditions. Most winter wheat fields across Ontario are now moving from flag leaf emergence into the early stages of flowering, setting the stage for yield determination in the weeks ahead.
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