Some Ontario Corn Seeing Quality Downgrades

Nov 17, 2023

Corn moisture levels remain high in Ontario, with some grain getting downgraded due to low test weights, depending on the location within the province, according to the latest field observations from the Grain Farmers of Ontario on Thursday.

Meanwhile, yields have been highly variable; with some producers reporting “incredible yields,” and others just average yields.

Corn

Not all is fine and well in some areas. A cooler summer has led to lower crop heat unit (CHU) accumulation with some corn not black layering before a frost, resulting in lower test weights and higher moistures at harvest. Grades coming across the scale range from No. 2 to No. 4 (downgrading due to test weight). Corn harvest is roughly 50 to 80% complete, with moistures ranging from the low 20s to mid to high 30s.

This past week and looking ahead looks like close to ideal harvest weather, with double-digit temperatures and not much rain/snow in the forecast. Some might aim to take the headlands off fields and hope the corn dries down a bit more in the coming days.

With high moistures and good yields in some areas, elevators are getting full of wet corn, limiting the ability of corn to come off the field. This might be the case for the foreseeable future as everyone scrambles with loads of corn that need more time in the dryer.

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Video: Winter Canola Trial in Mississippi | Can It Work for Double Cropping? | Pioneer Agronomy

Can winter canola open new opportunities for growers in the Mid-South? In this agronomy update from Noxubee County, Mississippi, Pioneer agronomist Gus Eifling shares an early look at a first-year winter canola trial and what farmers are learning from the field.

Planted in late October on 30-inch rows, the crop is now entering the bloom stage and progressing quickly. In this video, we walk through current field conditions, fertility management, and how timing could make this crop a valuable option for double-cropping soybeans or cotton.

If harvest timing lines up with early May, growers may be able to transition directly into another crop during ideal planting windows. Ongoing field trials will help determine whether canola could become a viable rotational option for the region.

Watch for:

How winter canola is performing in its first season in this Mississippi field

Why growers chose 30-inch rows for this trial

What the crop looks like as it moves from bolting into bloom

Fertility strategy, including nitrogen and sulfur applications

How canola harvest timing could enable double-cropping with soybeans or cotton

Upcoming trials comparing soybeans after canola vs. traditional planting

As more growers look for ways to maximize acres and diversify rotations, experiments like this help determine what new crops might fit into existing systems.