Ontario Field Crop Report
2006 Cereal Crop Seasonal Summary
Table of Contents
- Summary
- Winter Cereals
- Fall
Plantings
- Spring Cereals
- Challenges
for 2007
For emerging issues, questions or to provide feedback
on this report, contact the CropLine at 1-888-449-0937. Technical information
can also be obtained at the OMAFRA Field Crops
Webpage and Crop Pest
Ontario. Referenced OMAFRA Publications include the Agronomy Guide for Field
Crops (Publication 811), the
Field Crop Protection Guide (Publication
812), Guide to Weed Control (Publication
75), and Ontario Weeds (Publication
505). These can be obtained from your OMAFRA Resource Centre, or by calling
1-800-668-9938.
Summary
The record acreage
and yields of 2006 have given way to dismal plantings into extremely poor conditions
for the crop next year (2007). Spring cereal acreage blipped up nicely in 2006,
with average to above average yields. Quality was generally good across all cereals,
although oat test weights tended to be lower, and hard red winter wheat had very
low protein levels. The shift in rust to new races, overcoming genetic resistance
for both winter wheat and oat, is of concern for production next year and into
the future.
Winter Cereals
A record
of 1.1 million acres coupled with a new yield record of 85.5 bu/ac.
The
fall of 2005 was almost ideal for wheat plantings, with warm temperatures through
early October and an early soybean harvest. Of the 1.1 million acres, at least
80% was planted early or on-time, giving excellent yield potential. Growth in
the fall was excellent on early plantings, although cool weather through the last
half of October and November resulted in less growth on crops planted on typical
dates. Mild conditions in early January melted the snow cover, and cold temperatures
through late January without snow raised concerns of low temperature injury. However,
the crop showed virtually no injury from this weather stress as the season progressed.
Warm temperatures again took the snow away in March, and between the January
and March conditions, there was more frost heave injury than normal. Shallow planting
depths exacerbated this problem. Many crops were extremely thin right through
to harvest from this injury, and yield predictions on these thin fields by most
agronomists missed the mark widely. Early planting and mild winter temperatures
had the wheat crop 10 days ahead of normal except for eastern Ontario where lack
of snow and icing conditions destroyed over 50% of the winter wheat crop.
April
was ideal for timely nitrogen applications. Several severe cold spells (as low
as
-8°C) through late April and May destroyed all green tissue in some
locations. These cold spells made herbicide applications a bit tricky, but not
impossible. With the wheat crop still 7 to 10 days ahead of normal, these freezing
night temperatures in late May were a major concern with the earliest heading
fields in the southwest. In a few isolated locations, freezing temperatures did
interfere with pollination and small areas of these fields yielded ZERO. A near
miss for a major impact on the crop!
Overwintering rust was found by field
scouts in a few fields in the Woodstock to Mount Forest corridor. Overwintering
rust is unusual, and was an indicator of things to come. As the season progressed,
rust was the main disease concern, although the source of the rust outbreak was
not related to overwintering.
The other diseases of note this year were
the viral diseases (wheat soil borne mosaic, spindle streak mosaic) and Cephalosporium
stripe. Cephalosporium stripe was prevalent and related to variety. Yields dropped
by 10% or more in severely affected fields. There are no effective control options
for these diseases.
Fortunately, fusarium was a non-issue in this year's
wheat crop. Dwarf bunt, while not significant, was present at much higher levels
than expected, demonstrating that seed treatment coverage is imperative to good
control.
Harvest was a tough go, particularly through the London-Woodstock
corridor. Rainfall prevented harvest for a two week period on the perimeter of
this band, and for three to four weeks within this band. As a result, mildew downgraded
some crop across the southwest, with sprouting and low falling number reducing
grade in the heart of the affected area. The soft white winter crop was affected
the most, with almost no top quality soft white harvested.
As harvest unfolded,
yields were spectacular, ending up a full 10% above the previous provincial record,
at 85.5 bu/ac (previous record in 2003 of 77.5). Protein levels were a full point
below a year ago levels, meaning that much of the hard red winter crop did not
achieve protein premiums. All other quality parameters were excellent, with the
2006 Ontario winter wheat crop being well received by all end users.
Fall
Plantings
Wheat acreage this fall is dismal, at about 475,000 acres, barely
½ of intentions, with nearly all wheat planted later than desirable and
into less than ideal conditions. This has been the complete opposite of last fall,
and none of the wheat looks ideal as of this report. Many growers have been forced
to roll futures contracts forward to the 08 harvest, as they simply were unable
to plant wheat. Fall conditions have continued unusually wet and cool, giving
rise to the potential for more acres of fall kill (drownout) than normal. This
is extremely disappointing given the mainstay that wheat has become in many growers
profit column.
Spring Cereals
Acreage
of all spring cereals increased this year, with poor crop prices and high input
costs for other crops. Spring wheat increased the most at 40%, with barley showing
the least increase at 10%. Amazingly, and almost disturbingly, mixed grain acreage
spiked up 20%, even though this crop has very limited marketability.
Planting
moved ahead rapidly into excellent soil conditions, with 65% of the crop planted
by April 25th and fully 80% of the crop planted by May 5th. There was not as much
opportunity for frost seeding as some growers would have hoped for, but acreage
that was frost seeded in late March once again showed huge yield gains for this
practice (40%).
The crop enjoyed predominantly cool, dry conditions across
much of the growing region. These conditions kept leaf disease levels extremely
low until late in the year, when spot blotch (barley), rust (oat and wheat), and
fusarium (wheat) became a concern. Dry conditions allowed both fertilizer and
herbicide applications to occur in a timely manner, making it a relatively easy
start to the season. Unfortunately, the dry weather continued in some areas, with
crops on eroded knolls withering and producing very little in these regions. Weed
pressure also developed in these regions, particularly foxtail, forcing growers
to spray for annual grasses that they do not normally have to control.
Physiological
fleck was prevalent in many fields this year, and many growers confused this with
disease. Disease pressure was significant in this year's barley planted into previous
barley fields, but this was simply a rotation issue. Spot blotch developed late
in the season on barley, and did give rise to some shrunken kernels, but was not
of major impact. Fusarium hit the spring wheat crop, with a near miss in many
areas. While the bulk of the crop was clean, some fields did reach as high as
9% fusarium. Again, in most of these fields the spring wheat was grown on corn
residue, and rotation played a major role in this outcome.
RUST! The race
of leaf (crown) rust has shifted in oat, and has overcome much of the genetic
resistance which growers have relied on over the past years. While new genetics
are in the pipeline, oat growers will need to scout closely in the short-term,
and maximize the benefit from foliar fungicides by ensuring timely application.
Test weight was significantly reduced in many oat fields due to rust infestations.
Similar to winter wheat, rust also hit the spring wheat crop, with genetic differences
again becoming more defined.
European chafer destroyed some spring cereal
fields on sandy soils along Georgian Bay. Wireworm was another insect pest in
specific fields causing severe injury. Armyworm was a significant problem in some
areas in the Ottawa Valley and Alliston area, with some fields requiring control
measures. Fortunately, natural parasites were sufficient to destroy the pest in
many locations. Cereal leaf beetle was found at a number of locations, but similar
to armyworm, natural parasites were effective in limiting damage in most fields.
Dry
weather took its toll as harvest results came in. Yields were only average for
the barley, oat and mixed grain crop, at about 2600 lbs/ac (2900 kg/ha). Test
weights were marginal for the oat crop, indicating the importance of early planting
to achieve high quality oats again being driven home. Spring wheat yields were
somewhat better, about 6% above average at 49.2 bu/ac. Protein and quality of
the spring wheat crop was excellent, although some downgrading due to mildew did
occur in later harvested fields. Much of the improved yield of spring wheat can
again be attributed to early planting, and the fact that a higher proportion of
the crop is grown in the areas that were less affected by the dry weather.
As
always, this report would not be complete without discussing straw yields from
barley, the only reason many growers have for growing the crop. With the exception
of the driest areas, most growers were pleased with good straw yields due to cool
conditions, and thus, will grow barley yet again next year, despite spring wheat
being more profitable.
Acreage intentions for 2007 are much increased for
spring wheat, with heavy soil areas that were unable to plant winter wheat now
banking on frost seeding spring wheat into those acres. As prices improve for
corn and soybeans, acreage intentions for barley and mixed grain continue to slide.
Oat acreage intentions appear to be less impacted by prices for these other commodities,
although intentions appear down slightly. All this, of course, may change drastically
by spring!
Challenges for 2007
- Rust
in Wheat and Oat: With the high level and early appearance of rust in
this year's crop, growers will need to scout and be prepared to control rust.
The wheat rust risk may well be higher in specific varieties, if a race shift
has occurred. Samples are currently under analysis and a determination will be
available before spring.
- Management of late planted wheat:
Management techniques to improve yields and save questionable stands will be essential
next spring since so few acres were planted and those in the ground have experienced
poor growth this fall. Fields will need to be scouted early and decisions made
quickly on whether to carry through with the crop next spring. Optimal timing
of fertilizer, herbicide and fungicide applications will be critical in maximizing
the potential of the limited acerage in place.
- Nitrogen management
for protein: Low protein levels in the hard red winter crop have increased
the need for improvements and/or changes in management. Techniques to achieve
a consistently acceptable protein level, in the hard red winter wheat crop, are
to be evaluated over the next several years.
