Ontario Yield Tour Highlights Mixed Crop Conditions

Ontario Yield Tour Highlights Mixed Crop Conditions
Aug 14, 2025
By Mathew Murphy
Assistant Editor, North American Content, Farms.com

From above-average yields to drought stress and pollination issues, this year’s tour captures a season of contrasts across the province.

The 2025 Great Ontario Yield Tour is highlighting the varied conditions Ontario farmers are facing this season. Early stops show both strong yields and areas struggling with dry weather, plant health issues, and pollination challenges.

In Essex County, corn populations are reported lower than expected, with minor tar spot and some waterhemp.

As one update noted, “some tar spot but not serious, corn plant pop low & some waterhemp, it’s dry, need rain,” with a yield check of 174.3 bushels per acre.

Meanwhile, in Chatham-Kent and Lambton County, corn and soybean yields are above average, but crops are thinner than last year at this time.

Even counties that received more rainfall aren’t free from challenges.

Reports from Chatham-Kent indicated “white mold in soybeans,” though corn yields remain solid, ranging from 207.9 to 219.5 bpa, with soybean yields of 48.4 to 59.2 bpa.

Day two of the tour showed similar contrasts.

In Elgin County, crops are performing well despite minor issues like tassel wrap in corn. “Some green stem in corn & tassel wrap, lots of pods in soybeans but above avg yields in both. Need one more rain to take it home!” one update wrote.

In Middlesex and Haldimand counties, corn pollination faced some challenges, yet yield potential stayed above average.

Dry conditions were a bigger concern in parts of Lambton County.

One update noted, “Very dry in the last 1.5 months, needs a rain soon, but soybean pods were plumb vs. most others we tested that were felt despite the lack of rain.”

As the tour moved east, conditions became more mixed.

Some fields appeared scorched, while others still showed promise, though pollination issues were evident in certain areas.

Henry Prinzen provided this update:

So far, the 2025 Yield Tour paints a picture of a season with both challenges and opportunities.

Farmers and agronomists alike are watching closely, hoping that timely rainfall and attentive field management will help crops reach their full potential as harvest nears.

To stay updated throughout the tour, be sure to follow @FarmsMarketing on X.

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