Ontario Corn, Soy Crops Developing Well

Ontario corn and soybean crops are developing well across the province, according to the latest weekly update from Grain Farmers of Ontario. 

Grain development is occurring as corn is staging at R2 to R4, depending on planting date. Soybeans are full of pods and are staging from R4 to R5. Meanwhile, the winter wheat harvest has basically wrapped up. 

Corn: 

Corn development across the province varies widely as the planting window this year ranged from the end of April to late June. For the most part, the crop stage for the June planted crop is in the R1 to R2 (pollination to blister) stage, and early planted corn is in the early dough (R4) stage. With most of the provincial crop in the R3 (milk) stage.   

On average, provincially, the ground moisture has been exceptional to excessive as crops continue to have ideal development with no drought stress. That said, there are small, localized pockets that have missed the rains and do have drought-stressed crops but are limited to a small geography. 

Soybeans: 

Soybeans are in the R4 (full pod) to R5 (beginning seed), and as shared in past posts, with some later planted fields delayed in maturity. 

Excellent canopy growth continues, and more pods have formed on the upper part of the canopy.  Flowers are petering out as the remaining pods will continue to set seed over the next weeks. It is hard to get a yield estimate yet as pods are still forming, and any stress in the next couple of weeks could abort the seed or reduce seed size. 

Fields are starting to lodge, as earlier plant development had ideal growing conditions with timely rains and adequate heat, creating longer internodes resulting in lanky plants. Higher plant populations and heavy rainfalls and wind have contributed to the lodging. 

Cereals: 

Winter wheat harvest is mostly wrapped up. Spring cereal harvest will begin in the next couple of weeks.