Ontario Soybean Harvest Around Half Finished; Yields Variable

The Ontario soybean harvest is progressing quickly amid dry, warm conditions with yields ranging from poor to exceptional. 

Real Agriculture agronomist Peter Johnson estimated this week that as much as half of the Ontario soybean crop could be in the bin, with that percentage even higher in some parts of the province and some growers already finished. Yields, he said, have been highly variable, ranging from as low as 25 bu/acre in those areas worst hit by summer rains, to as high as 80 bu. 

He described yields as “a bit disappointing north of London to average around Mitchell to exceptional as you move to the east.” 

In its crop production report last month, Statistics Canada estimated the average Ontario soybean yield this year at 50.5 bu/acre, up from 48 bu a year ago but still down from the 2021 average of 51.9 bu. 

Meanwhile, a pair of provincial crop tours showed mixed results. The 8th Annual Great Ontario Yield Tour, which took place from Aug.14 - 25, put the average soybean yield in the province at 53.5 bu/acre, a potential new record high. However, the Great Lakes Grain tour in late August/early September projected an average soybean yield of 48.6 bu/acre.,   

In announcing its tour results, Great Lakes Grain said the soybean crop appeared to have recovered nicely from growing season challenges that included everything from early dry soil conditions to poor emergence, to excessive rain events. 

Johnson said soybean quality has been great, although he noted smaller beans in the lower yield areas. Meanwhile, white mould has been a big issue again in the eastern part of the province, he said. 

Aside from silage, very little corn has been harvested to date, Johnson said, noting this year’s crop is late. In fact, some corn in the Dundalk highlands was already hit by frost meaning that test weight could be an issue.  

However, the current stretch of favourable weather means most of the crop should be ok, Johnson said. The hot, dry conditions are also helping to tamp down concerns over gibberella ear rot in the wake of the earlier wet summer conditions. 

Much cooler and potentially wetter weather is expected to move into Ontario this weekend.