This article was originally written by Joel Bagg in 2013. It was edited May 25th, 2022 by Christine O'Reilly to reflect current insecticide options to control alfalfa weevil. Alfalfa weevil can be an issue in Ontario, particularly in south-western parts of the province. While outbreaks tend to be isolated, they can be severe and dramatically [...]
Caution! Members of the sorghum family – sorghum, sudangrass, and hybrid sorghum-sudangrass – contain dhurrin, a glucoside that breaks down to release hydrocyanic acid, also known as prussic acid (hydrogen cyanide, HCN). A sudden disruption of growth such as frost, drought or cutting, causes prussic acid to be released inside the plant at a more [...]
Key Points Alfalfa needs about 6 weeks in the fall to store energy that will fuel spring regrowth. A killing frost for alfalfa is -4°C for at least 4 hours. Other stressors - stand age, cutting frequency, disease and insect pressure, soil fertility - also affect winterkill risk. Stands that are mostly alfalfa are not [...]
This article was originally written by Joel Bagg in 2012. It was edited June 27, 2023 by Christine O'Reilly to reflect current insecticide options to control potato leafhopper and the cessation of third-party alfalfa variety trials in Ontario. Potato leafhopper (PLH) is the most damaging alfalfa insect pest in Ontario in most years. While the [...]
Are you interested in learning about new, innovative research happening in the dairy industry but don’t have time? Whether you’re plowing fields or milking cows, podcasts are a great way to get updates, information, and insights on happenings in the dairy industry. We’ve listed 5 dairy podcasts, in no particular order, to listen to in [...]
Key Points: Wet hay may heat and cause a fire. Immature hay and early first-cut hay may retain stem moisture where a meter cannot detect it. Call the fire department immediately if you suspect a hay fire. What Causes Fires? Hay that is too wet (above 25% moisture) will heat and then enter the spontaneous [...]
Key Points: Most silo fires occur because the silage is too dry Silo fires frequently smoulder undetected for a while; the forage bursts into flames when it comes in contact with the air Call the fire department immediately if you suspect a silo fire What Causes Fires? Silage and haylage that is too dry (below [...]
Corn rootworm is a serious pest of continuous corn. Root feeding reduces yield and increases the risk of lodging and “goose-necking” which can make harvest difficult or impossible. Silk feeding can reduce kernel development. For 16 years, producers growing corn-on-corn have relied on hybrids with rootworm Bt traits (Bt-RW), sometimes called “below-ground protection” by the [...]
Publication 30: Guide to Forage Production is a comprehensive guide to forage agronomy. It has information on establishment, fertility, weed management and weather stress for many species grown as forage in Ontario. It also covers harvest and storage of forage crops and understanding a laboratory forage analysis. To download a free PDF version or order a [...]
Rain events across the province have interrupted a dry spring. While the water is welcome, the 5-7 days after a rain that ends a severe dry period increases the risk of nitrates in forage crops! Nitrates are of concern because they can increase silo gas production and cause nitrate poisoning in livestock. Silo Gas Silo gas (nitrogen [...]
Dairy and Beef Cattle Production 