A weekly report prepared by the staff of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). If you require further information, regarding this report, call the Elora Resource Centre at 519-846-0941. Office hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For technical information, call the Agricultural Information Contact Centre at 1-877-424-1300 or visit the OMAFRA Website: www.omafra.gov.on.ca
NEW OMAFRA PRODUCTS
The following new publication is available at the price noted:
Guide to Fruit Production, 2012-2013, Publication 360 (new title for Pub.360); the cost is $20; please recycle all former editions and any supplements.
The following free OMAFRA fact sheets are now available:
11-057: Rooftop Solar Installations on Rural Buildings, Agdex 768; New.
12-007: Hazelnuts in Ontario – Biology and Potential Varieties, Agdex 240; New (first in a new series).
12-009: Hazelnuts in Ontario – Pests, Agdex 240; New (second in the series).
12-011: Hazelnuts in Ontario – Growing, Harvesting and Food Safety, Agdex 240; New (third in the series).
12-013: Water Efficiency and Conservation Practices for Irrigation, Agdex 753/650; New.
12-015: Managing the Lygus Bug in Greenhouse Crops, Agdex 290/621; New.
12-019: Horse Foot Health, Agdex 460/10; replaces 88-073 and 88-074, Horse Management Foot Care, Part 1 and 2, which should be recycled.
To order OMAFRA publications and fact sheets: visit any OMAFRA Resource Centre or Service Ontario location or visit the Service Ontario website at: www.serviceontario.ca/publications.
FARM CREDIT CANADA
Young Farmer Loan
Build your future on a solid business plan … If you’re under 40, you can use the Young Farmer Loan to take the next step in your agriculture career. Even if you have limited credit experience, by putting together a sound plan, you can purchase farm-related assets.
Qualifications – To qualify for this unique loan, you must: be under 40 years of age.
Features – Loans to purchase agriculture-related assets qualify for up to $500,000 and no loan processing fees.
http://www.fcc-fac.ca/en/products/lending/Young_Farmer_loan_e.asp.
WATCH OUT! THOSE COVER CROPS ARE GROWING!
Cover crops had a good winter for growth. The early warm temperatures have really brought the cover crops along. By now your wheat and rye cover crops should be well tilled and starting to stretch in height. A warm, wet spell could mean some hard-to-manage cover crops. While we seem to be getting some showers now, soils have dried quickly this spring and the long range forecast appears to be for a bit drier summer. Cover crops can do a great job of drying out soils; it is probably time to slow down that moisture loss.
With good growth on cover crops come concerns about controlling them. Options for controlling overwintered wheat and rye cover crops this spring:
Tillage – a light discing will knock the growth back but won’t kill the cover crop consistently across the field. A good option if you want to keep scattered plants for wind abatement
Herbicides – glyphosate is usually the product of choice for cover crop control. Look in the Guide to Weed Control OMAFRA Publication 75 pg. 90 Table 6-3 Specific Notes on weeds Controlled and Product Rates Associated with Various Glyphosate Concentrations. The recommended rate of glyphosate active is 0.27 to 4.32 kg/acre. Rates used to control overwintered cover crops will depend upon the growth/tilling of the cover crop. Ensure that the cover crop is actively growing. Winter wheat cover crops have been reported to be more difficult to kill than rye under certain conditions. With rye cover crop increase the rate used with increasing growth stage and height. For wind strips a slow kill is desired to keep the rye standing. Allow 5-7 days translocation time after application before doing any tillage if growing conditions are good. If conditions are cool following application, allow additional time for translocation to occur.
Rolling and crimping – this is a system of cover crop control that has gained some followers particularly in the U.S. Growers like Steve Groff of Pennsylvania and researchers like Dale Mutch at Michigan State University and Darren Robinson of the Ridgetown Campus of the University of Guelph are doing research to fine tune the process. The rye cover crop has to be at the boot stage or fully headed out to get good control by just breaking stalks. Generally that means that you are looking at planting well into June in most years. It may be best to combine this with a herbicide application, if possible.
COMING EVENTS
May 26 – Wellington Rural Romp: a day in the countryside at over a dozen farms in Wellington County with gardening and baby farm animals on display. Visit: www.guelphwellingtonlocalfood.ca.
May 29 – Wellington County Farm Safety regular meeting at the Husky Farm Equipment, Alma at 8pm sharp. For more information, call Walter Grose at 519-846-5329.
June 7 – Canadian Association of Farm Advisors (CAFA) – Ontario Provincial Conference, Quality Inn, Woodstock. Details available at: www.cafanet.com.
June 9 – 17th Annual Children’s Farm Safety Day for Waterloo Region from 9:30am to 1:30pm. Event will be held rain or shine in Woolwich Township at: Dennis and Helen Martin, 1220 Lundy Rd., RR#1, West Montrose. Registration by Friday, June 1st. For more information, contact Lois 519-696-2667 or check the website: www.waterlooruralwomen.org.
June 19 and 20 – Ontario Pork Congress. Mark your calendar; check website: http://www.porkcongress.on.ca/.
June 24 – Local Food Fest: a celebration of local food and copies of the 2012 local food map available at Ignatius Jesuit Centre with children’s area, workshops and more. Visit the website at: www.guelphwellingtonlocalfood.ca.
