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Crops will need rain soon

It's getting dry out there on the land.

Guelph is farm country, and what happens on the land has far-reaching implications for the economy of the city and region.

And what’s happening on the land right now is a mixed bag that is on the verge of being too dry.

Bill Deen, a plant scientist at the University of Guelph, said the sowing process went well at the beginning of spring around Guelph and Wellington County, and conditions have been very good for germination and emergence, he said. But the crops need rain.

“If you look around and drive around the countryside, the crops are emerging very uniformly, and that is always a good sign,” Deen said. “It indicates that soil and moisture conditions were good.”

But there is some concern that the soil is drying out, he added. It is far from a panic situation at this point, but concern will grow if there is no significant rain over the next three weeks.

“It might be good for us to have some rain,” he said, adding that only minor shower has passed through the area, amounting to very little moisture for the fields. “There are several areas that I would consider to be fairly dry.”

Corn, soybean and winter wheat are the dominant crops as usual, but some areas of the region have significant acres in forage crops, especially grass and alfalfa, for livestock operations.

In some areas, emergence was a touch late due to cool spring temperatures, said Mark Brock, chair of the board of directors of Grain Growers of Ontario. He farms near Stratford.

“It’s variable all over the province, especially when you follow other farmers on social media," Brock said. “Some have got some timely rains, and others are very dry. It’s a full spectrum of different things.”

The cool start to the spring, he said, was quite unusual. Planting did take place in some areas during the cool period, but it delayed crop emergence. There is replanting happening in certain spots around the province due to heavy rains that caused the soil to crust and prevent sprouting. Spring conditions were unusual. 

“It’s been awhile since we’ve been cool and dry,” he said. “It is not without its challenges everywhere, and its opportunities. A lot of us are hoping for a nice, gentle all-day rain to come. I don’t think anybody would be opposed to that.”

Farmland immediately outside of Guelph is in various stages of growth. Some corn is a hand high out the ground, while others plants in other fields are barely poking though.

A first cutting of forage is happening around the Maryhill area. Wheat looks strong and thick everywhere.

Cultivation in fields yet to be planted is kicking up a lot of dust.

 


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Rob O'Flanagan

About the Author: Rob O'Flanagan

Rob O’Flanagan has been a newspaper reporter, photojournalist and columnist for over twenty years. He has won numerous Ontario Newspaper Awards and a National Newspaper Award.
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