This is the Field Crop Update for the Lake Ontario counties for July 18, 2000. This report was prepared by Greg Stewart, Corn Industry Program Lead. Several days of dry weather have been appreciated, but unfortunately rainfall continues to be more than adequate and varied across the region this past week depending on thunderstorm activity.
Excess moisture continues to hamper crop growth in many fields.
Temperatures have been cooler than normal and crop heat units continue to lag behind. Advanced maturity, spoilage and mould are resulting in reduced forage quality. Be sure to analyze your forages and adjust rations accordingly. Hay can be checked for heat damage by analyzing for ADF-N. Barley and oats in underseeded fields are now in head and need to be cut soon if they are to be used as forage. New alfalfa seedings generally look good, except in late plantings and poorly drained fields.