EASTERN ONTARIO: Crop Report

CORN
•  September rain varied from 10-40 mm. Frost across most of the area Sept. 20 and 21 ended the 2025 growing season.•  Grain corn was mainly at ¾ milk line to black layer maturity when frost hit.

•  Yield loss from frost expected to be 2-10 %.

•  Standability may be a concern so keep an eye on fields going forward.

SOYBEANS

•  About 20 % of soybeans harvested by Sept. 29.

•  Yields very variable depending on soil type and summer rains. Yields reported 15 to 50 bu/ac with most growers reporting in the 30 to 35 bu/ac range.

•  Limited white mould disease pressure this year due to dry conditions.

FORAGES•  Some third-cut taking place. Remember the critical fall harvest period for alfalfa survival in 2026.
•  Silage harvest wrapped up, with most growers reporting better than expected yields given the drought conditions.

CEREALS
•  First-planted winter wheat emerged.

•  Growers expected to plant winter wheat up to Thanksgiving weekend.

CORN
•  Nothing consistent about the grain corn crop. Some fields ran out of moisture with 18 rows of very small kernels. Some fields have a lot of small, immature cobs mixed in with good-sized mature cobs. Other fields have well-filled cobs, making brown layer.

•  Two nights of frost on Sept. 19 and Sept. 20 hit a lot of the crop at 1/2 to 3/4 milk line. This will affect test weight. The crop needed more time.

SOYBEANS
•  Combining underway as of Oct 1. Some reported disappointing yields, others surprised to see short beans into the 60 bu/ac range.

•  Most talked about yields is approximately a tonne per acre.

FORAGES
•  Excellent weather for harvesting 3rd or 4th cuts.

•  Reasonable regrowth on recent cuttings.

•  Most corn silage reports revealed better than expected yield and quality.

CEREALS
•  Conditions were still very dry. Winter wheat planted into corn stubble was coming up unevenly. Most soils too dry for good germination.

CORN
•  Not a lot of optimism. Extremely dry and growers were quiet, silently assessing their crop situation. We’ll know when the combines start to roll.

•  Grain corn harvest expected to start the middle of October.

SOYBEANS
•  Bean harvest swung into full action as of Oct. 1.

•  Reported yields: 10 to 50 bushels per acre but quality was decent.

FORAGES
•  Corn silage harvest wrapped up. Silage quality was variable, ranging from decent to poor, with high sugar content but low starch.

•  Farmers were still looking to cut more hay and alfalfa wherever they could. Expect to see the mowers out in October.

CEREALS
•  Winter wheat planting was progressing quickly, with a few timely showers helping germination.

•  Emergence was excellent on early planted fields.

CORN
•  A few good rains since mid-August, but the corn crop did not see a benefit. Some hope of improved kernel fill from the rain, but this may be wishful thinking. Time will tell.

SOYBEANS
•  Some growers did pre-harvest burn-downs of the already poor crop after the rain triggered weed pressure or dramatic uneven maturity because of regrowth.

•  Very isolated areas reported 85% of a normal yield. Most areas ranged from 20 % to 50 % of normal, and to add insult to injury, reported excessive pods and green beans in the samples.

FORAGES
•  Rains came too late for another cut of hay but relieved some pasture pressures.

•  Silage corn harvest saw 30 % of normal volume. Many were still waiting on tests to determine feed value.

CEREALS
•  Fall wheat plantings had good moisture levels to get good germination.

•  Cover crops showed not enough growth for the normal benefit but still enough to warrant planting.