By Connor Lynch
Maizex Seeds, Great Lakes Grains, and Statistics Canada were all predicting record corn and soybean yields for the province. Some fields of soybeans and corn will likely break records but for most Eastern Ontario growers, soybeans are above average and corn is around average.
In Eastern Ontario, most farmers were finished with soybean harvest by late October. Yields varied but were largely in the average to above-average range. Those who were already hauling in corn were reporting high test weights and good yields, albeit variable ones, with fields ranging from as low as 130 bu/ac to 210 bu/ac. North Dundas area farmer Josh Jaquemet was about half done his corn and soybeans as of Oct. 23. Both were solid crops, with soybeans at about 58 bu/ac and corn breaking 180 bu/ac.
It was a good year when it came to disease and insect pressure as well. Vomitoxin is looking like a non-issue on Eastern Ontario corn, and white mold was similarly scarce on soybeans.
Independent agronomist Gilles Quesnel said corn yields are slightly below average based on the farmers he has spoken to.
Northumberland County cash crop farmer and elevator operator Peter Archer was largely done harvesting corn and soybeans by Oct. 22. His soybeans were a record-breaker at close to 70 bushels an acre. Corn was highly variable but largely a good crop, though not a bin-buster, in the 160 bu/ac range.
