Crop Management
Fact sheets and other resources
Corn
- Testing for DON fact sheet
- DON in corn information
- Considerations when selecting corn hybrids and soybean varieties
- Tar spot fact sheet
- Stalk integrity – impacts on harvest and yields
- European corn borer – resistance to Bt corn identified in Canada
- Corn rootworm
- May frost
Tarspotter
This app is to assist farmers in making management decisions for tar spot in corn. It is fully developed by the University of Wisconsin, but is suitable for Ontario conditions as well, and as this disease becomes more prominent in the region will become increasingly more accurate.
Canadian Corn Pest Coalition
The Canadian Corn Pest Coalition (CCPC) is a collaborative group of experts promoting the proper stewardship of corn pest management technologies. Visit to learn more about entomology, insect resistance management, pathology, and agronomy, and regulatory bodies.
Soybeans
Sporecaster
This app is to assist farmers in marking management decisions for white mould in soybeans. It is fully developed by the University of Wisconsin, but is suitable for Ontario conditions as well.
Cereals
Winter wheat staging guide
A visual guide to winter wheat staging
Accurate crop staging is critical for managing winter wheat. Learn about wheat anatomy, important stages throughout the season, scouting tips and key yield components with high definition photos and in-depth descriptions. Taking into the account the Zadoks growth scale, along with Ontario based timing and information, this guide is a must have for Ontario wheat farmers.
Download a free copy of the guide, created specifically for Ontario farmers.
Download guide
Soils
Weeds
- Palmer amaranth – new competition for Ontario crops
- Waterhemp
- Off-target movement of pesticides
- Fall weed control tips
- Optimizing the performance of glyphosate in field crops
Ontario Crop IPM
Crop IPM is a source for information on crop pests, disease and weeds.
Manage Resistance Now
Resistance can significantly impact yield, profit and even land value. Manage Resistance Now is a complete go-to resource to help growers and industry proactively manage herbicide, insecticide and fungicide resistance.
Field Statistics
This is a statistical tool for anyone doing on-farm trials.
Spray Calibration
This tool is designed to help you calibrate your sprayer.
Threshold
In the beta version of the tool, users can search for action thresholds of common pests in several field crops.
Spray Records
This is a simple tool that lets you keep track of seasonal records.
Pests
Ontario Crop IPM
Crop IPM is a source for information on crop pests, disease and weeds.
Crop Protection Network
Grain Farmers of Ontario sponsors the Crop Protection Network, an international partnership of university and provincial Extension specialists, and public and private professionals that provides unbiased, research-based information. Visit to view fact sheets, webinars, yield assessments and more about specific insects, disease or weeds.
Threshold
In the beta version of the tool, users can search for action thresholds of common pests in several field crops.
Field Statistics
This is a statistical tool for anyone doing on-farm trials.
Crop management guides
Winter wheat staging guide
A visual guide to winter wheat staging
Accurate crop staging is critical for managing winter wheat. Learn about wheat anatomy, important stages throughout the season, scouting tips and key yield components with high definition photos and in-depth descriptions. Taking into the account the Zadoks growth scale, along with Ontario based timing and information, this guide is a must have for Ontario wheat farmers.
Download a free copy of the guide, created specifically for Ontario farmers.
Download guide
Pub 811 – Agronomy Guide for Field Crops
All your agronomy questions from planting to harvest and from crop damage to insect identification can be answered in the 425 pages of agronomy knowledge in the Agronomy Guide for Field Crops. Read online
Pub 812 – Field Crop Protection Guide
Insect and disease control methods in field crops can be found in Publication 812, the Field Crop Protection Guide, it’s up to date for the 2020 season. Read online
Pub 75 – Guide to Weed Control
Insect and disease control methods in field crops can be found in Publication 812, the Field Crop Protection Guide, it’s up to date for the 2021 season. Read online
Guide to Early Season Crop Pests
This guide is a tool to help identify pests that attack field crops early in the growing season. Under each pest, the guide outlines how to identify the pest, explains their life cycle and the damage they cause. It also details scouting techniques, thresholds and integrated pest management strategies including cultural, biological and chemical control. Additional information on protecting natural enemies as well as pollinators is also available at the end of the guide. This guide provides the basics for establishing an integrated pest management strategy for soil borne and early season pests in field crops, which will help target the use of insecticide treated seed to where it is necessary. Download and view the PDF.
Identifying Wheat Diseases Affecting Heads of Grain
This is a guide to wheat diseases affecting heads and grain. It covers diseases visible at head emergence, diseases visible during grain development, diseases visible just before harvest and diseases causing problems in other countries. Learn to recognize common wheat diseases: loose smut, fusarium head blight, stagonospora glume blotch, black chaff, sooty molds, common bunt/dwarf bunt, ergot, and wheat blast. Download the PDF of this guide here.
Weed ID Guide for Ontario Crops
Recognize over 120 species commonly found in and around agricultural fields. Print copies are available to be ordered on-demand here. Download the PDF of this guide here.
Harvest checklist
A valuable tool to help you prepare for harvest and track progress for wheat as well as other grain crops. Download the checklist here.
Marketing
Nutrient management
4R nutrient stewardship
Cash Cropper App
Cash Cropper allows you to compare the net profitability and fertility requirements for different crop rotations within a given field.
Download currently unavailable.
Ontario Corn Nitrogen Calculator
This mobile app generates a recommendation for the most economical N rate for a corn field.
Download currently unavailable.
Resilient Fields helps you work through specific field challenges to obtain sustainable solutions for your field crops. BMP conflicts and trade-offs are part of farming. Work through Resilient Fields’ resources and solutions to determine the best field practices for your soil, your water, your crop, your future.
AgriSuite Calculators
Crop Nutrient Calculator, Organic Amendment Calculator, Fertilizer Calculator, Phosphorus Loss (PLATO) Calculator, Field Management Plan, Manure Storage Sizing Calculator.
Field Crop News Q&A Reference Guide
2024 Field Crop News Q&A Guide
Supported by research from Grain Farmers of Ontario, this extensive reference guide provides answers to frequently asked questions about field crops.
Download guide#GrainTALK Farmer Forums
GrainTALK Farmer Forum: Corn Rootworm Resistance
Erin Hodgson, Extension Entomologist Specialist with Iowa State University, will share a U.S. perspective on CRW.
GrainTALK: Farmer Forum, Pest and Disease Management
Topics covered in this session will include pests to be on the lookout for in your fields, along with resistance, management, and mitigation information.
#GrainTALK Webinars
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Webinar
GrainTALK Webinar: 2024 Soybean Season Recap: Key Insights and Future Strategies for 2025
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Webinar
GrainTALK Webinar: Management Strategies and Innovative Research on Corn Rootworm
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Webinar
GrainTALK Webinar: Managing drift with Dr. Jason Deveau
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Webinar
GrainTALK Webinar: Managing winter wheat in the spring
Contact our Agronomists:
Marty Vermey
Sr. Agronomist
mvermey@gfo.ca
Laura Ferrier, CCA-ON
Agronomist
lferrier@gfo.ca