Insights and Stories of Lilian Schaer

Sep. 6, 2013 at 12:29 pm CDT

A two-year research project underway in southwestern Ontario is evaluating various cover crops, including when and where to plant and how to manage them to achieve the best results. They’re being planted either after winter wheat harvest or into standing corn. “About five to 10 per cent of field crop […]

By Lilian Schaer

Aug. 7, 2013 at 2:24 pm CDT

High soybean yields begin with a healthy stand of vigorous plants. Seedling diseases, along with other factors such as weather, can result in the need to replant and drive up the cost of production. A project underway in conjunction with researchers from the U.S. is determining which pathogens affect soybean […]

By Lilian Schaer

Jun. 9, 2013 at 11:15 pm CDT

Traditional diseases affecting alfalfa crops are as prevalent as emerging ones — that’s the somewhat surprising finding of the 2012 alfalfa disease survey that was conducted in Ontario last year to look at incidence, distribution and severity of many common diseases affecting commercial alfalfa fields in Ontario. “We were initially […]

By Lilian Schaer

May. 8, 2013 at 12:18 am CDT

Weather can make a big difference in the amount of nitrogen recommended for growing high-yielding corn. This is part of preliminary findings from a project led by corn specialist Greg Stewart of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food in Guelph, which is evaluating Ontario’s corn nitrogen calculator to determine […]

By Lilian Schaer

Oct. 12, 2012 at 2:53 pm CDT

Regular survey for the presence of corn diseases and pests can help farmers and plant breeders adapt to emerging trends — and protect and grow markets. This is particularly important for seed corn production, where Ontario is a recognized leader in North America, producing high yields and high quality. "These […]

By Lilian Schaer