A run of warm, sunny fall weather has allowed Ontario farmers to make rapid progress in the fields, with corn harvesting accelerating and the soybeans nearing completion.
The extended stretch of favourable weather has provided nearly ideal conditions for fieldwork, with limited rainfall and above-normal temperatures.
According to Grain Farmers of Ontario's (GFO) weekly crop progress estimates, the provincial corn harvest jumped 19 points from a week earlier to reach 24% complete as of Wednesday, while the soybean harvest was estimated at 95% done compared to 82% the previous week. (View GFO's harvest progress maps here)
Winter wheat planting is also essentially complete, with much of the crop emerged and growing well.
The warmth has been particularly notable in southwestern Ontario, where Windsor and Sarnia both reached 30 degrees C on Oct. 13, marking the latest date on record that either city has hit that temperature. The mild conditions have been accompanied by limited rainfall in some areas, including Toronto, which received just 36.5 mm during October compared to the normal 67 mm.
The latest weekly GFO field observations report also noted the warm and dry weather has helped reduce corn moisture levels, potentially lowering grain drying costs. Hard overnight frosts have effectively shut down corn plants, while sunny daytime conditions have encouraged further field drying, it added.
However, the downside of the extended dry weather may be declining soil moisture reserves heading into winter. Agriculture Canada's latest precipitation maps show much of southern Ontario received just 40% to 60% of normal precipitation during the 60 days ending Oct. 29, with some areas receiving less than 40%.
While the dryness has been beneficial for harvesting, additional precipitation would help replenish soil moisture and support winter wheat development ahead of winter dormancy.
