Corn in Canada?

DeltaRed · Apr 14, 2013

How far north into Canada do they grow corn?How common/widespread a crop is it?how does it yeild? Thanks.Steve

rustred · Apr 14, 2013

there was a couple neighbors here that have grown corn. this is about 1 hr. north of Edmonton in central alberta. it is not all that common around here. not sure on the yield, I think he just turned his cows in the corn field. more corn is seen around the Calgary area which is southern alberta.

OleDawg · Apr 14, 2013

I live in west/central Alberta, just outside of Edmonton. There is some corn grown around here. It is not a major crop but some of the big dairy farmers grow it for silage. Also some use it for fall and winter grazing.

oj · Apr 14, 2013

lots grown between Winnipeg and the US border (Mn and ND), seems to be less grown the further west you go (grain corn)

farmer boy · Apr 14, 2013

It's grown in most of Southern Ontario(anything south of Barrie), though there are some high spots that don't have the heat units(2500btu) to grow grain corn reliably, though the majority of the time, you'll get away with it. Last year we managed just over 180bu/ac. An extremely good year, considering the HU's. When you get into what locals call Southern Ontario(Essex/Elgin/Kent/Lambton/Norfolk/Middlesex counties), you're in a very high yield area, with the best farms surpassing 300bu/ac.

Bruce from Can. · Apr 15, 2013

Where I live in south/central Ontario, just northeast of Toronto, corn is king. Last year 4 tonne p/a crop would be ave. Some years 5 plus can be had on well draied soil, with good management . Corn is always in rotation with wheat, and soy.Lots of farms are being picked up by cropers, and fence rows are pulled out, and tile put in. $6000.00 p/a land and cheap intrest is helping drive this, but worthless animal agriculture is the main falt. Beef and hogs just don't pay anymore, and csh croper will give you $100 to $150 p/a to rent plantable grown,and no risk.

old harv · Apr 15, 2013

I live in Temiskaming near New Liskeard, about a 5 hour drive north of Barrie. When I moved here 25 years ago, nobody grew corn. About 15 years ago a few brave people started growing corn for silage, and in the last 10 years more and more people are growing it for grain. It is nowhere near king here, wheat, oats, barley and canola are the main crops. Last year someone bought a planter that lays down clear plastic over the cornrows as they are planted to give the corn a greenhouse like start to the growing season. It costs $100 per acre for the plastic, but it paid off in higher bushels per acre. This year there are 3 planters like that here. However, it is a risky crop here and everyone gets crop insurance. Our yields run from 100 to 150 bu. per acre.

rusty6 · Apr 15, 2013

I don't know of anybody growing corn for grain in east central Sask. but do see some grown and left standing through the winter for cattle to graze. I don't think we get enough frost free days here for corn to mature. Hard enough with spring wheat some years.

Houn · Apr 15, 2013

Its just not heat units that are considered. You dont have to get to far into CA that the land is not tillable.
Hound

rusty6 · Apr 15, 2013

(quoted from post at 15:14:53 04/15/13) Its just not heat units that are considered. You dont have to get to far into CA that the land is not tillable.
Hound

Well there are a whole lot of famers far north of me that have been tilling land and growing fine crops for years. Cereals, canola and other oil seeds do just fine here in Sask.

Earl Gray · Apr 15, 2013

You need to take a road trip!

JohnS1970 · Apr 15, 2013

I live about 1 hour NW of Ottawa in Ontario. About 45 degrees latitude so you can compare to similar latitudes in the US. 20 years ago grain corn was really not grown in this area; it's only in the last 10-15 years it has been grown in this area. Biggest breakthrough were lower heat unit hybrids that would mature and drydown to a decent moisture in the fall. My on farm average over the past 10 years is 123 bu/ac. 2011 late planting dry summer 106 bu. 2012 drought 102 bu. 2010 planted by april 30 perfect growing season 173 bu. We get about 2/3 of the heat units the Corn Belt will see. Went to a meeting last winter and seed rep. said Iowa soil 6" down is warmer the middle of May than our soil is 6" down middle of July.

fixerupper · Apr 15, 2013

Rusty, how far are you from Kamsack? Jim

rusty6 · Apr 15, 2013

(quoted from post at 19:03:40 04/15/13) Rusty, how far are you from Kamsack? Jim

It is 90 miles northeast of me.

fixerupper · Apr 15, 2013

I probably was real close to you on the road between Regina and Yorkton on the way to Kamsack. We harvested wheat, oats and canola for several years north of Kamsack in the reservation country. Nice country and nice people. I'd like to get up there again sometime. Jim

newfarmer9 · Apr 15, 2013

Well here in my area of South-Western Ontario, we are further south than a good portion of the States. There is a lot of corn around here. Yields are all over the place. Lifetime average on our home farm is 190 bushel/acre, can get 250ish with good management and luck. Bruce I need to move to your area, land is around $15 000/acre here and land rent $200-$500/acre.

Corn in Canada?

DeltaRed

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rustred

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OleDawg

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oj

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old harv

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Houn

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