(Blackburnnews.com photo)(Blackburnnews.com photo)
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Ontario Corn Yields Normal After Summer Of Extremes

It was a growing season full of extreme conditions and when it was all said and done, Ontario's 2017 corn crop ended up exactly on par with the ten-year average.

OMAFRA says while the average of 167 bushels per acre is perfectly normal, an enormous amount of variance was found across the province.

The ministry's field crop team notes after a cool and dry spring emergence was generally good for all, leading to a uniform crop for most of Ontario.

All received below normal levels of rain. The driest of which were in Niagara and Bruce-Grey.

OMAFRA points out the warm temperatures pushed crop development, leading to "tip-back", where multiple rows on the cob tips failed to pollinate.

However, August rain showers eliminated most concerns about crop maturity.

The ministry says the unusual weather led to significantly high vomitoxin levels in silage.

Other than that and some Western Bean Cutworm damage, diseases were mostly held in check across the province.

OMAFRA's data also shows at the end of the growing season, Ontario's corn crop received 100-200 heat units more than usual.

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File photo courtesy of  © Can Stock Photo Inc. / dehooks

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Youth volunteers practice coastal conservation

Nine young volunteers aged 11 to 17 spent three days exploring and protecting the Lake Huron coastline during the Coastal Conservation Youth Corps' inaugural program in Grand Bend from July 21 to 23.