It’s easy to keep track of nozzle pressure on your sprayer. All you have to do is keep one eye on the pressure indicator, right? Actually, that’s a myth. The dynamic duo from sprayers101.com are back for another episode of Exploding Sprayer Myths. In this outing, Tom Wolf of AgriMetrix and Jason Deveau of OMAFRA… Read More
Month: October 2015
Financial ratios serve three main purposes: they provide a quick assessment of a business’s financial health, they’re a tool for diagnosing financial problems if they exist, and they serve as a measurement for assessing whether problems are being solved. “They show you where you’ve been, they show you where you have a problem and they… Read More
Do big changes in Ottawa mean big changes for Canadian agriculture? Ron Bonnett, president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture joins host Kelvin Heppner on this week’s TWORA podcast to discuss the result of Monday’s federal election and what it means for the farm community. New rules have been announced on who can buy farmland… Read More
Visible clubroot symptoms were first identified in a canola field in Alberta in 2003. It has since spread through much of the province, and by the end of 2014, it was present in 30 municipalities and into neighbouring provinces. It was also that year, that a pathotype of the disease observed the year earlier was confirmed… Read More
After saying good-bye to three senior field crop specialists in the last year, Ontario’s agriculture ministry has hired three individuals to fill the corn, cereal crop and canola/edible bean vacancies. Joanna Follings is joining the Agriculture Development Branch as the Cereals Specialist, replacing Peter Johnson (who joined RealAg as resident agronomist). Follings, who holds a MSc…. Read More
Have you tried baling corn stalks? Agronomist Pat Lynch thinks you can’t bale enough. At Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show last month, Lynch helped co-ordinate the Corn Stalk Baling Demonstration. Afterwards he joined the Corn School to share his thoughts on whether Ontario farmers should be jumping on the stalk baling bandwagon. Today’s corn hybrids are… Read More
“It’s a true lesson for all of agriculture,” says Peter Johnson in this week’s special edition of Wheat Pete’s Word. “When we start throwing stones at each other, all we do is a disservice to the whole industry…” In this episode of Wheat Pete’s Word, host Peter Johnson catches us all up to speed on… Read More
This week, Subway Restaurants announced that it will begin transitioning to serving only protein from animals that have never received antibiotics starting in early 2016. Starting in 2016, we’ll transition to serve meat that’s never received antibiotics to make our products even better. — SUBWAY® (@SUBWAY) October 20, 2015 “Today’s consumer is ever more mindful of what… Read More
After seeking input through the summer, Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart has introduced amendments to The Saskatchewan Farm Security Act that will further restrict who can buy farmland and give the Farm Land Security Board more power to enforce the legislation. A survey of more than 3,200 people showed 87 percent not supporting foreign ownership, and 75 percent… Read More
It’s an organization developed to “cultivate an appreciation for food and farming” across the country, a feat that requires conversation, and a “giant Team Canada effort,” says executive director and soon-to-be-CEO of Farm and Food Care Canada (FFC) Crystal Mackay. Mackay to Lead National Farm & Food Care Group Mackay says the effort should see… Read More
Too wet isn’t good, but neither is too dry for growers looking to get the most value for soybeans. According to researchers at North Dakota State University, on a 40 bushel-per-acre crop, harvesting soybeans at 9 percent moisture rather than 13 percent will cost the farmer around 1.8 bushels per acre. At $10 per bushel, that’s… Read More
It was our hope to have a parody out by the middle of August, as a fun kick-off to harvest. But, thanks to slow internet speeds and self-conscious/perfectionist/completely amateur singers/musicians, our version of Leaving on a Jet Plane will be a late show to the game. Here’s hoping this melancholic hybrid helps you get through a harvest that has… Read More
Uncertainty goes hand in hand with change, and so after almost a decade of Conservative government, the shift to a Liberal majority in Ottawa brings with it plenty of questions, including questions about the future of Canadian agriculture (in no particular order): Who’s going to be the next ag minister? The Liberals have several ag veterans returning to… Read More
Those who oppose agricultural subsidies have long held New Zealand out as the ultimate success story. According to their line of reasoning, if the Kiwis can farm without subsidies, so can we. In fact, before and during the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) talks, New Zealand’s iconic status with its admirers was so elevated that to… Read More
The federal political landscape in Canada looks very different following the election on Monday, with Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party of Canada winning a clear majority. After nine and a half years of Conservative government, Canadian farm groups and farmers will have to adjust to Liberal policies and approaches to agriculture (the Canadian Federation… Read More