On October 17, 2018 there was a major change to Canadian law which is very slowly starting to ripple its way through workplaces across Canada. Farms are included in this workplace change but the question is are farmers ready for the change that is about to sweep over them? RealAg Radio host Shaun Haney dives… Read more »
Category: audio
Canadian hemp industry ready for new opportunities
Hemp has often been lumped in with its rather contentious relation, cannabis. While related, the two crops are very different, but the recent legalization of cannabis in Canada is also good news for the hemp industry. Shaun Haney, host of RealAg Radio, recently had a chance to talk with Ted Haney, executive director of the… Read more »
Loss of Class 7 — not access — the larger USMCA problem, says economist
There was a tremendous amount of relief, and some consternation, when the new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) was finally struck. Cleary, many industries are simply happy that things did not get worse. The dairy industry, though, feels that things did get worse for them. Dr. Richard Barichello, professor, food and resource economics at the University… Read more »
‘Grow A Leader’ campaign raises $250,000 for 4-H
SeCan’s annual Grow A Leader program has raised $52,716 to support 4-H Canada in 2018. Over its five-year history, the program has contributed more than $250,000 to support 4-H across the country. “4-H is all about developing rural leaders and that’s what we’re doing when we support this program,” says SeCan communications manager Brenda Trask. “We… Read more »
New insecticide promises to take bite out of soybean aphids
Soybean growers will soon have a new tool in the fight against yield-robbing soybean aphids. BASF expects to launch Sefina, a new insecticide it says will deliver control of aphids and white flies in soybean and potatoes, in 2019. BASF Canada horticulture crop manager Scott Hodgins explains that the new insecticide will deliver a unique… Read more »
Wheat School: When does your crop need spring nitrogen?
It’s late March and it’s cool in Ontario. Are you thinking about applying nitrogen to your winter wheat crop? If so, don’t mention it to RealAgriculture resident agronomist Peter Johnson – he may have a conniption. After he stops shaking, WheatPete will tell you that there is no benefit to putting nitrogen on wheat until… Read more »
Neighbourhood nutrient plans share the load to better manage manure
Your farm has a nutrient management plan, but does it include your neighbours? A larger-scale plan is a great idea for intense livestock neighbourhoods that struggle to use manure efficiently. It also ensures nutrients stay in the field and out of tiles and waterways, says Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs field crop sustainability… Read more »
Case IH lightens the load with narrow-row corn header
Case IH is expanding its 4400 Series corn header line-up with a new lightweight, narrow-row header designed to help farmers pick cleaner, harvest faster, and improve handling of down corn. The new models have been completely redesigned — from the row unit and frame, to the gear box and power drive — to meet the needs of… Read more »
Treat your soil like an Olympic athlete for peak performance
What do Canadian speed skater Kim Boutin and your soil have in common? They both prosper and succeed when you treat them like an Olympic athlete. Boutin’s Olympic training earned her three medals at the recently-concluded Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. What would happen if farmers treated their soil like an Olympic athlete? Soil… Read more »
GreenON Agriculture program helps farmers reduce carbon footprint
Ontario farmers have a new cost-share program to help them reduce their carbon footprint and become more energy efficient. The GreenON Agriculture program, recently announced by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, is specifically aimed at producers of agricultural commodities in permanent, climate-controlled buildings. The Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association will administer the… Read more »
Salford mounts air boom applicator on Deere sprayer chassis
Salford Group has made its first foray into aftermarket equipment with the launch of mounted air boom applicators for common sprayer chassis and floater chassis. The company unveiled its Salford-Valmar 6700 last week at the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, Kentucky. The company bills the new release as the world’s only aftermarket chassis mounted air… Read more »
Do we really need to double food production by 2050?
If you’ve been attending agricultural and food conferences over the last decade you’ve likely heard countless references to “feed the 9 billion” or to double production by 2050 to meet the appetite of a growing global population. Is it time we revisited this oft-cited food prediction? Penn State University’s Mitch Hunter thinks so. Hunter and… Read more »
Cut your energy costs on the farm
Are you spending too much on energy to power your farm? Do you know the major energy users on your farm? If you don’t know the answers to those questions you have some work to do, says Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs engineer James Dyck. Energy prices have soared in recent years… Read more »
Inside ‘The Real Dirt on Farming’
Where can Canadians find everything they need to know about farming all wrapped into a neat 60-page package? It’s all in The Real Dirt on Farming. Farm & Food Care Ontario officially unveiled the newest version of its flagship public outreach publication last month. This new Real Dirt is the fourth edition since the project’s inception in… Read more »
We need to talk about mental health: Michael Landsberg
Canadians know Michael Landsberg best as the brash, quick-witted sports journalist who started his career at the anchor desk on TSN’s Sportsdesk and then enjoyed an 18-year run with his no-holds-barred interview show Off The Record. Today, Landsberg is still talking sports, but he spends much of his time sharing the story of his ongoing… Read more »