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 »
Category: audio
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 »
India committed to pea import duty, says broker
India’s decision to add a 50 percent import duty on peas is designed to help the country become self-sufficient in pulses, and the government appears to be steadfast in its commitment, says one of India’s largest international pulse brokers. Anurag Tulshan, managing director of Esarco Exim Pvt Ltd, told delegates attending the Grain World conference… Read more »
From the show ring to the tax file
What does the show ring at the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin and Liberal tax proposals have in common? Depending on the day and the country, you’ll find 22-year-old Dennis Catt in the middle of both. Last week, Catt and his Ontario 4-H judging teammates eyeballed udders and contemplated cow confirmation as they competed… Read more »
Independents play key role as agribusiness consolidates
Agriculture’s Big 6 seed and chemical companies are pretty busy these days sorting through the details of mergers and acquisitions and keeping an eye on their mega competitors. The club, which includes BASF, Bayer, DuPont, Dow, Monsanto and Syngenta, are deep into their post commodity boom strategies, with a key focus on efficiency and shareholder… Read more »
Putting the squeeze on celebrity influence
How powerful is popular culture? It has tremendous influence on much of our daily lives, impacting everything from food choices and diets, to exercise, and what products we buy. Many of these choices our those we make to help our families lead healthy lives. Dr. Timothy Caulfield would like to like to see governments, regulators,… Read more »