Canadian edible bean farmers are seeing first-hand what an abrupt loss of pre-harvest glyphosate means for their harvest. For many, it’s been a real challenge. “So, for example, a black bean grower – black beans are typically pretty easy to harvest and you don’t have to worry about staining them because they’re already black, but… Read More
October 7 to 13th marks Ontario’s Agriculture Week — a week to enjoy the produce, meat, and food that Ontario farmers grow and produce. A celebration of the fall harvest season, Agriculture Week is also intended to raise awareness of the economic impact of farming and agriculture in the province, recognizing those who work in… Read More
When it comes to the Canadian federal election, many in the agricultural sector have been disappointed the industry hasn’t been much of a debate topic. Saskatchewan farmer Danny Ottenbreit agrees, so when the opportunity to participate in CBC’s The National about the election with Green Party leader Elizabeth May, he felt there was no way he… Read More
Machinery is continuously changing, and as many are sitting on the combines for harvest 2019 and potentially fighting with specific problems, they are wondering what’s next for 2020. RealAgriculture’s Bernard Tobin caught up with Matt Badding, international sales manager with John Deere, for an update on what producers can expect from John Deere combines next… Read More
Ontario Sheep Farmers (OSF) has appointed Dr. Deb Stark as its first-ever independent board advisor. The role is designed to strengthen the board’s governance structure, address sector-wide issues, and expedite fair, just and equitable resolution of issues regarding board and/or member conduct, according to the organization. The addition of Stark to the role follows an… Read More
Canadians may not be optimistic about agri-food becoming a primary topic for the upcoming election, but they are thinking about some perhaps surprising agriculture and food-related issues. A survey of 1,524 Canadians, conducted Sept 9 by Angus Reid Global and Dalhousie University’s Agri-Food Analytics Lab, looked to gauge Canadians’ opinion on where they ranked agriculture… Read More
The Beef Farmers of Ontario (BFO) and Les Producteurs de bovins du Québec (PBQ) are calling on federal party leaders to include, as a first priority in the mandate of the Minister of Agriculture & Agri-Food, a beef cattle investment and assistance program to help farmers in Ontario and Quebec mitigate the harm of recent… Read More
Farmers looking to incorporate cover crops into rotation are often left with the issue of terminating the crop. Is spraying enough? If you need to work the ground, what’s the best option? To tackle that question, Ontario field editor Bern Tobin asks Pat Lynch, agronomist and Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show tillage demo host, about tillage… Read More
After being at Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show this week, it’s very clear that the fate of farmers’ profitability rests firmly in the hands of Mother Nature. Starting in 2018, Mother Nature has not exactly been on friendly terms with farmers. The August rains brought significant DON issues to the corn crop, fall and winter conditions… Read More
Statistic Canada is out with its Principal Field Crop Estimates for the month of August, and the model-based analysis paints a bit of a different picture than the July report. According to its website, the estimates are calculated based on a model that incorporates coarse resolution satellite data from Statistics Canada’s Crop Condition Assessment Program,… Read More
Technology is ever-evolving — and how we scout our crops during the growing season is evolving with it. RealAgriculture’s Jessika Guse caught up with Jared Rommens, digital effectiveness manager with Corteva Agriscience, to talk about Corteva’s new technology Granular Insights. The program uses satellite imagery and data science to give a satellite scouting experience for… Read More
Having served as CEO for Grain Farmers of Ontario for more than 10 years, Barry Senft has announced it’s time to step down from the role. Senft will end his time as CEO in April of 2020. Senft took leadership of Grain Farmers of Ontario in 2009 just before the organization launched as an amalgamation… Read More
A University of Manitoba masters student has found the major difference between growing soybeans in Ontario versus Manitoba is how long it takes to flower. “Soybean has traditionally been grown in Ontario, and as soybean acres expanded in Manitoba, we wanted to look at the difference in growth habit,” says Nate Ort, who caught up… Read More
Access to rural broadband Internet is a crucial part of running a successful farm and farm business. Whether it’s access to information, ability to use technology, or running a business from a rural area, Internet speed, access, and cost is becoming increasingly important for Canada’s rural areas. As the importance of rural Internet service rises,… Read More
Conservation Ontario has been handed a letter from the provincial government informing the authority to stick to its “core mandate” when administering and funding programs. The trouble is, it’s unclear just what the core mandate includes or leaves out — and the lack of clarity is causing many to wonder how agriculture programs will factor… Read More