Weather for the last half of this winter will likely be much different than what farmers and ranchers experienced in 2024. That’s because the pattern has flipped from the El Nino-influenced conditions of 2024 to a La Nina influence for 2025, says Matt Makens of Makens Weather. In this report, he shares his take on the… Read More
Category: Eastern Canada
In 2025, the Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame (OAHF) will induct Ted Burnside, Ken Forth, Don Hart, Craig Hunter, and Ken Leslie. The new OAHF nominees were selected for their contributions and commitments to improving Ontario’s agricultural sector. They will be formally recognized at an induction ceremony on June 8, bringing the total number of… Read More
The Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) has reinstated livestock grain feeding use for insecticides containing lambda-cyhalothrin. A regulatory announcement in late 2022 changed the labeled approvals for crops treated with lambda-cy products, and resulted in two growing seasons with restricted use and access for growers. Syngenta shared the reinstatement news today, noting that a label… Read More
Lower crop prices and sinking margins in 2024 pushed Southwestern Ontario farmland growth into negative territory for the first time in 14 years, according to an annual survey of farmland in the region. Ryan Parker, partner and agricultural appraiser at London-based Valco Consultants, says a 1.43 per cent drop in farmland prices across the region… Read More
There’s a noticeable gap on the Ontario winter farm conference calendar for 2025, as the Innovative Farmers Association of Ontario (IFAO) has now confirmed that it will not be hosting its annual conference in February. The IFAO has a long history in the province and is synonymous with the adoption of no-till and good soil… Read More
The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA) is getting ready to update its soil management recommendations for farmers in the province. That job will be in the hands of the Ontario Soil Management Committee (OSMC), a group that’s been around since the late 1980s, and has acted as a gatekeeper of guidelines published… Read More
When he started soil sampling fields in Walkerton, Ont., during high school, a career in agronomy wasn’t on the radar for Jonathan Zettler. But after working with agronomists and farm retail staff it didn’t take long for him take a shine to the idea of working with crops and calling the field his office. Fast… Read More
Southwestern Ontario is home to some of Canada’s most productive farmland, and a “perfect storm” of low interest rates, stretches of high commodity prices and relatively good weather have driven farmland prices to dizzying heights in the region. Ryan Parker from London, Ont.- based Valco Real Estate Appraisers & Consultants, which produces an annual survey… Read More
Dynasty, a University of Guelph dark red kidney bean innovation recognized for its high yield, disease resistance and adaptability, has earned the school’s 2024 Innovation of the Year. Dr. Peter Pauls, professor in the Department of Plant Agriculture at the Ontario Agricultural College, developed Dynasty with research technician Tom Smith. The cross that led to… Read More
After some supercharged years, the used farm equipment market took a tumble in 2024 and farmers can expect to see a further correction in 2025. That’s the take from Greg Peterson, the man farm equipment buyers and sellers more commonly refer to as Machinery Pete. Peterson has been tracking used equipment auction prices for 35… Read More