The enrolment deadline for the AgriStability program is just under two weeks away. AgriStability is a federally-backed risk management program offering financial assistance to producers who experience large margin declines due to production loss, adverse market conditions, or increased costs according to its website. The program is available to producers across Canada, however, there are… Read More
After more than ten years in the agri-food sector in Ontario, the Agri-Food Management Institute (AMI) has announced it will transfer its resources and wind down operations effective April 30. Farm Management Canada will take over hosting AMI’s online business management tools, resources, and workshops. Food Processing Skills Canada will be the new host of… Read More
There are some stubborn myths in agriculture — rain falls 90 days after fog, wheat should be seeded in bushels per acre, and there’s a tax advantage to leasing versus buying equipment. In reality though, each of these statements is at least somewhat false. Fog and rain are not correlated, wheat should be planted in… Read More
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Winnipeg, Man,. on Tuesday and took questions from reporters about what’s happening with Canada’s trade relations with China. Questions centred on canola, as earlier that morning it was announced China banned Viterra from exporting canola seed due to “hazardous pests.” Trudeau said, “We’re continuing to work very hard to try… Read More
Reproduction performance on Canadian dairy farms is getting better but there’s still room for improvement. That’s the message Mark Cason, EastGen Genetics reproductive solutions manager, shared with producers attending the Western Canadian Dairy Seminar at Red Deer, Alta., earlier this month. Carson’s insights are based on analysis of CanWest DHI herds greater than 150 cows from… Read More
The countdown to the seventh annual Canadian Dairy XPO is on as the dairy industry showcase readies to open its doors at the Stratford Rotary Complex on April 3rd and 4th. Show attendance topped 16,000 in 2018 and more than 350 exhibitors representing 40 countries will set up this year to feature the latest dairy… Read More
During TechTourLIVE this year, the audience got a special treat when the tour stopped at Regina, Sask. RCMP Supt. Kevin Kunetzki was a featured guest at the event and on RealAg Radio to talk about rural crime and the new safety network program being piloted in southern Saskatchewan. According to Kunetzki, there has been an increase… Read More
Starting in 2019, Ontario growers will have access to a tiered salvage benefit when dealing with deoxynivalenol (DON) in the corn crop. Announced this week via the provincial government, the new tiered salvage benefit will more “accurately reflect the additional costs associated with harvesting and handling corn affected by DON and help producers trying to find… Read More
Some risks are out of our control, and as we know all too well, weather is a big one in the agricultural industry. However, there are some risks that are actually in our control. Consider the risks that Boeing has dealt with this week. With the crash of the Boeing 737 Max in Ethiopia, Boeing… Read More
It’s an unfortunate reality for many farmers — the very frightening possibility of activists targeting them on their private property, where their homes are, where they care for their livestock and raise their children. Last weekend, Ontario dairy farmers were left shaken when activists trespassed on private property, entered barns without permission, and reportedly, even… Read More
Who learns more from a mentorship — the mentor or the mentee? The answer may surprise you. As Deb Stark, former deputy minister of agriculture for Ontario, explains, a good mentoring relationship has value for all parties involved, but success requires communication and commitment from those involved. In this episode of Mind Your Farm Business,… Read More
The senior vice president, of ag services with the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) says he remains concerned about Canadian sales for the month of February. Self-propelled combines were up by 25 per cent, while two-wheel-drive tractors under 40 horse power were up by 23 per cent. “We remain concerned about some of the Canadian numbers in… Read More
When are dairy cows in the black? In financial terms, cows typically hit profitability in their second lactation, but too many cows don’t make it to the break-even point, says University of Calgary graduate student Jesse Schuster. Last week at the Western Canadian Dairy Seminar (WCDS) at Red Deer, Alberta, Schuster shared findings from a study of CanWest DHI… Read More
If you live in southern Saskatchewan, reporting crime in the area just got a bit easier. Residents in the south district (shown in the map below) will be able to use the new Saskatchewan Crime Watch Advisory Network to learn about criminal activity from the local RCMP detachment or to report suspicious activity in the area…. Read More
Statistics Canada has released its livestock estimates as of January, and although sheep numbers are on the rise it’s a bit of a different story for cattle and hogs. Comparing January 2019 to last year, it was the first year-over-year decrease for hog inventories since January 2013. Although there is small increase for cattle, inventories… Read More