Ontario’s agriculture minister recently announced a move to increased rules and regulation regarding use of neonicotinoid seed treatments on corn and soybeans. As noted, there are no new set regulations on the product’s use at this time, however the government is set to begin a consultation process ahead of rolling out changes to the insecticide’s use…. Read More
Tag: Bernard Tobin
The disease pressure landscape changes as the season progresses and from year to year, but there are always the endemic threats that farmers have to manage for. Part of the disease scouting process includes knowing what to look for, including some new or rare pests that could be making their way into your growing region…. Read More
What’s your nitrogen management system for maximum corn yields? Do you plan on two applications? More? How do you decide how much and when? There are several great reasons to split applications of nitrogen — it’s good risk management both to your pocketbook and the environment and a great way to capitalize on a crop… Read More
Producers are starting to see fields of green, as we roll into the middle of June. This means it’s time for those boots to hit the field (again/still), as scouting for disease and insect pressure, nutrient deficiencies and undesirable plants is crucial to understanding the health of plant populations and maximizing yields through subsequent management decisions. In… Read More
Double nozzles are necessary to get the best possible coverage of a vertical target, true or false? Turns out, the answer is more likely that third option — the dreaded “it depends.” In this Soybean School episode, Real Agriculture’s Bernard Tobin is joined by Jason Deveau, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food spray specialist to… Read More
It looks like Ontario’s corn crop will not see the shrinking acreage that many predicted as planting drags into June. That’s the word from Brian Hall, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food’s canola and edible bean specialist. Hall reports that the consensus coming out of a meeting of agronomists from across central Ontario this week… Read More
The agriculture and food industry lives and breathes in rural Ontario. While farmers have their eyes sharply focused on the needs of their business, they’re also concerned about the Ontario government’s vision for small town economies and the services farmers and rural people require. In this Ontario Election 2014 podcast, RealAgriculture.com’s Bernard Tobin speaks with… Read More
The Ontario economy no longer drives on four wheels. That’s the message Steve Peters, executive director of the Alliance of Ontario Food Processors (AOFP) has for a new Ontario government that will be elected on June 12. In this Ontario Election 2014 podcast, Peters and RealAgriculture.com’s Bernard Tobin discuss the state of the Ontario food… Read More
The need to help farmers manage the increasing risks associated with farming is a key election issue for the Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO). In this Ontario Election 2014 podcast, RealAgriculture.com’s Bernard Tobin speaks with Henry Van Ankum, chair of the Grain Farmers of Ontario, about the organization’s ‘Recommendations for Smart Growth’ election platform it… Read More
As May ticks away, farmers in Ontario continue to wrestle with difficult planting conditions. In this episode of the Agronomy Geeks Ontario podcast, Bernard Tobin and Syngenta agronomic sales manager Shawn Brenneman discuss the pace of #plant14 and the decisions farmers are facing. As of May 21, Brenneman estimates that 40 to 50 percent of… Read More
Poor spring weather inevitably leads to rushed planting and shorter spray windows. Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food application technology specialist Jason Deveau says there are three keys to minimizing drift and getting the best return on your spraying dollar. In this video, Deveau and summer research student Tara Wiederman set up a spray trial… Read More
To ensure preservation of unique traits, maintaining purity is essential in seeding Identity Preserved (IP) crops such as IP soybeans. Once certified seed is purchased, it’s up to the grower to keep it clean and separate from other seed sources. This means thoroughly cleaning everything from your seeder to the tractor cab and the cuffs of your jeans. Related: Tips… Read More
As the cool, wet spring drags on in Ontario, many farmers are wrestling with whether they have time for tillage or should they just plant as soon as the soil is fit. In this episode of the Agronomy Geeks Ontario podcast, Bernard Tobin talks tillage strategy with Salford Farm Machinery’s Jim Boak. Are certain types… Read More
Patience wears thin as we head in to May and the ground is still wet and cold. The cost of going in too soon, based on soil conditions and not the calendar, can be mighty costly. If the ground is fit, but a little cool, that’s one thing, but ground that is both wet and… Read More
Just as in money management, investments you make in your farm’s soil nutrient bank account may be short or long term. Depending on the nutrient, crop yields, the weather and soil type, nutrient levels and availability may need immediate deposits or a long-term plan to ensure there’s enough “money” there when the crop needs it…. Read More