In 2011, a new provincial cost-shared Risk Management Program (RMP) was created for the Ontario agriculture industry. Farmer leaders across commodity groups came together as the Ontario Agricultural Sustainability Coalition (OASC), and worked with the provincial government to design a made-in-Ontario solution to help bring “predictability, stability and bankability to the farming sector.” In the fall of 2013,… Read More

Ontario is proposing amendments to the Crop Insurance Act, 1996, that, if passed, would mean more types of agricultural products would be eligible for coverage by production insurance. Production insurance, a part of Ontario’s business risk management programs, is designed to help farmers manage losses due to events like weather, pests and disease. The costs… Read More

31-33% moisture: that’s when corn reaches physiological maturity, or black layering, according to Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). But, harvesting corn above 28% can result in damage to the grain, difficult marketing and the burdens of attempting to dry in storage. This late in the season, stalk quality may make the… Read More

Farmers still have a bit of time to evaluate their fields for levels of grubs and wireworms, two key pests that will factor in to the need for a neonicotinoid pesticide seed treatment. And that’s good news, because the deadline to ordering fungicide-only corn seed is rapidly approaching. Most companies have a mid- to late-November… Read More

If you had winter wheat aerial-applied or broadcast on in September, you may want to get out there and look at what you’ve got. Reports of major slug damage are trickling in, with some fields reporting as high as 95% damage to wheat kernels left on the soil surface. As Peter Johnson, provincial cereal specialist… Read More

Many producers are looking to strip-tillage as an intermediary between conventional and no-till farming systems. Like any tillage system, strip-till doesn’t come without its challenges. In areas with changes in terrain, it can be difficult to remain in position without adjusting the GPS/auto-steer system. Till-N-Plant Offers Strip-Tillage, Fertilizer Application & Planting in One Pass Gaining Ground: Digging Deep on… Read More

Kathleen Wynne, premier of Ontario, has rolled out mandate letters to each of the provincial departments. Of particular note on the agriculture file headed up by Jeff Leal, Wynne’s set priorities for the Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs, under the heading “Ensuring Sustainability of Agriculture,” states:   Strengthening pollinator health. You will work… Read More

Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, near Niagara, Ontario, will soon feature the largest greenhouse facility of its kind in Canada, thanks to a $10 million investment by the provincial government. Vineland is well known for its work in fruit and vegetable research and development, and recently commercialized Pixie grapes, a one-of-kind, ornamental dwarf grapevine, and… Read More

It’s late September and Peter Johnson, cereal specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, can’t understand why a harvested pea field is bare. “This (pea field) is the ultimate place to plant wheat…this should have been planted two weeks ago!” Johnson adds that research proves planting winter wheat early results in… Read More

 

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