For two scorching-hot days in July, farmers and crop consultants attending the University of Guelph’s Diagnostic Days event at Ridgetown College heard about the birds and bees – of herbicide resistant weeds. A session hosted by Dave Bilyea, research technician at the Ridgetown campus, reviewed the state of herbicide resistance in Ontario and across North […] Read more
How weeds outsmart you
Herbicide resistant weeds proliferate in unexpected ways, making scouting more important than ever
U.S. grains: Soy rises but fears persist over China trade fight
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures surged on Friday as the market recovered a day after nearing a decade low on concerns over the escalating trade war with China. Prices climbed as the U.S. implemented tariffs on $34 billion in Chinese imports and Beijing said it would retaliate with planned duties on products, including […] Read more
CP’s signal maintainers ratify three-year deal
Signal and communications employees with Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) have voted to accept a tentative three-year deal that helped end a 33-hour work stoppage in late May. CP and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) System Council No. 11, which represents 360 CP signal maintainers, announced Friday the union’s CP members had voted 78 […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans down as China tariffs loom
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures fell to contract lows and closed at their lowest in 2-1/2 years on Thursday ahead of a tit-for-tat trade tariff battle with China that is set to raise duties on U.S. shipments to the world’s top importer of the oilseed. Grains were higher, however, led by surging wheat […] Read more
La Coop fédérée and Maizex Seeds create partnership
La Coop fédérée has entered into a joint venture partnership with Maizex Seeds, a corn and soybean company based in Tilbury, ON. The partnership will have a broad, national presence, the organizations said in a release. Maizex Seeds produces and markets seed corn and seed soybeans, while La Coop fédérée produces and markets seed for […] Read more
Proposed deal ‘fallen apart’ for Hudson Bay Railway
An acquisition deal-in-principle for northern Manitoba’s Hudson Bay Railway appears to have collapsed and the line’s current owners warn the railway may now be down for yet another shipping season. Hudson Bay Railway (HBR), a subsidiary of Colorado-based shortline operator OnmiTrax, announced Tuesday “it now appears that this transaction has fallen apart.” The proposed sale […] Read more
U.S. grains: Wheat, corn gain on weather worries
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures rebounded on Tuesday from the steepest percentage decline in nearly a year during the previous trading session on worries about weather-reduced crops in several key production areas around the world. Corn futures bounced from the prior session’s contract lows on caution over stressful weather in a crucial month […] Read more
Ontario farmers well served by public farm input information
Efforts underway to increase amount of comparative farm input price data
The costs of seed, chemicals and fertilizer vary year to year and it can be difficult for producers to know if they are paying a fair price. Producers can check various retailers and shop around for the best deals, but that can use up valuable time. Why it matters: As farms grow, shaving a few […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans down on trade war worry
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures closed at their lowest level in more than two years on Monday while corn fell to fresh contract lows on strong U.S. crop prospects and worries about trade fights with China and other main export partners. Wheat also retreated as rising supplies from the U.S. winter crop harvest […] Read more
Rural Ontario gets half of cabinet positions
Ernie Hardeman is Ontario’s new minister of agriculture, food and rural affairs. The agriculture ministry is a familiar role for Hardeman, who was agriculture minister in Mike Harris’ Conservative government from 1999 to 2001. Along with Hardeman, many other rural MPPs received significant portfolios Friday from Premier Doug Ford, bringing a voice for rural Ontarians […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
