Seven years ago, Chris and Ashley Gasperi planted four acres of potatoes on their idle land in Kenya. Today, their company, FreshCrop Ltd., is one of Kenya’s largest certified seed […] Read more
Kenyan potato producers cultivate Ontario connections
Owners of FreshCrop Ltd. plan to implement lessons learned here
New pork research barn called a ‘game changer’
Biosecurity, efficiency and sector regulations motivated design
A new $20-million facility is expected to make Ontario a leader in cutting-edge swine research. “Our industry is poised to undergo significant transformations driven by advancements in technology, changing consumer […] Read more
Ontario yield estimates above average for corn, below average for soybeans
Ontario needs solid heat units for corn to reach its yield potential in September and October. “We’re behind (in corn),” Jim Irvine, FS Partners/Great Lakes Grain grain originator, told Farmtario […] Read more
Assessing strength, building on foundation key to soil health
Crop advisor says soil health options will vary by farm and by economics
Lee Briese’s soil health principles build upon five pillars: soil armour, minimizing disturbance, diversity, continuous living roots, and livestock integration. “I don’t find these to be laws, commandments or requirements […] Read more
Podcast takes on parenting through agricultural lens
Barnyard Language also tackles issues facing farming families
The Barnyard Language podcast is a universal, straight- out-of-the-gate reaction to daily farm life. It delves into the challenges of parenting, farming, and life’s transitions from both sides of the […] Read more
Ontario leads in on-farm direct to consumer sales
Farmer use of direct sales varies, but it adds value for both the farm and customer
J&E Farm Store and Butcher Shop is a Cinderella story for direct-to-consumer farm marketing. “We were in the right place at the right time. But it wasn’t all based on […] Read more
Imani Farms producers named Ontario’s Outstanding Young Farmers
Nominees separated by one point
Stewart Skinner and Jessica Kelly of Imani Farms in Listowel are Ontario’s 2023 Outstanding Young Farmers. The two faced off against friends and mentors Jennifer and Derek VanDieten, of Van […] Read more
Oxford’s diversion pilot stretches the repurpose potential for farm plastic waste
Research continues into a biodegradable option for on-farm plastic
Oxford County’s waste management agricultural plastics diversion program is getting a lot of buy-in from producers. “The initial response was very positive,” said Frank Gross, transportation and waste management manager. […] Read more
A soil health investigation
It took old and new technology to diagnose compaction as the culprit
The soil on Ken Mitchell’s alfalfa and corn fields looked good on paper but the reality was less than stellar in terms of production. The 100-acre block was the focus […] Read more
Ontario’s new Living Lab to receive $12 million over five years
Projects focused on innovation and adoption of on-farm climate change practices
A new living lab is being created in Ontario with funding assistance from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Led by the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA), the project will […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
