Producers anxious to turn cattle out onto pasture after the long winter months could sacrifice pasture yield later in the summer if the cattle are turned out too quickly. Why it matters: Turning cattle out to pastures too early or too late has consequences on the cattle’s health, the forage quality and quantity. Tim Prior […] Read more
Cattle turnout timing a balance of forage growth, nutrition
Maintaining top feed quality should be the goal of any pasture system
Cargill Waterford sells to local supplier
Niagara based crop-input company purchases Sollio Agriculture location
Clark Agri Service Inc. has completed its purchase of the former Cargill retail location in Waterford, Ontario from Sollio Agriculture, previously known as the agri-business division of La Coop fédéréé. The Waterford location was one of the Cargill retail locations in which Sollio Agriculture had to divest as part of the federal Competition Bureau approval […] Read more
Online sales of large volume inputs changing
In 2017, Farmers Business Network made its debut in Canada, and offers many programs with aggregated data
Farmers are increasingly looking at how they can price and buy their inputs online, but there are trust and relationship issues to overcome. Farmers already use digital platforms to buy equipment and supplies online. Online ordering for hard-to-find parts isn’t new. But a digital platform to enable farmers to buy large volumes of crop inputs, […] Read more
Nurse crops help potatoes face environmental factors
Starting crops with potatoes adds to organic matter and helps with erosion and droughty conditions
Young potato shoots are up against many environmental factors, such as drought, wind and water erosion, all of which are mainly due to a large decrease in soil organic matter. Now, researchers from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) have found that nurse crops may be able to help potatoes by adding green manure to the […] Read more
Glyphosate resistant waterhemp moving across Ontario
With its method of pollination and resistance abilities, the weed is becoming harder to control
Glyphosate-resistant waterhemp is now present in seven counties across Ontario. Huron, Wentworth and Haldimand are the three most recent counties where it was found, in addition to the previous Essex, Lambton, Chatham-Kent and Middlesex counties. Seeds were harvested harvested in fields in these counties last fall, planted in a greenhouse to overwinter and tested once […] Read more
Farmers fear being targeted by activist invasions
Recent incidents have prompted many to review what the regulations allow
A recent self-guided tour by animal activists on a dairy farm in southwestern Ontario and a protest outside another dairy near London have farmers reviewing their rights and possible courses of action should they find themselves the next victims of these unwanted visitors. Why it matters: Animal rights activists are illegally trespassing on farm businesses […] Read more
Canada’s pork industry is on high alert
African swine fever is spreading rapidly in other parts of the world and could cause catastrophic losses if it reached Canada. Here’s how the industry is trying to keep it out
Pork industry officials have welcomed bumped up biosecurity — including more detector dogs — at airports as one of several strategies to keep African swine fever (ASF) out of Canada. As an export dependent country, Canada is particularly at risk from the deadly virus. If it surfaced here, customers would quickly close their borders to […] Read more
Knowing the details key in an emergency
As farmers move into the fields for planting, knowing locations and having a plan can help them stay safe
Meagan Maitland was discing a field in fall of 2018 when her husband raced down the road to inform her of a nearby field fire. It made her think about what would happen if she was presented with a similar situation — in a field by herself, in the middle of an emergency. Maitland, who […] Read more
Patience pays off to ensure the best soil planting conditions
Temperature and moisture are the main components to analyze when planting
Spring 2019 will arrive soon and the planting season is quickly approaching. Farmers spend most of their work time in a tractor during planting, but some of the most valuable time is off the tractor, checking soil conditions. “Boots in the field pays for itself every single time, getting out of the cab and double-checking, […] Read more
Farmers need to file form to be exempt from fuel charge
The new program starts April 1
[UPDATED: Mar. 28, 2019] The federal carbon pollution pricing system will add a charge to fuel delivered within Ontario for use in air, marine, rail and road use. Farmers are exempt from this additional charge but must complete an exemption form available through the Canadian Revenue Agency. The new program starts April 1, so farmers […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
