The advent of the age of geopolitics based on whim and emotion has pressured agricultural commodities in ways I haven’t seen the like of in my career. Yet, commodity prices […] Read more
Editorial: Politics and the markets
Trade jitters around the world haven’t moved agriculture markets much, but a recent market drop may be the start
Soybean replants up
Variable weather across the province created perfect conditions for root rots and voracious insects
Ontario farmers are facing significant soybean replanting this year, a product of variable rainfall and a surprising amount of root rot issues. Why it matters: Reseeding parts of fields can […] Read more
Making bacon at the Ontario Pork Congress
There were a record 60-plus entries at the Bacon Maker Classic at the Ontario Pork Congress this year. The 4-H members showed their market pigs in showmanship and confirmation classes. […] Read more
Canadian pigs sold to China
Canadian swine genetics continue to compete well around the world and especially recently in China where the hog production sector is rapidly modernizing. Evidence of the trend was on display […] Read more
Cows, not just goats coming to prison farms
Prison farm advocates had lobbied for the return of the farm to include dairy cows
Animals are returning to Ontario prison farms, and it’s not just goats. The Trudeau government was elected on a promise to return farm operations to prisons, after they were closed […] Read more
More sensors for planters
A seed trench firmer with sensors takes readings every eighth of an inch across the field
As Wayne Vitek drove across a field near Mitchell’s Bay planting soybeans recently, a group of sensors took 200 readings per second at the soil level. A Smart Firmer was […] Read more
Studying the complex issue of food waste
There’s lots to be figured out yet in how to manage food that goes to waste
We’re just at the start of being able to understand the extraordinarily complex problem of food waste. A panel discussion at the Arrell Food Institute outlined just how much we […] Read more
Adding more tech to greenhouses
As the number of sensors for agriculture grows, a panel questions whether we even know yet what the sector really needs
Greenhouses are ripe for an explosion of sensors and artificial intelligence, but the ramifications could be many. Participants in a panel on artificial intelligence (AI) in the greenhouse sector at […] Read more
Editorial: Dealing with disruptive technology
My family bred polled Holsteins for 30 years, working away in fits and starts carefully crossing the limited number of polled families in the breed. In the last few years […] Read more
Rural Ontario MPPs sweep into government
Doug Ford's PC party win in Ontario will mean an increasing voice for rural Ontarians in the new government
The Ontario Progressive Conservative Party swept rural Ontario ridings, as expected, last night, on their way to a comfortable majority government. The election win for the PCs and leader Doug […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
