Drought conditions this summer lowered soybean yields in much of the province, but they were far from uniformly poor. Some growers harvested their best soybean crop ever. “Dry conditions have really been the main thing. If you got rain, you might have had the best year yet,” says Emma Epp, certified crop advisor and co-owner […] Read more
Ontario soybean yields vary widely from field to field
Some growers in dry regions saw lower yields, but overall provincial yield is likely to be average
Ontario farmland values nearly double national average
Interest rate effects are present, but delayed
High commodity prices and pent-up demand for Ontario property continue to raise farmland values despite higher interest rates. Farm Credit Canada’s (FCC) recent mid-year land values report again highlights across-the-board increases in average farmland values, but Ontario figures are nearly double the national average. FCC analyses highlight an 8.3 per cent increase in farmland values […] Read more
Heavy metal hardware
Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show featured new planters, tillage implements, drones and robots
There was a lot of heavy metal – and lighter stuff too – at Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show last month, in terms of machinery rather than music. Equipment ranged from the latest combines and autonomous robots to large drones and new takes on traditional tillage implements. Here are several highlights: Tillage options The southwest demonstration […] Read more
Drones and helicopters make fitting pair
Company says demand for helicopter spray applications growing in Ontario
Helicopters have been a part of agriculture since the mid-20th century. But given advances in drone and satellite technology, are helicopters still a viable and popular production tool? Yes, says Stan Mace, pilot and agriculture division manager for Waterloo-based air services company Great Lakes Helicopter (GLH). He sees drones as a complementary tool. Why it […] Read more
Growing for new markets
Specialty crop production has many hurdles
Ontario produces a wide range of crops but that range could be even greater if farmers had access to more production information and markets. Evan Elford, new crop development specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), considers market identification the top challenge for specialty crops, whether they are new or […] Read more
Fixing Ontario’s rural healthcare crisis
Funding and better infrastructure planning are needed
Closed emergency facilities, hard-to-find family doctors, an absence of medical support services – each is a reality through much of rural Ontario, and inadequate funding makes solutions just as scarce. Some say greater investment in the health care sector is ideal. However, supportive policies targeted to rural communities, as well as more long-term thinking toward […] Read more
Making money through better soil and water management
Living Labs event features Kingsville-area farmer’s winning strategies
The heavy clay soils that characterize Henry Denotter’s farm can be hard to work with. But from a tillage perspective at least, he doesn’t have to work them too often. From a production perspective, years of experimentation with equipment configurations, electronic tools and a strong environmental philosophy have brought success in no-till corn and soybeans […] Read more
Calculating soil health returns
Greenbelt report highlights costs and returns of soil-supporting management practices
Short term costs for long term gains – that’s what a Greenbelt Foundation report says farmers need to consider when it comes to building soil health. Released in early 2022, The Greenbelt’s Towards a business case for soil health report compiled and analyzed field research data from different production practices in different cropping and cow-calf […] Read more
Great Lakes Grain tour points to average corn and soybean year
Summer drought considered main limiting factor for corn
Early results from the annual Great Lakes Grain Crop Assessment Tour, which began Aug. 29, indicate Ontario’s corn and soybean crops should meet average yield and quality measures. Data gathered during the tour comes from 500 sites ranging from Windsor to Barrie, the Ottawa Valley, and beyond. Participating farmers and industry partners – including AGRIS […] Read more
Does Ontario need a separate livestock welfare enforcement system?
Recent court cases have highlighted gaps, lack of transparency in current animal welfare policy
The establishment of a provincial animal welfare enforcement agency in 2019 was greeted with cautious optimism by some farm groups. Recent cases involving livestock, however, have highlighted problems with the framework, including a lack of due-process guarantees, insufficient training for inspection officers and a general lack of transparency. Why it matters: The Provincial Animal Welfare […] Read more
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