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 […] 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
Concerns grow over control-resistant pests
Corn rootworm and spider mites top list of concerns in summer 2022
Two significant insect pest problems have occurred this year, both stemming in part from building resistance to controls. Corn rootworm tops the list, according to Tracey Baute, field crop entomologist […] Read more
Outdoor Farm Show grows in scale and scope
Premises now comprised of 330 acres, new facilities and research plots
It’s been three years since the last full-scale, in-person Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show. This year it returns to alleviate pent-up attendee demand with a greater land base, new elements and […] Read more
What are agrivoltaics, and can they make money?
Researchers and energy experts say better policies could help solar; 10 sites being tested in the province next year
Canada’s pastures and cropland are prime sites for the mass deployment of solar energy infrastructure, according to advocates of agrivoltaics – a term used to describe the simultaneous use of […] Read more
Managing a family legacy
Property can be protected through improved legal agreements, while accounting for emotional connections
Explaining estate decisions might be the key difference between maintaining a viable farm business and disintegration of a family legacy. In part three of this farm business planning series, Ray […] Read more
Making double-crop soybeans work
Get in early, balance population with risk management and hope for rain – not early frost
One less bushel per acre, per day – that’s the end-season yield impact of planting soybeans in July, and one reason it’s critical to hedge bets if successful double-crop soybeans […] Read more
Precision field logistics
Succeeding with autonomous machinery in row crops requires focus on getting inputs and equipment to the field at the moment it’s needed
Logistics carry the day, not tactics – or so goes the military adage. However true on the battlefield, the saying also has resonance in crop production. It holds true for […] Read more
Will tying eco-goals to risk management programs work?
Reduced participation and resource drain are real concerns, according to new report
The federal government recently confirmed that climate-focused environmental programming will be integrated into Canada’s farm Business Risk Management (BRM) programs. A research paper from the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI) […] Read more
Alternative fertility products offer solutions
Biosolids, digestates, composts and other products can be cheaper, high fertility solutions
Could Ontario’s farm sector simultaneously save money, reduce food waste and improve its collective carbon footprint? Representatives for biosolids and other alternative fertilizers think so. While different products bring different […] Read more
Fertilizer market volatility raises pricing questions
Analysts say normal ups and downs much less predictable in light of global upheaval
As planting and the early growing season drew to a close, fears over potentially significant fertilizer shortages did not come to fruition. But questions regarding price volatility did. Significant reductions […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
