Tar spot, the latest corn disease to cross the border, is in Ontario to stay. Knowing when the risk of tar spot development is high, how to identify the pathogen, and when to take remedial action is now the name of the game. Why it matters: A new fungal infection in corn could create the […] Read more
Learning to live with tar spot
Know what decisions to make, and when to make them, are key to controlling the disease
Trucker vaccination mandate concerns commodity groups
Anxiety runs high as the farm sector awaits full impact
The vaccine mandate on truck drivers entering Canada has stirred a wasp nest of criticism from many sectors, not least from those who work in logistics and transport. Representatives of Ontario’s agricultural commodities are among those calling for a reversal of the mandate. “We’re very concerned. That’s the number one feeling among the organizations in […] Read more
Does corn kernel weight matter more than quantity?
The number of kernels per plant in modern hybrids remains stable – yield gains come from kernel weight
More corn is good, but growing heavier kernels is better. Sort of. According to veteran corn research specialists, altering in-field management to balance both kernel numbers and individual kernel weight is the best way to realize the true potential of modern hybrids. Why it matters: Heavier kernels can significantly improve yields, sometimes more than higher […] Read more
Agronomy lessons learned in 2021
Production specialists discuss hail and frost, impact of a light winter, and other challenges
Last year brought many surprises, including a few agronomic ones. Agronomists and presenters Patrick O’Neill, Carrie Davenport and Hanna Petrovsky recently shared some of the challenges, wins and lessons observed during a year of extremes during the virtual Ontario Agricultural Conference. The 2021 growing season started early for O’Neill, his colleagues and farmers in the […] Read more
Know your weather terminology
Understanding what different terms mean can help prevent loss
Polar vortex, snowmageddon, thunder snow. Such terms likely conjure scenes of wild and chilly weather but what do they actually mean? Knowing the parameters used to determine the names of these and other systems might, quite literally, help farm businesses weather storms with fewer hardships. Why it matters: Understanding weather system terms can allow for […] Read more
Getting the most out of a soybean crop
Closer attention to fertility management could pay dividends
Conventional wisdom says that the nitrogen-fixing capability of soybeans leaves substantial nutrients behind for subsequent corn crops. While true to a degree, Fred Below, University of Illinois plant physiology professor, believes many soybean growers do not realize how much nutrient is being removed by the crop and many could get more from their soybeans if […] Read more
Bothwell business establishes autonomous working group
Haggerty Creek Ltd. expands applied research into farm robotics
Autonomous equipment is not a new pursuit for the team at Haggerty Creek Ltd. It established an autonomous working group in 2021 and now the elevator, equipment dealer and ag-service provider hopes to push the development of autonomous field technologies further through collaborative field research. “We started the working group so we could coordinate our […] Read more
Dufferin County looks to fill meat processing void
County accesses funding for facility as province, federal government expand investments
As the federal and provincial governments invest in an expansion of Ontario’s meat processing capacity, Dufferin County aims to fill a processing void by building a cooperative plant from the ground up. Dufferin’s Meat Processing Project is the first of its kind for the region, says Karisa Downey, manager of economic development. It’s designed to […] Read more
Agronomy research grows on local, international level
Veritas Farm Management takes a multi-faceted approach to farm profitability, environmental study
Ontario agricultural service provider Veritas Farm Management continues to grow from its Chatham-Kent roots and now has projects in data-based agronomy across North America. Established in 2010 and acquired by Deveron in 2015, the company’s role as an independent, data-based agronomy consultant has expanded to include projects with Michigan State University, American agricultural retail companies, […] Read more
Multiple carbon markets bring opportunities
Farmers need to consider what the developing carbon market could do for their business
Putting a price on carbon doesn’t have to mean taxes and credit trading, but even if it does, a little pragmatism could help farmers save money. According to Graham Gilchrist, chief executive officer of Alberta-based non-profit Biological Carbon Canada, producers should consider what the continued development of a carbon market could do for their business. […] Read more
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