Reading Time: 2 minutes As new federal driving-log policies for commercial vehicles are poised to take effect in June, some say there is an opportunity for digital monitoring tools to be expanded to the rest of the truck. Why it matters: Rigorous, readily accessible digital records can be more efficient and reliable than paper records. They can also be […] Read more
Author Archives
Trucks roll forward into the digital age
New regulations, but also drive for data create new options for trucks
Making high-management crops work
Farmer targets top potential fields for highest yield
Reading Time: 4 minutes What does a 107 bushels per acre soybean crop look like? Tim Gerrits, a farmer from North Middlesex, can tell you. With a high-management production approach, Gerrits achieved huge results in some of his fields in 2020. It’s the culmination of years of research and mentorship from other growers, he says, and part of an […] Read more
Data, today’s hottest commodity
Collecting information today can be useful for reasons that have not yet even been considered
Reading Time: 2 minutes It seems like the agriculture sector produces more data than commodities these days. Realizing the full potential of that data, however, requires more robust programming. In other words, growers need better tools to manage more aspects of crop production, while simultaneously knowing which ones require more focus. Why it matters: More refined computing could remedy […] Read more
Introspective estate planning for your farm
Focus on the people involved in farm succession, not just assets
Reading Time: 3 minutes Estate planning means knowing where financial and material assets will go after you die, but according to veteran financial strategist Chris Delaney, forgetting to prepare people to receive those assets can actually destroy long-accumulated wealth. Not accounting for one’s fears, and failing to reconcile emotion with rational action, can make things even worse. Why it […] Read more
What to look for in a new sprayer
Consider good cleaning, easy filling, the right boom — and ignore colour
Reading Time: 4 minutes Sprayers are expensive, absurdly so, according to Tom Wolf, Saskatoon-based spray application specialist. In an Ontario Agricultural Conference seminar with Jason Deveau, application specialist for the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Wolf gave his recommendations on what characteristics buyers might want to prioritize before signing on the dotted line. A few wishlist […] Read more
Beef Farmers of Ontario adopts anti-discrimination value statement
The commodity organization announces efforts to ally with those promoting diversity
Reading Time: 2 minutes Beef Farmers of Ontario (BFO) has incorporated a values statement calling for “diversity, equity, and inclusion” into its education and advocacy strategy. Why it matters: Diversity policies to better accommodate and understand social groups are becoming increasingly common in both the public and private sphere, although are less common in primary agriculture. According to BFO, […] Read more
Standardizing the future of food traceability
Developing repeatable standards – and hopefully gaining a competitive advantage
Reading Time: 3 minutes As demands for more detailed traceability systems build, many are looking to blockchain technology — systems that securely record data about food at every stage in the value chain — as an ideal technological solution. Why it matters: Standardized blockchain frameworks could help speed the adoption of rigorous traceability systems, and potentially give Canadian producers […] Read more
Local governments hit greenhouse light pollution
Growing clusters of greenhouses light up the night sky, creating problems with neighbours
Reading Time: 5 minutes Updated Jan. 18, 2021 Municipalities in the major greenhouse-growing area of the province are clamping down on increasingly bright greenhouse lighting making night into day in the rural areas where they operate. The municipality of Leamington recently enacted a bylaw to stem and roll back light pollution emitted from the region’s sizeable and diverse greenhouse […] Read more
Road rules you might be breaking
MTO officers highlight what can – and can’t – be done when moving farm vehicles on public roads
Reading Time: 4 minutes [UPDATED: Jan. 8, 2021] Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act gives special exceptions, and some additional conditions, for farm equipment. But in an effort to improve overall roadway safety, Ministry of Transportation (MTO) enforcement officers encourage farmers to go beyond minimum safety requirements. Doing so, they say, starts with understanding what’s considered a farm vehicle, why exemptions […] Read more
Big canola bushels come out on top
Top yields in the 2020 Canola Challenge ranged from 3,108 to 5,743 pounds per acre
Reading Time: 3 minutes Results from the 2020 Canola Challenge are in, with winners achieving yields between 3,108 and 5,743 pounds per acre. Why it matters: Winter canola has made inroads as a financially viable alternative crop throughout Ontario. Carrie James, general manager for the Ontario Canola Growers’ Association, says between 20 and 30 producers participate in the challenge […] Read more
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