This is the first of a series highlighting Ukrainian contributions to Canada’s agriculture sector. Daryna Putintseva is a Ukrainian digital marketing specialist working for Canadian communications agency WS. Now living in Calgary, she develops media, news content and marketing strategies for a range of clients in both primary agriculture and the food and beverage industry, […] Read more
Ukrainians in Canadian agriculture: Daryna Putintseva
The digital marketing specialist has found refuge in agriculture, food and beverage
Series of field fires suggest possible arson
Merlin-area farmer Blake Vince has experienced three fires in the same area since April
The first fire of 2023 happened in mid-April. The second and third occurred over the Victoria Day and Canada Day long weekends. Merlin-area grain farmer Blake Vince first thought it was happenstance, then coincidence. Now he wonders if a bad actor has been putting flame to his residue-heavy fields. If his concerns are true, he […] Read more
Quality, yield of winter wheat crop a welcome surprise
Ontario’s production beats early season expectations
Despite overly dry conditions through late spring and early summer, Ontario’s 2024 winter wheat crop appears to have defied expectations with good yields and good quality. For Marty Vermey, senior agronomist with Grain Farmers of Ontario, the standout factor was the crop’s ability to withstand extended dry conditions. Deep roots, well-timed and dry autumn planting […] Read more
Extension program shuttered amid Conservation Act changes
Essex Region Conservation Authority forced to close Amherstburg demonstration farm
A last hurrah for the Essex Region Conservation Authority’s demonstration farm took place Aug. 1, where visitors could explore the use of cover crops and the intricacies of managing them on heavy clay soils. The shuttering of the farm, located in Amherstburg and in operation since 1996, is in part due to changes implemented by […] Read more
Hog farm targeted by ransomware
The farm was told to admit it abused animals, with no financial ransom requested to free its computer system
Activists attacked an Ontario hog farm with ransomware this spring. But instead of cash, the attackers demanded the family publicly admit to what the activists claimed were instances of livestock mistreatment. For Ali Dehghantanha, a cybersecurity expert and professor at the University of Guelph, the occurrence was both unique and alarming. Why it matters: The […] Read more
Activists target Ontario hog farm with ransomware
'We are dealing with adversaries whose motivation is not money'
A ransomware on a small Ontario hog business is something a cybersecurity expert says needs more attention from the agriculture industry. Instead of cash, the attackers demanded the hog business owners publicly admit to what they alleged to be livestock mistreatment. The occurrence was unique and alarming, says Ali Dehghantanha, Canada research chair in cybersecurity […] Read more
Activists target hog farm with ransomware
A ransomware on a small Ontario hog business is something a cybersecurity expert says needs more attention from the agriculture industry. Instead of cash, the attackers demanded the hog business owners publicly admit to what they alleged to be livestock mistreatment. The occurrence was unique and alarming, says Ali Dehghantanha, Canada Research Chair in […] Read more
What drought means after early season
How will dry conditions affect winter wheat, spring seeded crops and pest pressure?
Drought conditions are persisting across many parts of Ontario, despite recent rain events. From uneven emergence to the potential for increased pest pressure, continuation of dry, hot weather will not be friendly to much of the province’s staple grain crops. In the Dundalk area, winter wheat has been grievously affected by dry weather. Deb Campbell, […] Read more
Cover crop benefits clear, but hard to identify with data
Researchers say Roots Not Iron project shows value of cover crops to soil health, despite no immediate increase in organic matter
Farmers plant cover crops for a variety of reasons from weed suppression to erosion control and better soil structure. The increasing interest has seen researchers and growers partner to put data behind in-field observations. Roots Not Iron is one such initiative, designed to measure changes in soil health indicators in cover crop and cover crop-free […] Read more
Maximizing nitrogen availability with manure and cover crops
Considerations for nitrogen availability timing in corn
Combining cover crops with manure can get the most value from soil nitrogen — sort of. How significantly a manure-cover crop combination affects nitrogen availability can vary based on manure type and rate, cover crop type, weather, and other factors. Still, Christine Brown, field crop sustainability specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
