Ensuring Canada remains an agricultural powerhouse requires concerted efforts to preserve the country’s natural capital and resources, particularly farmland, according to a recent Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI) report. With long-term planning, the pressures affecting agricultural productivity and farmland loss in Canada can be navigated, bringing greater prosperity and environmental improvement at home, as well […] Read more
Pressure increases on farmland
CAPI report highlights what’s needed to save farmland while increasing production and protecting the environment
Bt-resistant corn borer concern grows
Critical tools for controlling corn borer could be lost
Bt-resistant populations of European corn borer pose a significant risk to Canadian crop producers. With multiple resistance uncovered, it’s possible Bt-based control technologies will cease to work for the problem pest, say extension staff at the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Older and more environmentally costly methods of pest control – including […] Read more
Opinion: Distracted by shiny objects
Public investments in the Volkswagen battery plant should have been earmarked for agriculture
The federal government is investing up to $13.7 billion in subsidies for Volkswagen to build a new electric vehicle battery plant in the St. Thomas, Ont., area. It’s an investment that supporters say paves the way for a green technology transition, bettering the environment as a whole, while providing much-needed jobs to thousands. Detractors have […] Read more
New soy variety from Sevita targets Japan’s high-tech food-grade soybean market
Alinova is Canada’s first non-GM high-oleic soybean variety
A new high-oleic soybean variety has been released to help Canadian growers meet demand from high-tech food processors. The non-genetically modified variety, Alinova, is produced by Sevita Genetics and was recently approved by Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. The company says the variety is exceptionally high yielding, features soybean cyst nematode resistance, […] Read more
OMAFRA creates digital crop protection search tool
Decades of print publications combined into new Ontario Crop Protection Hub
Crop protection information from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs is now digitally available through the Ontario Crop Protection Hub. Historically, crop protection information has been provided by the ministry via printed publications. The move to digitize data and other information contained within decades worth of hard materials — 13 print publications […] Read more
Opinion: What happens when the grain deal fails?
Economic and political unrest abroad will affect Canadians
Russia is using food as a weapon of war, one designed to compel Ukraine and its allies to cave to Russian demands for the open export of its own grain and fertilizer, and subsequently, the import of great quantities of cash for the Russian war chest. While there is a UN-brokered deal for the continued […] Read more
Getting hay equipment ready for the season
Don’t ignore smaller, comparatively inexpensive parts – or safety equipment
Ontario’s first hay cut is looming so it’s a good time to inspect the harvest equipment to ensure safety and avoid in-season problems. The good news is that parts, should they be needed, are more accessible than in recent years, according to Jim Franceshetti, parts and service product marketing manager for harvesting, hay and forage […] Read more
How will municipalities handle housing?
Confusion reigns as province pushes flurry of development policy changes
The Ontario government has made a series of policies over the past year that will alter the trajectory of development. By opening the Greenbelt and other farmland, reclassifying wetlands, reducing density targets and allowing municipalities to expand beyond established urban limits, Doug Ford’s government says it aims to encourage speedy housing construction. Some say these […] Read more
Improving fertilizer use efficiency focus of three Ontario companies
BioLine, CanGrow, Haggerty Creek Robotics winners in province’s funding challenge
Bothwell’s Haggerty AgRobotics and Alvinston’s BioLiNE and CanGrow are three of 10 Ontario companies splitting $2 million in provincial funding. The three Lambton- and Chatham-Kent-area companies have each been awarded $200,000 in grant funding as part of the province’s Fertilizer Accelerating Solutions and Technologies Challenge. It was launched to drive the commercialization of fertilizer products […] Read more
Collaborating for higher corn yields
Honeyland Ag Services runs second corn yield enhancement group
Ontario corn growers interested in benchmarking and improving their crop can participate in a grassroots corn yield enhancement initiative. Reminiscent of the Great Lakes Yield Enhancement Network (YEN) wheat competition, the corn enhancement group was started last year by Chris Roelands, agronomist and operator of Honeyland Ag Services in Ailsa Craig. Sixty-five test sites scattered […] Read more
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