When it comes to nitrogen use in corn, it’s always been a question of how much to apply. University of Illinois research on the source of N – how much a corn plant gets from fertilizer and how much from soil –has initiated a considerable amount of debate since the results were released last May. […] Read more
Nitrogen use in corn re-examined
Research from the U.S. Midwest sparks controversy, but the solution may be easier
Mycotoxin situation returns in 2023
The good news is that it wasn’t as bad as other years
Before the planter or drill rolls into a field, there’s hope that rain and sun will be timely and sufficient, that weeds, diseases and insects will be minimal and commodity prices will provide the right finish to the growing season. Then reality sets in. That’s the scenario in most years and 2023 was no different. […] Read more
Rotational advantages
More is uncovered about the long-term benefits of crop rotation
It’s one thing to have research projects geared to the long-term effects of crop rotation, but it’s quite another to have research data that stretches across a wide geographic area, allowing for more useful predictions. Amélie Gaudin has been following the results from long-term studies on rotational diversity since earning her PhD from the University […] Read more
Biological control could help reduce tar spot challenges
Recent work studies the impact of Alternaria on impeding disease
Researchers and plant breeders have been working to develop ways to overcome tar spot in corn, but there three primary factors confound the search. For starters, the disease pathogen (Phyllachora maydis) only grows on living tissue. Recreating the ideal conditions under which the disease flourishes (temperatures between 16 C and 23 C and relative humidity […] Read more
Growth in canola processing to pull production forward
Winter canola yields top Canola Canada for third year in a row
For the third year in a row, winter canola growers had the highest yields in the 2023 Canola Challenge. Winners were announced during the canola industry meeting in late November at a virtual gathering hosted by the Ontario Canola Growers Association. The challenge is an annual competition held by the OCGA. In 2021, it separated […] Read more
Berry pomace shows promise in poultry feed
Research shows the additive could prevent diseases in chickens and improve overall health
Glacier FarmMedia – Preventing disease in poultry has new urgency, as recent outbreaks of avian influenza in North America and other parts of the world have shown. Now there’s good news from research by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, which shows a link between improved gut health and disease prevention in chickens by feeding cranberry and […] Read more
Ontario grew more winter canola in 2023
Overall outlook sees high demand and strong prices heading into 2024
“Overall, it’s been a good year for canola.” That was a comment from Michael Smyth, senior industry specialist with Agricorp, during a Nov. 30 presentation at the industry meeting hosted by the Ontario Canola Growers Association. Smyth’s comments reflected the optimism that carried through much of the 2023 growing season, which saw high demand, strong […] Read more
Sequence of oat genome a major step forward
The question now is how to use the information to drive oat production in Eastern Canada
In a province dominated by corn, soybeans and wheat, oat production can be undervalued. But those who grow it for food markets, work in the seed trade or feed it to livestock defend the crop’s production and value. That is why the recent sequencing of the oat genome is viewed with anticipation. Creation of the […] Read more
Taking the bite out of cold-weather livestock care
Strategies for keeping calves warm and healthy
The youngest calves on the farm are the most sensitive to different environmental temperatures. In the case of cold weather and falling temperatures, producers can have problems managing morbidity, mortality and suboptimal growth rates, says Dr. Sarah Morrison, a research scientist with the William H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute in Chazy, N.Y. She was the […] Read more
Perspectives on farming in the Great Clay Belt
There are issues with infrastructure and soils as well as location
It’s often said that farming is not for the faint of heart, and that goes double for working land in the Great Clay Belt. In an area three to four hours north of Ontario’s “near north,” the Cochrane-to-Kapuskasing region has the attention of many involved in agriculture, but the stark realities can quickly change peoples’ […] Read more
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