Jim Rogers could unload his harvest directly into rail cars, thanks to the rail spur that was part of his land purchase in Kapuskasing.

The prospect of farming in the Great Clay Belt

It may be too daunting for some, but the potential is there

It’s an area larger than the total acreage now farmed in Ontario, yet the prospect of clearing, tiling and bringing the 16 million acres of the Great Clay Belt to productivity is questionable, if not daunting. It has taken producers in Ontario’s ‘Near North’ region of Temiskaming Shores, Earlton and Englehart more than 50 years […] Read more

Some growers prefer to keep their cover crop options simple, such as red clover or oats, as pictured above.

Space for every type of grower

Cover crop adoption is increasing, but data is needed to confirm anecdotal evidence about the practice

Promotion of cover crops, be it a single- or multi-species blend, isn’t always an easy sell but the latest statistics from various sources on cropping practices show intriguing trends. The 2021 agricultural census showed that more Ontario farmers are using cover crops. What the numbers don’t show are total acres, as well as acres involving […] Read more


Soybean production was challenged by several stressors in 2023 but there will be more solutions next spring.

Disease management, higher yields focus for seed development

What new directions and new technologies are in the offing for 2024

The challenge of keeping pace with weeds, diseases and insects isn’t only an issue for growers. It affects seed dealers and plant breeders as well. They search for hybrids and varieties that combine superior yield with in-field performance relating to standability, test weights, durability and quality. Farmtario has invited seed companies across the province to […] Read more

Corn growth from Adam Pfeffer’s demonstration plots in 2023.

Crop monitoring projects yield important data

Continuous monitoring projects aim to provide benchmark and understanding on performance of corn, soybeans and edible beans

The search is ongoing for more information about crop yields and the reasons they change from one year to the next. It’s a bit of a cruel twist that, as science brings more to a field, more questions accompany the findings. Chris Roelands is fine with that. For most of the past two years, he’s […] Read more

Soils stay warmer with the onset of winter and there’s also some weed suppression.

A different cover option for soybeans

Broadcasting rye offers more harvest management options, improved soil health

Growers often fall into two categories: those who follow convention and those who set their own pace amid questions from others.   Meet Reuben Stone.  Operating a value-added farm business near Cobden, Ont., Stone grows several specialty crops including peas and hemp, while servicing a growing cover crop market. In the latter discipline he’s made […] Read more


Mature soybeans in Huron County, Ont. in a field with strong yields.

Challenging soybean season shows management lessons learned

Two agronomists say soybean yields are better than expected due to genetic improvements and better knowledge among growers

Soybeans have a reputation for being able to overcome stresses while yielding a decent crop. The 2023 growing season tested this reputation, from late planting in parts of Ontario, a short dry spell immediately after that, and a wetter-than normal summer. Growers across much of the province expected to see yield losses compounded by a […] Read more

The sclerotinia mapping project seeks to identify white mould in soybeans plus canola and edible beans (pictured).

White mould mapping project underway

The current goal is to amass a large database for in-depth research on the disease

Until this past growing season, sclerotinia or white mould was third behind soybean cyst nematode and sudden death syndrome as the biggest soybean threats for most of Ontario. It likely ranks higher in eastern areas of the province, where white mould is a near perennial threat to manage, but there are scattered hot spots in […] Read more

Grey discoloration and black streaking of stems is typical of charcoal rot infection.

Don’t dismiss charcoal rot in soybeans

The disease isn't widespread, but can reduce profits in soybeans

Mistaken identity can be a problem with diseases in soybeans. How often is soybean cyst nematode dismissed as a nutrient deficiency or a planter issue? Like other root rot diseases, charcoal rot in soybeans is similar in above-ground appearance and the conditions in which it can infect plants. Why it matters: Charcoal root rot can […] Read more


These soybeans are up and growing well early season in Ontario.

New tool can reveal cost of soybean cyst nematode

A profit calculator from the U.S. that works for Ontario fields determines the field-by-field impact

A new and free online tool can help growers estimate profit loss from soybean cyst nematode. The SCN Profit Checker calculator was developed by the SCN Coalition, a collective of researchers from colleges in nearly 30 U.S. states and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. It’s designed to provide a clearer picture […] Read more

Concentrating 13 growing seasons into five years gets the latest traits and technologies into growers’ hands.

Plant breeding picks up the pace

The pace of plant breeding has quickened by leaps and bounds, from selective breeding to the use of transgenics. Yet the process of breeding seeds with desired traits, rechecking for trait and yield performance and increasing those numbers for commercial availability takes more than 10 years. Or does it? With the use of continuous nursery […] Read more