Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO) didn’t have to look far to find its new chief executive officer. The organization, representing barley, corn, oat, soybean, and wheat farmers in Ontario announced March 17 that Crosby Devitt is its new CEO, starting April 1. Devitt is currently vice president, strategic development at GFO. Prior to his current […] Read more
Devitt new Grain Farmers of Ontario CEO
Organization replaces Barry Senft from within
Ontario agriculture event status
What’s cancelled and what’s still scheduled
Updated March 17 It’s getting near the end of the Ontario agriculture meeting season, but the coronavirus COVID-19 is having significant effect on especially larger events since the Ontario medial officer of health directed the cancellation of events drawing more than 50 people. We will update this listing as new information is learned. Let us […] Read more
Bryan’s supply store turns 50
Bryan’s Farm & Industrial Supply is celebrating 50 years in business. Bryan’s was founded in 1970 by Bryan Lillycrop, who began selling tractors from his family’s market garden farm in Waterdown, Ont., to serve the local and rural communities in the area. Bryan’s Farm & Industrial Supply grew from these humble roots where Bryan found […] Read more
Line Fences Act to move to OMAFRA
When the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing announced that it would be scrapping the Line Fences Act in November, it had some in rural Ontario scratching their heads. The Act, which has little application in towns and cities, had helped keep the peace by providing a method of solving fencing disputes between rural properties […] Read more
Smart sensors come to greenhouses
Autogrow has released a wireless smart sensor giving greenhouse operators high-density microclimate data which can help improve yield, quality and decision making. The Folium sensor gathers environmental data including temperature, humidity, CO2, PAR, RAD and barometric pressure, which growers can view on a heatmap — immediately seeing differences across their grow areas. “We’ve advocated for […] Read more
Sandhill Cranes continue to cause damage
A resolution to allow seed treatments for control of Sandhill Cranes was passed at the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association annual meeting. The cranes dig up seeds and other crops such as potatoes and cause significant damage when they stop in North Ontario. Mac Emiry, who farms in the Sudbury district has heard that […] Read more
Vineland hires new automation leader
Hussam Haroun has joined Vineland Research and Innovation Centre (Vineland) as director of automation. In his new role, Haroun will oversee Vineland’s activities related to automation, artificial intelligence and digital agriculture technologies. He launched his own start-up after patenting and commercializing a new technology during graduate school. As CEO, he secured more than $3 million […] Read more
Feed mill survey reveals first production decline in nine years
The 2020 Alltech Global Feed Survey estimates that international feed tonnage decreased by 1.07 per cent to 1.126 billion tonnes of feed produced last year, due largely to African swine fever (ASF) and the decline of pig feed in the Asia-Pacific region. The top nine feed-producing countries are the United States, China, Brazil, Russia, India, […] Read more
Ontario farm groups write to PM over rail protests
The movement of many commodities is slowed or halted due to rail service shutdown
Ontario soybean container shipments have ground to a halt, ethanol plants have stopped receiving corn as ethanol movement is hindered and the vast amount of pork that is exported has stopped moving because of the current halt in eastern Canadian rail service. Ontario farm organizations have written to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau requesting help to […] Read more
Syngenta launches five new fungicide products
Syngenta Canada recently launched Miravis, a lineup of five fungicide products designed to protect crops against several of the most destructive diseases facing Canadian farmers. Miravis fungicides are built with Adepidyn, a new Group 7 fungicide belonging to the carboxamide chemical class. Miravis fungicides are registered in Canada on multiple crops – including wheat, canola, […] Read more
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