A co-operative-style company founded by Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO) vice-chair Nick Thurler has taken its first step toward a goal of gaining access to 80 per cent of the country’s dairy manure for conversion into renewable natural gas (RNG). Thurler officially launched GET Corp,– and the sustainable agriculture program that forms its centrepiece, through […] Read more
Ambitious plan aims to add 300 biodigesters
DFO vice-chair hopes to see Danish model for renewable natural gas adopted across Canada on dairy farms
Research team looks at sandblasting-style weed control
Projectile method needs work to tackle between-row growth
A plot of white beans at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC) Harrow research farm is part of a new four-site study taking a sandblasting-style approach to weed control in Canadian crops. “No, it’s not a joke,” begins a news release from the federal agriculture ministry about the research into what’s being called “abrasive or projectile […] Read more
On-farm biodigester helps fuel garbage truck
Pilot project touted as a carbon-neutral ‘circular economy’
In practical terms, it’s a paper transaction. But a new pilot project spearheaded by Enbridge Gas and the Bluewater Recycling Association (BRA) to run a garbage truck exclusively on renewable natural gas (RNG) from a methane digester on a southwestern Ontario dairy farm is being touted as a glimpse into a carbon-neutral, circular-economy future. Why […] Read more
Organic groups watch for trends as food prices rise
DFO cuts organic production in anticipation of slowed market growth
Leaders of Ontario’s organic food production and processing sectors aren’t ready to declare a trend but there are indications that recent food price inflation has affected consumers’ willingness to pay premium prices for organic options. “There have been a few emails coming through from people concerned about how this is going to affect organics,” Organic […] Read more
Mobile Soil Technology Suite hits the road to farm events
OSCIA offers use of unit and technicians to organizations
A pair of trailers packed with state-of-the-art soil science and audio-visual equipment had what was referred to by Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) officials as a “kick-off” on July 13 in Bothwell. Based on the rave reviews received there and at later events in Elora and Rostock, they’re confident the Mobile Soil Technology […] Read more
Making the case for low-pressure tires and waiting out the wet
Last fall’s harvest weather increased compaction risk
Signs of soil compaction are evident across Ontario this year due to persistently wet weather during the harvest and wheat planting seasons in fall 2021, crop consultant Peter Johnson told attendees of a Compaction Day on-farm demonstration in Rostock Aug. 5. Under soil conditions purposefully manipulated to mimic a wet spring, a recently harvested wheat […] Read more
New take on wheel rake displayed at Forage Expo
Design features twin sets of wheels to decrease ash uptake
An innovative take on the traditional wheel rake, designed in Italy and newly available in North America, was on display at the recent Ontario Forage Expo near St. Jacobs. Santo Aguanno, working on behalf of Repossi to promote the company in Canada, explained the unique “co-axial” technology — with the progression of overlapping single ground-driven […] Read more
Lessons learned from the H5N1 outbreak
Changes to disease response must be considered as climate change means the virus will continue to be a threat
Canada’s poultry sector has seen relatively minor repercussions from an ongoing global outbreak of highly pathogenic Avian Influenza (AI) but panelists at the recent Health Day hosted by the Poultry Industry Council (PIC) agreed that changes to disease response must be considered if the industry wants to avoid future harm. That’s largely because this strain […] Read more
Alliance Genetics Canada joins Danish market leader’s stable
Nucleus herds and semen customers gain access to DanBred genetics
Customers of Canadian swine genetics company Alliance Genetics Canada (AGC) will soon have more access to sire lines from the Danish hog industry through a new agreement that brings the Canadian company under the umbrella of the 120-year-old DanBred corporation. DanBred Canada CEO Dave Vandenbroek says it’s a match of corporate values and also of […] Read more
Dry weather forces assessment of southwestern Ontario forage strategies
Timely rains in east should ease concerns about hay availability in that region
Dry weather has affected hay and pasture yields in southwestern Ontario but the impact should be mitigated by a strong hay inventory and some bumper crops in eastern Ontario and Quebec. Ontario Forage Council (OFC) President Terry Nuhn said most areas west of a line running roughly from Toronto to Barrie have been persistently dry. […] Read more
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