Every farm transferred from one generation to the next charts its own path based on its unique challenges and opportunities. For the dairy-farming Marshall family northwest of Woodstock, a lengthy assessment of those challenges and opportunities pointed the way to a soon-to-open on-farm processing facility and store. Golspie Dairy recently gained mainstream media attention thanks […] Read more
On-farm processing seen as key to small-farm succession
Golspie Dairy adds value to the farm by offering a milk vending machine and British-style cheeses made on site
Fine-tuning the advice on herbicide-resistant fleabane in soybeans
Diversifiying weed control options is important, especially with glysophate costs high
As the incidence of herbicide-resistant Canada fleabane rises in central and eastern Ontario to match the southwest, so too does the awareness that targeted tank mixes and lengthened crop rotations are keys to combatting the weed in soybeans. “They’ve gotten the handle on Canada fleabane in western Ontario,” Corteva Agriscience’s Eastern Region Agronomist Marc Maisonneuve […] Read more
Nuffield scholar explores high-stocking-rate rotational grazing
Manitoba farmer touts benefits in soil-building and land preservation
A transition toward high stocking rates on pastures followed by longer recovery periods has spurred profitability on a Manitoba beef farm, attendees at the recent Profitable Pastures online conference learned. Day three of the conference, hosted by the Ontario Forage Council, featured 2019 Nuffield Scholarship participant and Brandon-area farmer Ryan Boyd. Through the program, Boyd […] Read more
No-till organic soybean trials fall short on yield
Researcher says there’s still promise given the potential for time-saving on tillage
Organic growers in Ontario interested in trying no-till soybeans might want to call the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA). After a three-year, multi-site assessment of the practice that allowed field trial hosts to use one of two specially designed “roller-crimpers” purchased by OSCIA, those implements are now available for growers to try. Those […] Read more
Nitrogen-fixing input touted for ease of use in all crops
Corteva enters the biologicals market with Utrisha N
Following successful in-field trials in various crops in 2021, Corteva Agriscience is using the N-fixing ‘biostimulant’ Utrisha N as the first product in its planned portfolio of biologicals in North America. Through a novel species of the methylobacterium genus, the foliar-applied Utrisha N enters the plant’s leaves through the stomata and converts atmospheric N into […] Read more
Long-term study shows benefits of planned rotational grazing
Planned grazing can reduce feed costs and eliminate need for fertilizer
Six years of comparison data between planned rotational grazing versus conventional grazing has produced sufficient evidence for Manitoba researchers to abandon the conventional approach in 2022. Instead, they plan to introduce a modified rotational approach on a research farm that has been conventional acreage. This should allow the cattle to help rejuvenate what is now […] Read more
Corn Rootworm trapping study will encourage crop rotation
Results show corn rootworm pressure highest in counties with corn on corn rotations
Corn fields in two southwest counties and one in the east are at the highest risk in Ontario of hosting Bt-resistant corn rootworm (CRW), according to results from a first-year, grower-led beetle trapping project funded in part by Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO). Tracey Baute, entomologist for the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural […] Read more
New research effort to target dairy sustainability
Carbon footprint, feed efficiency, nutritional traits will all be studied
University of Guelph professor Dr. Gisèle LaPointe has secured $3.5 million in federal funding to lead a collaborative research effort into the future competitiveness and sustainability of Canada’s dairy sector. The project also leverages a $1 million commitment from the Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO) marketing board. LaPointe’s Dairy Alliance proposal was among successful applicants for […] Read more
Lactanet releases new herd reports for A2 milk
Organization pleased with over 600 downloads in first week
There have been more than 100,000 dairy cattle genotyped for the A2 beta casein in milk and that’s allowed geneticists to create new reports for farmers. “Beta casein is a protein that represents approximately 30 per cent of all milk proteins,” said Lactanet’s Chief Services Brian Van Doormal in an article about the release of […] Read more
Global organic sector seeks synergies with regenerative movement
Canadian research centre director helping craft ‘Organic 3.0’
The global organic movement is stalled at what Andy Hammermeister refers to as ‘Organic 2.0’ – where aspiring organic producers must make changes to achieve a list of requirements in the standard, and once they do there’s no need for further improvement as long as they stay within the rules. Hammermeister, director of the Organic […] Read more
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