Compliance with the traceability requirements of the proAction dairy farming validation program should be straightforward if producers continue entering on-farm events in the nationwide database, says the organization in charge […] Read more
Dairy herd ID reporting enforced starting Sept. 1
The change is part of the traceability module for the proAction validation program
Provincial rule changes could boost biodigesters
Ontario regulations will allow for more off-farm materials to be used in digesters
It may become easier to install and use on-farm biodigesters due to recent regulatory changes implemented by the Ontario government. The annual volume allowance has quadrupled and limitations on types […] Read more
Huron County plastics recycling loop ends up in drainage tile
Blue-box collected bottles from rural homes are processed locally and used in tile
If a farm from Huron, Perth or Middlesex planned a drainage project this year, some of the plastic used in the tile likely had a former life as shampoo bottles […] Read more
Ag society turns funding efforts to ag-tech start-ups
First recipient offers technology that assists high-value orchards
A new type of investment in agriculture technology is being made by the Grand River Agricultural Society (GRAS) which takes it into new territory for an agricultural society. Why it […] Read more
Are dry cow diets decreasing colostrum quantity?
Specialists ponder trend of low yield from first and second milkings
A dairy nutritionist who reached out to farmers on social media wants to hear from farms not getting enough colostrum on first, second and third milkings. In an interview with […] Read more
Livestock lawn ornaments feature in fun fundraisers
Junior Farmer groups collect fees for nightly round-ups
Updated June 25 Livestock roundups became commonplace in recent months in parts of southwestern Ontario, with awareness about farmer mental health being the unlikely beneficiary. Junior Farmer organizations in Huron-Perth […] Read more
Report calls for industry leadership on plastics
Legislation splits plastics into different categories of toxicity and could affect farm-level plastic use
Proposed amendments to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) are likely to change the national landscape for plastic food packaging. According to Martin Gooch of Value Chain Management (VCM), if […] Read more
Tree planting emerges from COVID into hot, dry spring
Additional threat of gypsy moth has foresters on edge as tree planting booms
Administrators of many tree-planting efforts across Ontario are striving in 2021 to make up for ground lost during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. However, they now […] Read more
Quick fire response saves poultry processor from widespread damage
Schefter Poultry plays key role for small-flock sector in Ontario
A fire that started in the engine of a skid-steer destroyed the composting facility at Gorrie-based Schefter Poultry on April 21 but was contained before it affected the primary processing […] Read more
Five-year phase-in underway for farm boiler inspections
Agricultural exemption was highlighted by auditor-general in 2018 and will soon be closed
A five-year phase-in is now underway for owners of pressure boilers used in agricultural applications to bring their equipment into compliance with Ontario regulations. The change affects greenhouse operators and […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
