By the time you read this, spring should be well underway, with March behind us, the sun feeling good and the soil warming. That sounds all warm and comfortable after a March that’s been steely cool and uninspiring in the weather department, but we’re coming into a summer of uncertainty that calls for farmers to […] Read more
News
Opinion: Don’t forget about managing crop price risk
Poultry sector resumes vigilance over avian influenza
Highly pathogenic strain resurfaces for Wave 3 of outbreak
The spring run of highly pathogenic avian influenza has started, but a year of experience managing the disease has Ontario farmers ready with new knowledge and tools. As of March 23, there were two confirmed cases in Ontario in domestic poultry and numerous suspected and confirmed deaths of wild birds. Why it matters: More than […] Read more
High winds can worsen pathogen spread from outdoor poultry
Science Notes: Researchers interviewed farmers about their management practices
Farmers who keep their chickens outdoors may want to watch the weather. A study of chicken farms in the western United States found that high winds increased the prevalence of campylobacter in outdoor flocks, a bacterial pathogen in poultry that is the largest single cause of foodborne illness in that country. Researchers found that about […] Read more
Calves for a Cause to host first in-person fundraiser
Family’s healthcare journey inspires dairy fundraiser
The third annual Calves for a Cause fundraiser is set for Wednesday, April 5 during the Canadian Dairy XPO. Held in honour of Brooks Markus, the three-and-a-half-year-old son of an Ingersoll-area dairy farming family who just underwent his ninth surgery since birth, Calves for a Cause raises money for the Children’s Health Foundation of London. […] Read more
Searching for sustainable agricultural plastic solutions
Projects in Northern Ontario and the University of Guelph tackle logistical challenges and biodegradable options
The agriculture sector uses a lot of plastic products, from bale wrap and silage bags to plant pots, greenhouse plant clips and semen straws. How to recycle, reuse or otherwise safely and responsibly dispose of these types of products is an ongoing challenge, but the industry is tackling the search for solutions from various sides. […] Read more
Finding ways to maximize grain drying efficiency
Costs are not coming down, but some options can make a difference
Despite higher commodity prices, growers are being encouraged to examine their costs across all facets of their farming operations. The impact of higher drying costs was the focus of a presentation during the first day of the Innovative Farmers Association of Ontario (IFAO) annual conference, held in London last month. Drying charges have become a […] Read more
Opinion: When investment comes to town
Leamington and Kingsville are playing catch-up when it comes to greenhouse development
The landscape surrounding Highway 77, north of Leamington, was largely open field not long ago. Within the last decade – less then seven or so years, really – virtually all of it is now under glass, plastic and steel. Yes, greenhouse developments exploded in my home area, bringing hundreds of millions, if not billions of […] Read more
Wheeled robot measures leaf angles to help breed better corn plants
Science Notes: New technology, called AngleNet, has two key components
Researchers from North Carolina State University and Iowa State University have demonstrated an automated technology capable of accurately measuring the angle of leaves on corn plants in the field. This technology makes data collection on leaf angles significantly more efficient than conventional techniques, providing plant breeders with useful data more quickly. “The angle of a […] Read more
Truck driver pleads guilty to careless driving in death of protestor
Animal rights activists have strong presence outside court during hearing
A Municipality of North Perth truck driver has pleaded guilty to careless driving causing the death of Regan Russell. Andrew Blake appeared in an Ontario court via video to submit his plea to the Highway Traffic Act offence. Russell, a 65-year-old animal rights activist, was run over on June 19, 2020, during a demonstration outside […] Read more
Lynn Leavitt named BFO’s Environmental Stewardship Award winner
The Prince Edward County beef farmer has the wrap on recycling agricultural plastic
Lynn Leavitt has the squeeze on bale wrap and twine disposal with his U-Pak AgriService compaction process to recycle farm plastic. His determination to find an environmentally friendly solution to dispose of used bale wrap, silage bags and twine sparked the development of an innovative Pac-It compactor system to bale large quantities of clean, dry […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
