Consumers who visit a working farm are more likely to have a very positive perception of commercial farms. However, about 70 per cent of those surveyed recently by Grassroots Public Affairs in its annual Grassroots Greenhouse report have never visited a working farm. Twenty-five per cent rated their perception as a positive 10 on a […] Read more
News — page 324
Consumer visits to farm pay off in increased support: survey
Most Canadians aren’t yet ready to embrace lab-created meat
Well-known Jersey farm to process its own milk
Processing facility almost ready at Sargent Family Dairy to make milk, butter and camembert cheese
A new building has been rising within sight of the well-respected Enniskillen dairy barn, within a couple of hundred barn near the Old Scugog Road. The new on-farm processing facility is bright blue with a prominently displayed circular logo featuring the distinctive shape of a Jersey cow. It’s almost ready to begin production as a […] Read more
How to get drones into fields, doing useful work
The value of the tech has often been oversold, despite potential for useful applications on farms
For some ag-tech enthusiasts both, realizing the full potential of drones on farms and ranches requires a better overall understanding of the technology’s limitations in agricultural systems, as well as less marketing misdirection. The financial and time commitments required to accrue, process and act on drone-derived data has been a significant barrier to achieving the […] Read more
Sheep and solar panels make an efficient mix
Science Notes: Researchers found solar panel field grazers had same gain as conventionally grazed sheep
Land productivity could be greatly increased by combining sheep grazing and solar energy production on the same land, according to new research by Oregon State University scientists. This is believed to be the first study to investigate livestock production under agrivoltaic systems, where solar energy production is combined with agricultural production, such as planting agricultural […] Read more
Ontario farmers create self-guided tour of soil health in 2021
Farmers will be able to explore fields across province this summer thanks to a new, free app that will allow for viewing of cover crops, min-till, amendments, and innovation for soil health. The free ONTARIO SOIL ROADTRIP app will be launched and available for iOS and Android in time for the July long weekend. ONTARIO […] Read more
FCC changes Ontario leadership
Farm Credit Canada (FCC) has appointed Perry Wilson as vice-president of operations in Ontario, following the retirement of his predecessor John Geurtjens. Wilson has over 15 years of experience leading a variety of teams at FCC, most recently as senior director of FCC’s London district in Ontario. He grew up on a hog farm in […] Read more
How the private sector can boost agriculture’s role in carbon markets
Agriculture is emerging as a key sector for generating carbon offsets that will help companies and countries meet their net-zero targets. Carbon markets are also a pathway to incentivize farmers to adopt practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance carbon storage in soils and vegetation. In Canada, Alberta farmers were the first to gain […] Read more
Vegetable group lobbies for TFW quarantine fund
Quarantine requirements have added significant costs to farm operations
Temporary Foreign Worker quarantine costs continue to climb while federal support programs wind down, leaving farmers on the financial hook. “This is costing midsize family farms anywhere from $50,000 to $100,000 to $150,000 and upwards of that for the real large producers,” said Bill George, Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (OFVGA) chair. “There is […] Read more
Increasing soil health on farms
OSCIA launches pilot project in three counties
The Ontario Soil & Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) is inviting farmers in three counties to up their soil health game through a pilot project available this summer. Producers in Lambton County, Renfrew County and Simcoe County will have the opportunity to apply for cost-share funding to implement soil health practices including cover cropping and soil […] Read more
AgScape reach increases with digital resources
Teachers looking for online programming have increased use of digital options
It was a farm tour that would boggle the mind in real life. But luckily for Cassi Brunsveld, the 18,000 students and 990 teachers who had signed up for the YouTube live stream weren’t going to arrive on her dairy farm in person. Brunsveld, program and resource assistant with AgScape, and a dairy farmer, took […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
