A rising number of Ontario farmers have fallen victim to theft this season. Multiple incidents occurred across southern Ontario in May and June, many of which involved theft of high-value precision agriculture technology products. Two John Deere dealers confirm that global positioning system (GPS) StarFire receivers and displays have been of significant interest. Depending on […] Read more
Farmers report spring surge in rural crime
High value GPS receivers and displays are among targets in farm theft
Opinion: Grain dead end
Ukrainian farmers may soon be forced to make hard decisions about next season
Glacier FarmMedia – Two years ago, when the coronavirus pandemic swept the world, I didn’t worry about Ukrainian farmers at all. They calmly did their work, plowed the land, sowed and harvested. If in Ukrainian cities there was a difficult situation with COVID-19, the farmers almost did not notice it. A year earlier, Ukraine’s fields […] Read more
Keep a watchful eye for these soybean pests
If presented with the right conditions, soybean insects can cause significant plant damage
Bean leaf beetle, spider mites and aphids are the soybean pests that growers should be watching for this season, say agronomists. Why it matters: Soybean insects are sometimes overlooked during the season and if not quickly identified they can cause serious damage. Bean leaf beetle Bean leaf beetles are among the more common soybeans pests […] Read more
Weed failing in the face of demand
Production challenges and overexpansion means some large cannabis companies face financial reckoning
Forget waterhemp – cannabis might be Canada’s fastest spreading weed. Since legalization in October of 2018, cannabis production in Ontario and across the country has exploded. From oils and edibles to dried flowers and other products, consumer demand for what was once a morally and legally maligned product continues to rise. But while legal cannabis […] Read more
Editorial: Big food investments growing in agriculture
Ten years ago, the news that a food company such as McCain Foods Ltd. purchased predictive crop technology company Resson would have raised a few eyebrows. Many may have wondered what a company known for its frozen French fries would want with a company that develops digital technology for farmers. But in recent years, such […] Read more
‘Off the charts’ chemical shortages hit U.S. farms
Tight supplies force some farmers to change plans, find alternatives where they can
Reuters – U.S. farmers have cut back on using common weedkillers, hunted for substitutes to popular fungicides and changed planting plans over persistent shortages of agricultural chemicals that threaten to trim harvests. Spraying smaller volumes of herbicides and turning to less-effective fungicides increase the risk for weeds and diseases to dent crop production at a […] Read more
Row crops off to a great start
Markets remain under pressure due to weather uncertainties and reduced export demand
There is an old saying, “the top in the market is in place when commodities make headline news.” On May 19, The Economist warned of mass hunger. Time magazine reported that millions of people are going to starve. The Guardian’s front-page headline on May 21 was “Apocalypse Now?” Chicago December corn futures made a high […] Read more
Farmers feeling railroaded by lack of farm crossing designation
Some eastern Ontario farmers surprised by sudden demands from railway company for maintenance costs
When is a farm rail crossing not a farm crossing? That’s the $5 million question facing many landowners in Eastern Ontario who have found themselves having to fight Transport Canada and CP Rail to make the distinction. Why it matters: Some eastern Ontario farmers with railway crossings over their land have suddenly found themselves having […] Read more
Leamington comes to light pollution deal with vegetable greenhouse sector
Most but not all greenhouse businesses sign-off on updated bylaw stipulations
A bylaw restricting light pollution from Leamington’s greenhouse sector has been replaced by a new version considered to be a better compromise between the needs of greenhouse operators and the wider community. The light from some greenhouses in the area flood the night sky and can be seen for miles. The density of Leamington and […] Read more
Climate solutions found in genes
Making hazelnut trees more cold tolerant is one of eight genomics projects funded in the province
A research program focused on genomics was front and centre at the recent summer meeting of the Agricultural Adaptation Council (AAC). In 2019 the organization partnered with Ontario Genomics and Genome Canada to announce $3 million in funding for eight projects that would leverage genomics technologies in the agri-food sector. “Each of the three partners […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
