Ontario hay growers finally have a central bale compressor that could accelerate market access for exports. The Hay Press Company’s bale compressor shrinks bale size to allow for more efficient shipping. Why it matters: Building an export market for forage could become another income stream for Ontario farmers and expand domestic forage production. The Steffen […] Read more
VIDEO: Ontario hay producers target export market
Hay press can compress bales to meet shipping container requirements
First methane-fuelled tractor hits the market
New Holland releases its alternative-fuel T6.180 Methane Power
Glacier FarmMedia – New Holland has been teasing us with alternative-fuel concept tractors for several years. We’ve seen the blue brand show both hydrogen- and methane-powered machines at prominent events like Agritechnica. The company has even gone so far as to establish an energy self-sufficient demonstration farm in Europe, where new machines undergo real-world testing. Now, we’re […] Read more
Opinion: No quick fixes for rising global food insecurity
The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has issued a dire warning about the deteriorating state of food security for the people remaining under siege in Ukraine. The alert issued in late March speaks to rising uncertainty about the ability of farmers in that country to harvest winter wheat crops already planted, undertake spring […] Read more
A better way to track bee health
Tracking colonies used for pollination services allows beekeepers to prevent losses and make better management decisions
A new automated apiary management platform lets beekeepers track their hives individually to make better management decisions. According to Quebec-based start-up Nectar Technologies, the ultimate goal of BeeTrack is to help raise more sustainable bees. A third of the world’s crops depend on bee pollination and according to the Canadian Association of Professional Apiculturists, Canada’s […] Read more
More research on variable landscapes required
While land varies widely across most farms, most research is done on uniform, relatively un-degraded plots
Glacier FarmMedia – The variation of farmland and the practices needed to restore it mean more research needs to be done on the landscape, not just in uniform plots, says one soil scientist. “Almost all of the scientific information on which we base our understanding has been generated on near-level, non-eroded landscapes,” said David Lobb. […] Read more
Salford adds VRT to its Halo high-speed disc line
New model offers on-the-go disc angle adjustability
Glacier FarmMedia – Salford has added a new model to the Halo line of high-speed disc implements it debuted in 2020, the VRT (variable-rate tillage). This tillage tool is capable of on-the-go changes to disc angles to vary how aggressively it engages the soil. Those changes can be made multiple times in a field right […] Read more
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
Biopesticides find a place within integrated pest management
They are another management tool for vegetable growers
Research is ramping up on how biopesticides fit into integrated pest and disease management in vegetable production, especially for organic operations. When managing any vegetable disease, it’s essential not to depend on conventional or biopesticides alone, said Dr. Margaret McGrath. “You want to have an integrated management program, so you’re using all your management tools,” […] 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
Understanding the ‘what’ and ‘how’ of colostrum for calves
Some fundamentals about what we should be feeding and how we can assist calves
We have known that colostrum is important to calf health for a long time. Calves are born with an immature immune system and they depend on the intake of antibodies in colostrum called immunoglobulin G, or IgG, to protect them during early life. This process is called the transfer of passive immunity. However, our understanding […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
