Polar vortex, snowmageddon, thunder snow. Such terms likely conjure scenes of wild and chilly weather but what do they actually mean? Knowing the parameters used to determine the names of these and other systems might, quite literally, help farm businesses weather storms with fewer hardships. Why it matters: Understanding weather system terms can allow for […] Read more
Know your weather terminology
Understanding what different terms mean can help prevent loss
Strong energy prices support increased corn, soybean market values
Domestic market demand and uncertainty surrounding South American crops also contributing factors
Ontario soybean prices have risen $1 per bushel over the past month. The domestic market is being pulled higher by the energy complex and stronger meal values. Soybean exports are lagging last year’s pace. The fundamentals are somewhat bearish unless South America has adverse weather conditions. Ontario corn prices are up 20 cents per bu. […] Read more
Getting the most out of a soybean crop
Closer attention to fertility management could pay dividends
Conventional wisdom says that the nitrogen-fixing capability of soybeans leaves substantial nutrients behind for subsequent corn crops. While true to a degree, Fred Below, University of Illinois plant physiology professor, believes many soybean growers do not realize how much nutrient is being removed by the crop and many could get more from their soybeans if […] Read more
USDA sees little renewable diesel benefit for soybean oil
The department expects little change in oil demand from the renewable fuel sector after next year, which puzzles analysts
Glacier FarmMedia – Analysts generally concur that the burgeoning renewable diesel industry will result in exploding demand for soybean oil through 2030. But there is one notable exception. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is forecasting static soybean oil demand from the renewable fuel sector after 2022, at about 12 billion pounds per year. […] Read more
Comment: New paths to agricultural sustainability change the competition
New investment, technology and food products are changing the value proposition
The agriculture industry could never be accused of being stagnant when it comes to embracing new methods or technologies that enable more efficient food production. It has also made huge strides in improving the sustainability of farming practices while increasing production of affordable food. However, as industry leaders gathered at the GrowCanada conference in Calgary […] Read more
In PED biosecurity, barns are ‘vacuum cleaners’: vet
The goal is to reduce the contaminated dirt that barns pull in
Glacier FarmMedia – Hog barns’ loadout docks are key entry points for PED-carrying dust, and they require close attention, says a Manitoba veterinarian. “All of our hog barns are essentially gigantic vacuum cleaners, and the warmer the conditions outside, of course, the greater the suction of our vacuum cleaners,” said Dr. Tony Nikkel, director of […] Read more
Catapulting rural entrepreneurs to the next level in Grey-Bruce
Investment in regional rural business hub already paying dividends locally
Owen Sound is ready to help rural entrepreneurs take a leap to the next level while keeping innovation at the local level. The Sydenham Campus Regional Skills Training, Trades and Innovation Centre received an $845,000 non-repayable Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) fund early in 2021 to host a small and medium-sized […] Read more
Federal program focuses on agriculture communication
The AgriCommunication Initiative is intended to help farmers share their stories with the public to increase awareness
Glacier FarmMedia – The federal government announced funding last December for a new program to help connect consumers and farmers. Agriculture minister Marie-Claude Bibeau launched the first stream of the AgriCommunication Initiative alongside members of the Canadian Agricultural Youth Council. She said the council represents the sector’s next ambassadors. Why it matters: Funding will be […] Read more
Bothwell business establishes autonomous working group
Haggerty Creek Ltd. expands applied research into farm robotics
Autonomous equipment is not a new pursuit for the team at Haggerty Creek Ltd. It established an autonomous working group in 2021 and now the elevator, equipment dealer and ag-service provider hopes to push the development of autonomous field technologies further through collaborative field research. “We started the working group so we could coordinate our […] Read more
Study clarifies nitrogen impact on carbon sequestration
Science Notes: Why soil organic carbon fails to build in high-input corn fields
Soil organic carbon is a cornerstone of soil health. It improves soil structure while enhancing water- and nutrient-holding capacity. To build it up, farmers incorporate crop residues into soil. So why, despite decades of residue inputs, is soil organic carbon diminishing in corn production systems? Short answer: it’s the nitrogen. “With intensive nitrogen fertilization, you […] Read more
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