Safety concerns, ever-tighter regulations and good alternatives continue to reduce the availability of anhydrous fertilizer in Ontario. But while urea and urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) now dominate, some growers and input suppliers still see enough value in anhydrous to maintain a degree of availability. Why it matters: Anhydrous, the comparatively cost-effective option for nitrogen fertility, […] Read more
Anhydrous use dwindles in Ontario
Suppliers are turning to more popular, less regulated nitrogen options
Finding green on green and dead where it needs to be
Spot spraying: Reliably identifying green weeds among a green crop has long been a goal for spot spraying herbicides
Glacier FarmMedia – There’s a race to build computer programs that instantly differentiate weeds from crops within images taken by sprayer-boom mounted cameras. Green-on-brown spraying, where cameras identify plants on brown soil background for burndown applications, has been around for at least 15 years. Weed-It, John Deere See & Spray Select and Amazone AmaSpot can […] Read more
Knowing sheep behaviour makes handling easier
This is part of an OMAFRA fact sheet on sheep handling facilities. Producers who understand sheep behaviour can use this knowledge to their advantage in all aspects of sheep production and management. Whether setting up and using handling and shearing facilities, moving the flock to a new pasture or catching an individual sheep, taking their […] Read more
How hot can prices get?
High prices can skew cost of production, making farmers vulnerable
Commodity prices have been strong for the past eight months. It’s been a boon for growers, though prolonged periods of decent returns can skew cost of production. Canadian growers could be open to significant financial hardship if they see sustained price reductions or major production challenges like those experienced in the 1970s and 1980s, after […] Read more
Farmers build dairy plant to avoid additives
Thunder Bay area producers address their own concerns about dairy quality
Glacier FarmMedia – Ten years ago, Wilma Mol was frustrated. She had noticed a decline in the quality of yogurt, ice cream and cheese at grocery stores, mostly because of what she attributes to additives in the dairy products. Why it matters: Specialized, natural or niche products are popular with consumers, providing an opportunity for […] Read more
Bioenterprise builds a national agri-food innovation network
The Guelph-based organization is partnering with organizations with an interest in agriculture and food
A little over a year ago, a Guelph-based agri-food innovation accelerator set out on a somewhat ambitious quest: to build a national agriculture innovation network. Bioenterprise had a long-standing history in Ontario of helping start-ups and emerging companies in the agri-food sector along their growth paths, but there was no one-stop-shop at the national level […] Read more
Fallis promoted to VP of Canarm ag business
Canarm recently announced the promotion of Paul Fallis to vice-president of its Canadian Ag Business unit. Fallis’s long history of leadership with Canarm AgSystems, combined with his market knowledge and focus on customer service make him the perfect choice for this role, said Jim Cooper, company president and chief operating officer in a news release. […] Read more
Bacteria boost plant root hair growth
Science Notes: Symbiotic bacteria in root cells may be key to producing better crops, study finds
A Rutgers study has found that symbiotic bacteria that colonize root cells may be managed to produce hardier crops that need less fertilizer. The study appeared in the journal Microorganisms. Bacteria stimulate root hair growth in all plants that form root hairs, so the researchers examined the chemical interactions between bacteria inside root cells. They […] Read more
Farm transfer bill gains support, moves to Senate for deliberation
Proposal would improve tax burden of farmers selling businesses to children
Glacier FarmMedia – Farm groups are praising MPs who voted in favour of a law aiming to amend tax laws and make it easier for producers to sell their operations to family members. Bill C-208, introduced by Conservative MP Larry Maguire for the first time in September 2020, is off to the Senate for review […] Read more
N-inhibitors aid in greenhouse gas reduction
Weather and field conditions impact year-to-year effectiveness
Research from the University of Guelph indicates the application of nitrogen inhibitors can help farmers significantly reduce their emissions. While such products can differ in consistency across various growing conditions, their medium- and long-term impacts can still have a major effect. Why it matters: Governments are pushing the reduction of climate change-inducing gases and inhibiting […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
