Earlier in January, the corn and soybean futures market incorporated a risk premium due to the uncertainty in South American production. This risk premium in the market is eroding due to recent precipitation and favourable weather forecasts. Quick look Soybeans: Farmers were regular sellers throughout the price rally. Corn: Ethanol demand for corn has declined […] Read more
Market sends signals for more soybean acres
U.S. corn exports are running 131 per cent above last year
COVID-19 spurs direct marketing growth
Consumer desire to source local food a cash-cow for on-farm direct marketing businesses
Consumers took a more active role in sourcing locally produce protein when COVID-19 exposed challenges in the food supply chain. Why it matters: The pandemic has accelerated the interest in local food, creating opportunities for farmers. Mike Dougherty, along with his mom Suzy and brother Doug had been steadily growing their 50-acre grass-fed and finished […] Read more
Artificial ingredients could reach dairy market first
The dairy sector will have challenges coming soon, especially as they relate to artificially created dairy proteins. Evan Fraser, director of the Arrell Food Institute at the University of Guelph, told the recent Dairy Farmers of Ontario annual meeting that there will be several issues for dairy farmers and regulators to grapple with. A San […] Read more
Managing manure application and soybeans
Moving away from corn on corn could mean more manure has to be applied before planting soybeans
Corn is the perfect crop for receiving the nutrients from manure. Liquid manure applied to meet two-thirds of the nitrogen needs will generally provide a good balance of the macro and micro nutrients needed for a highly productive corn crop. Using commercial starter and nitrogen for the balance of the crop’s needs ensures nutrients are […] Read more
Recirculating booms can help slow spread of herbicide-resistant weeds
AGCO demonstrated value of new sprayer tech on a crop tour
Glacier FarmMedia – Just a few years ago, herbicide resistance in weeds seemed like a distant concern, something occurring elsewhere. However, it should be no surprise to anyone that today the International Survey of Herbicide-Resistant Weeds, which is a collaborative effort between weed scientists in more than 80 countries, says that is no longer true. […] Read more
Feed additive in development to reduce food safety risks
Plant-based vaccine could be less expensive to produce to control E. coli
Technology that can produce vaccines and antibodies in plant leaves is being put to work in the livestock industry in hopes of preventing the development of a pathogen that causes food-borne illness in people. PlantForm Corporation has launched a new research project with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and Western University in London to target […] Read more
Hoof care in dairy barns requires a multi-prong approach
Reducing stand times and quickly addressing inflammation and lameness are key
Improved hoof health, limited standing time and immediate lameness mitigation goes a long way towards increasing dairy cow comfort and profitability. Travis Busman, program director and hoof health consultant for Sure Step Consulting Ltd. told attendees of the Grey Bruce Farmers Week Dairy Day that inflammation, regardless of the cause, is the prelude to lameness. […] Read more
Making high-management crops work
Farmer targets top potential fields for highest yield
What does a 107 bushels per acre soybean crop look like? Tim Gerrits, a farmer from North Middlesex, can tell you. With a high-management production approach, Gerrits achieved huge results in some of his fields in 2020. It’s the culmination of years of research and mentorship from other growers, he says, and part of an […] Read more
Cameras tell the story of animal behaviour
A hog farm finds much can be learned when employees aren’t in a barn
When looking for answers to problems with barn operations, make sure to ask the pigs. Pillen Family Farms was trying to figure out why its new nursery barns weren’t performing as well as some old ones, so they turned to video cameras as a way to better understand the behaviour of pigs when workers weren’t […] Read more
Riding the wave of change in milk products
COVID-19, consumer expectations, buyer standards mean changing directions in dairy
A rise in consumption of fluid milk for the first time in many years is just one example of the changes wrought in the dairy market by the COVID-19 pandemic. “It’s the first time fluid milk sales has been up in I don’t know how many years… but decades,” said Michael Barrett, president, Gay Lea […] Read more
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