Group housing may be the most cost-effective option for tailoring calf nutrition to stage of growth. Why it matters: The veal and dairy industries continue to weigh the pros and cons of individual versus group calf housing, and studies could tip the scales toward group housing. Attendees at the virtual edition of the Healthy Calf […] Read more
Group housing gives insight into tailored calf diets
Partnered calves had greater dry matter consumption than singles
Pasture profits lost if precision practices ignored
Research needed to fill knowledge gaps to hasten precision data adoption
The speed at which green grass grows could translate into higher profits if producers implement precision pasture management. “The knowledge gap is the first hurdle to overcome to get to precision pasture management”, says Christine O’Reilly, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) forage and grazing specialist. Why it matters: Forages have seen […] Read more
Agriculture investor partners with University of Guelph
SVG Ventures is considered the largest investor in agriculture startups in the world
The University of Guelph and SVG Ventures | Thrive, one of the world’s largest funders and accelerators of agriculture innovation, have announced a partnership. SVG Ventures | THRIVE is a Silicon Valley company that is connected to 5,000 startup companies in agriculture and food from 100 countries. It has made 40 investments in agriculture technology, […] Read more
New virtual reality tours open doors to farms
Canadians can get a virtual look at more farms with the addition of beef, chicken and turkey farms at FarmFood360.ca. Three new virtual reality tours filmed last summer on Ontario beef, chicken and turkey farms have been added to the site joining the 15 farm and food processing tours already there. Visiting a farm is […] Read more
Equipment dealers raise concerns over European imports
There are risks to buying imported equipment including a lack of warranty
Ontario farm equipment dealers are warning farmers to do their homework before buying equipment that has been imported from Europe because any savings on the purchase price could evaporate as soon as it needs repair. Licensed retail dealers, represented through the Canada East Equipment Dealers Association (CEEDA), however, believe there are strong reasons for farmers […] Read more
New plant growth regulator for cereal crops registered
Syngenta Canada recently announced the registration of Moddus, a new plant growth regulator that helps to mitigate lodging risk in wheat, barley and oats. Crops that have lodged may suffer lower yields due to poor grain fill and lost grain. Farmers must often contend with delayed harvests, heavier workloads and increased grain cleaning, drying and […] Read more
New Ontario Agricultural Conference goes virtual
The conference replaces three usual winter in-person conferences
Ontario’s newest agricultural conference will bring back favourites of the conferences it is replacing. The Ontario Agricultural Conference is an online event Jan. 6 and 7 that has grown out of the SouthWest Agricultural Conference, the Eastern Ontario Crop Conference and involves the Heartland and Golden Horsehoe soil and crop improvement associations. “We’ve been successful […] Read more
Mancozeb fungicide approved for continued use
There was concern the fungicide’s registration would be cancelled
Mancozeb, a group M fungicide, has been approved for continued use under the the Pest Control Products Act. The pesticide re-evaluation was completed by the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) and the announcement was made Nov. 19. Why it matters: The elimination of Mancozeb would have been costly for farmers. The product has been used […] Read more
When resistance genes become a secret door
Science Notes: Genetic mechanism that produces oat blight discovered
A multi-institution team co-led by a Cornell University researcher has identified the genetic mechanisms that enable the production of a deadly toxin called Victorin — the causal agent for Victoria blight of oats, a disease that wiped out oat crops in the United States in the 1940s. Victoria blight is caused by the fungus Cochliobolus […] Read more
Big canola bushels come out on top
Top yields in the 2020 Canola Challenge ranged from 3,108 to 5,743 pounds per acre
Results from the 2020 Canola Challenge are in, with winners achieving yields between 3,108 and 5,743 pounds per acre. Why it matters: Winter canola has made inroads as a financially viable alternative crop throughout Ontario. Carrie James, general manager for the Ontario Canola Growers’ Association, says between 20 and 30 producers participate in the challenge […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
