The west side of Ottawa’s Central Experimental farm.

Ottawa redevelopment could negatively affect agriculture research

Shade from the proposed buildings could affect prime soil area

Critics say a proposed redevelopment near Ottawa’s Central Experimental Farm will have a negative impact on the facility’s future. Though the redevelopment would not encroach on farmland, it would replace one eight-storey building on a neighbouring lot with two others, at 16 and 27 storeys respectively. The building proposal was approved by the city’s planning […] Read more

Fair Vodka will be available for purchase and tasting at the Spencerville Fair this month. It is distilled by a local distillery from corn grown by a nearby dairy farm.

Capturing the spirit of the fall fair

Spencerville Fair to offer Fair Vodka, made from locally sourced corn at a local distillery to showcase agriculture in a new way

The Spencerville Fair promises to be the toast of the town with the launch of its own locally sourced and handcrafted vodka. Why it matters: Like many agricultural fairs, the Spencerville Fair is trying to find new ways to support agricultural and local businesses. Fair Vodka uses corn from a local dairy farm and is […] Read more

Vivian and Chris Crump used funding from ALUS to create wetlands on their farm.

ALUS gets new provincial funding

Program helps farmers pay for projects that protect species at risk

At the Crump farm near Ilderton, runoff from 400 nearby acres, grazing by too many cattle and an elevation change of 35 feet in a short distance led to a strained ecosystem. Now, Chris and Vivian Crump have added wetlands, created more controlled grazing, managed the runoff from the barns and farmyard, planted 2,500 trees […] Read more

Vince in his corn field where the July incident took place. Crop damage from the fire, and from water truck traffic, is visible.

Series of field fires suggest possible arson

Merlin-area farmer Blake Vince has experienced three fires in the same area since April

The first fire of 2023 happened in mid-April. The second and third occurred over the Victoria Day and Canada Day long weekends. Merlin-area grain farmer Blake Vince first thought it was happenstance, then coincidence. Now he wonders if a bad actor has been putting flame to his residue-heavy fields. If his concerns are true, he […] Read more

Learning about grain farming with STEM

Learning about grain farming with STEM

Good in Every Grain, the public outreach campaign from Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO) has launched an award-winning science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) program for Ontario Grade 3 classrooms. Good Every Grain’s Ontario Farming STEMterprise is a unique teaching resource based on Ontario grain farming in coordination with the Ontario elementary school curriculum. The Farming STEMterprise program created by the National Farmers Union United Kingdom (NFU U.K.) brings agriculture […] Read more


pigs on the farm

New cost-share offering for biosecurity enhancement

Canada and Ontario committing up to $7.5 million to support biosecurity measures to enhance food safety

The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing up to $7.5 million through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (SCAP) to help eligible agri-food businesses and contributors enhance their biosecurity measures to support animal and plant health, and food safety. The Biosecurity Enhancement Initiative (BEI) is a new, cost-share offering that will help farmers, food processors, and […] Read more

Caite Palmer, left, an Iowa livestock farmer, and Arlene Hunter, right, an Ontario dairy farmer, dispense wisdom, levity and insight on Barnyard Language, a parenting podcast for farmers.

Podcast takes on parenting through agricultural lens

Barnyard Language also tackles issues facing farming families

The Barnyard Language podcast is a universal, straight- out-of-the-gate reaction to daily farm life. It delves into the challenges of parenting, farming, and life’s transitions from both sides of the Canada-United States border with humour and soul-baring honesty.  Why it matters: Farm life can be isolating, and the pandemic intensified the need for an understanding […] Read more

corn field and an American flag

Opinion: Appeasing hard-liners’ all but promises Farm Bill failure

The next U.S. Farm Bill, due by the end of this year, will profoundly impact the ag sector of Canada’s biggest trade partner for the next five years

The 2018 Farm Bill will expire Sept. 30. Simultaneously, the American government needs a new budget in place to open its doors Oct. 1. It will take a mighty effort for either to get done. In the three months between July 1 and Oct. 1, the House of Representatives is scheduled to be in session […] Read more


The Dairy Innovation Centre as it looked in 2022.

New dairy experience comes to Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show

Dairy Innovation Centre revamped for 2023 show

Visitors to Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show may have noticed significant changes over the years to the iconic Dairy Innovation Centre. Gone are the robotic milking systems, replaced by many new companies that showcase the latest in dairy technology and management. The building has undergone significant renovation and will feature new penning and livestock handling areas. […] Read more

Efforts in order to adapt to climate change are important, but losing an emphasis on agricultural productivity could have dire human consequences.

Opinion: Keep balance in research funding

Many ingredients went into the mix that resulted in the extraordinary success of agriculture in feeding a growing population. There’s the ability of farmers to constantly learn and increase their management skills. There are also vast improvements in technology – mechanical, digital and biological – that have come from researchers in both private companies and […] Read more