Remove fertilizer tariffs, says Ontario Agricultural Commodity Council

The following letter was sent sent to Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland on behalf of the Ontario Agricultural Commodity Council. A copy of the letter was also sent to Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. Dear Minister Freeland, On behalf of the Ontario Agricultural Commodity Council (OACC), a coalition of 27 non-supply managed commodity […] Read more

Vessels are seen as they await inspection under the Black Sea Grain Initiative, brokered by the UN and Turkey, in the southern anchorage of the Bosphorus at Istanbul on Dec. 11, 2022. (File photo: Reuters/Yoruk Isik)

Russian envoy says no breakthrough on grain deal

Ukraine says Moscow blocking ships

Geneva | Reuters — Russia’s envoy to the United Nations in Geneva on Wednesday said “no real progress” had been achieved in resolving issues raised by Moscow over the Black Sea grain deal, which is set to expire next month. Separately, Ukraine accused Russia of blocking the passage of four grain ships from its Black […] Read more

New soil sensor may improve efficiency of crop fertilization

New soil sensor may improve efficiency of crop fertilization

Science Notes: Accurate nitrogen detection could help farmers achieve optimal fertilization levels

Measuring temperature and nitrogen levels in soil is important for agriculture systems but detecting them apart from one another is difficult.  Huanyu “Larry” Cheng, an associate professor in engineering science and mechanics at Penn State, led researchers in the development of a multi-parameter sensor that can decouple temperature and nitrogen signals so that each can […] Read more

A vessel is seen arriving at Odesa in southern Ukraine under the Black Sea Grain Initiative on April 12, 2023. (Photo: Yulii Zozulia/Nurphoto via Reuters Connect)

Moscow would scrap grain deal if G7 bans exports, Medvedev warns

G7 said to be considering blanket ban on exports to Russia

Reuters — Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev said on Sunday that if the G7 moved to ban exports to Russia, Moscow would respond by terminating the Black Sea Grain deal that enables vital exports of grain from Ukraine. The Group of Seven (G7) countries are considering a near-total ban on exports to Russia, Japan’s Kyodo […] Read more

Ontario farmers will continue to pay more this planting season than many of their Canadian counterparts.

Editorial: Budgets lacking for farmers

There is always a sense of trepidation when a government announces it will table its annual budget. Many industries, agriculture included, hold their collective breath in anticipation of seeing whether their lobby efforts come to fruition. The Ontario government released its 2023 budget on March 23. Overall, public spending will increase a little over two […] Read more


A vessel is seen arriving at Odesa in southern Ukraine under the Black Sea Grain Initiative on April 12, 2023. (Photo: Yulii Zozulia/Nurphoto via Reuters Connect)

Russia says Black Sea grain deal may be nearly over

Ukraine and UN to blame for backlog of ships, Russia alleges

Moscow | Reuters — Russia on Thursday said there would be no extension of the U.N.-brokered Black Sea grain deal beyond May 18 unless the West removed a series of obstacles to the export of Russian grain and fertilizer. The Ukraine grain Black Sea export deal was brokered by the United Nations and Turkey in […] Read more

Commercial vessels  –including vessels which are part of the Black Sea grain deal — wait to pass the Bosphorus strait off the shores of Yenikapi during a misty morning in Istanbul, Turkey on Oct. 31, 2022. (Photo: Reuters/Umit Bektas)

Outlook for Black Sea grain deal ‘not so great,’ Kremlin says

Grain deal due to expire next month; Russia wants financial, insurance obstacles removed

Moscow | Reuters — The Kremlin on Wednesday said the outlook for the landmark U.N.-brokered Black Sea grain deal was not great as promises to remove obstacles to Russian exports of agricultural and fertilizer exports had not been fulfilled. The grain deal is an attempt to ease a food crisis that predated the Russian invasion […] Read more

The option to use fertigation, even in a crop like wheat, may be garnering support with its cost efficiency.

Finding the fit for irrigation

Precision agriculture systems are enhancing its value in different ways

Measuring value can range from a storage bin of corn to a load of fertilizer or the return on investment of a tractor. It’s part of farming and it’s becoming more complex. Irrigation is an expense that must be justified, and two influences have convinced growers to sharpen their pencils: higher commodity prices for more […] Read more


Dave Smardon, CEO of Bioenterprise, helped announced the funded projects from the Fertilizer Accelerating Solutions and Technology Challenge at the London Farm Show.

Province investing in home-grown fertilizer options

Fertilizer challenge winners chosen, funding used to accelerate product development

Ten companies with made-in-Ontario solutions to help farmers address fertilizer shortages and high input costs will each receive a share of $2 million in funding over the next two years. The winners of the province’s Fertilizer Accelerating Solutions & Technology Challenge have been chosen. The announcement was made March 10 at the London Farm Show. Why […] Read more

The minister is on the case: federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau checks out the cab of a new Case IH Magnum tractor during her visit to the Ag in Motion show on July 20, 2022. (Greg Berg photo)

Federal report shows farmer concerns remain regarding emissions targets

AAFC report polled farmers, industry for thoughts on fertilizer emissions policy

A new Agriculture and Agri-food Canada (AAFC) report shows farmers remain concerned about federal emissions reduction targets — and whether those targets remain voluntary. The “What We Heard” Report, released Wednesday, is the result of consultations between AAFC and the agricultural sector to gather feedback on how best to support farmers and producers to achieve […] Read more