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

Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau, Agriculture and Agri-Food, flanked by André Lamontagne, Quebec Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, outlines the sector's short- and long-term priorities laid out in the Guelph Statement during the final day of the Federal, Provincial, Territorial Ministers annual meeting in Guelph, Nov. 10, 2021.

Governments reach Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership agreement

Ontario agri-food sector to receive $1.77 billion in new agreement

A new, five-year agreement between the governments of Canada and Ontario will provide upwards of $1.77 billion in support for the province’s agri-food sector over the life of the agreement. The governments have negotiated a Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) agreement that will see $569 million invested in strategic initiatives, a 25 per cent […] Read more

Indigenous people lawfully exercising Aboriginal or Treaty rights may enter an animal protection zone without first obtaining prior consent of the owner on the farm.

OMAFRA addresses Aboriginal and Treaty Rights within Trespass Act for farmers

Webinar clarifies misunderstandings as well as need for better police awareness of the Act

A new factsheet aims to clarify any misunderstandings around Aboriginal and Treaty Rights within the Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act, 2020 (SFTPFSA). “The factsheets were developed as part of the consultation process,” said Scott Duff, director of economic development policy with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). “We […] Read more

Non-supply-managed poultry operations, such as duck farms, now have a funding option to help offset the costs of enhancing biosecurity.

Non-supply-managed poultry sector gets avian influenza support

Newly announced CAP program offers help for biosecurity enhancements

Poultry producers outside of Ontario’s supply-managed poultry sector can now apply for funding to fend off the risk of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). On Nov. 24, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced up to $1.5 million in cost-share funding through the federal-provincial Canadian Agricultural Partnership “to help non-supply-managed poultry operations […] Read more

A P&P Optica employee shows how the company’s smart visioning technology can help improve food safety at a recent open house.

Using the science of light to reduce food waste, improve meat quality

Waterloo start-up receives expansion support

An Ontario company has just received a funding boost from the federal government for its smart visioning technology.  P&P Optica of Waterloo has developed a system that harnesses the power of light to measure chemistry to improve meat quality and safety. The new funding will help promote its automated inspection system to meat processors.  Using […] Read more


Corn ear mould and deoxynivalenol (DON) survey sampling locations and results in 2022.

Corn moulds, mycotoxins below provincial average

Local conditions should be considered when evaluating risk

The annual Ontario Grain Corn Ear Mould and Deoxynivalenol (DON) Mycotoxin Survey found that 98 per cent of samples tested low, at less than two parts per million, for DON.  Also known as vomitoxin, DON is produced primarily by gibberella/fusarium ear moulds and can be disruptive when fed to livestock, especially hogs. Corn ear moulds […] Read more

At a field day Sept. 8, Mike Groot explains how he set up the livestock water and fencing for his 24-acre series of test plots at his family’s Crediton-area farm for the Living Labs soil health research initiative.

Test plot measures effects of grazing in crop rotation

Groot family’s Wholesome Pastures is part of Living Labs study

Staff at the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) have good-naturedly described the research plot on Mike Groot’s Crediton-area farm as “crazy strips.” Groot is hoping the soil quality data it gathers will eventually show that including pasture in a cash crop rotation isn’t crazy at all. He has an ally in Christine O’Reilly, […] Read more

Province funding Ontario-led agri-food projects

Province funding Ontario-led agri-food projects

The Ontario government announced Oct. 3 its investing $7.25 million in 50 Ontario-led agri-food research and innovation projects.  The investments are being made through the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance, a collaboration between the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) and the University of Guelph that works to advance the next generation of […] Read more


Crediton-area mixed farmer Mike Groot watches as OMAFRA forage and grazing specialist Christine O’Reilly demonstrates use of the rising plate meter for measuring pasture yield during a Living Labs research plot tour at the Groot farm on Sept. 8,2022.

Pasture knowledge refined to reflect Ontario’s climate

University of Guelph, OMAFRA research uses rising plate meters to accurately measure pasture yield

A team of researchers aims to fine-tune recommendations for rotational grazing in Ontario and a key piece of that research is a tool called a rising plate meter. Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) forage and grazing specialist Christine O’Reilly outlined use of the rising plate meter during a plot tour Sept. […] Read more

Year-to-date average daily grass growth rates.

Armyworm trap counts high, silage corn harvest progresses

OMAFRA Forage Report for October 5

Ontario Hay Listings is a free classifieds service provided by the Ontario Forage Council. Producers looking to buy or sell hay or straw are encouraged to post an ad. Bt-resistant corn rootworm is a serious pest of continuous corn and is a major threat to the silage corn supply. Work with your agronomist and nutritionist to […] Read more