Big tractors and implements require a lot of braking power, but exactly how powerful braking systems need to be in Canada, and between countries, is not standardized. Why it matters: Braking systems and standards are not uniform. They are also largely voluntary. This can lead to liability risk in the event of an accident. Terrence […] Read more
Tag Archives OMAFRA — page 5
The big brake debate
Braking standards are voluntary, but as implement size increases, brakes are increasingly important
Ontario names new ag minister in shuffle
Lisa Thompson replaces Ernie Hardeman
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has drawn another aggie from his existing cabinet to replace Ernie Hardeman as his agriculture minister. Ford on Friday announced a major cabinet shuffle, dropping Hardeman, the long-time MPP for Oxford, from the cabinet table and naming Lisa Thompson as minister for agriculture, food and rural affairs. Thompson, who until Friday […] Read more
Lisa Thompson new agriculture minister
The Huron-Bruce MPP replaces Ernie Hardeman at the ag helm
Today’s provincial cabinet shuffle has planted Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson in familiar soil. Premier Doug Ford’s eight-person cabinet shuffle saw the Huron-Bruce MPP replace Ernie Hardeman as Ontario’s Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). “Minister Thompson has a valuable understanding of farm and rural issues and has a direct connection to those communities,” […] Read more
Producers like flexibility of grass-based forage options
Weather, rootworm resistance are reasons to consider alternative crops
While most Ontario dairy producers are watching alfalfa stands and the weather forecast to determine the ideal date for first cutting, several others are eyeing different crops – mainly fall-planted grasses or small grains – as their first 2021 opportunity to add to forage feedstocks. Throughout the growing season, depending on rainfall and the degree […] Read more
Soybean cyst nematode infected area continues to expand
Soybean’s biggest yield robber gaining resistance as trait effectiveness declines in some areas
Soybean cyst nematode (SCN) continues to migrate across Ontario and is adapting to resistant varieties. Albert Tenuta, field crop pathologist with OMAFRA, says SCN is showing up outside the traditional southwestern Ontario infection areas and into Huron, Bruce and Simcoe counties. Resistant varieties are beginning to show symptoms on the roots. Why it matters: Soybean […] Read more
Silage options to rotate away from corn
Ryegrass, triticale, sorghum species all have potential to help avoid corn-on-corn rotations
In Europe, it’s ryegrass. On the Prairies, it’s barley. In areas where either climate or pesticide resistance makes it impractical to grow corn, livestock producers nonetheless achieve good gains or high milk production. And, during a recent session hosted by OMAFRA, crop and livestock specialists encouraged Ontario’s livestock producers to consider rotating away from corn […] Read more
Local governments hit greenhouse light pollution
Growing clusters of greenhouses light up the night sky, creating problems with neighbours
Updated Jan. 18, 2021 Municipalities in the major greenhouse-growing area of the province are clamping down on increasingly bright greenhouse lighting making night into day in the rural areas where they operate. The municipality of Leamington recently enacted a bylaw to stem and roll back light pollution emitted from the region’s sizeable and diverse greenhouse […] Read more
Relationships crucial for farm-to-farm cover crop grazing
Neighboring farmers find mutual benefit in livestock grazing, farming arrangement
There’s opportunity for the grazing of cover crops, whether it’s livestock farmers using their own cropland and animals, or offering services to cash-cropping neighbours. That was the overarching message delivered over three successive Tuesday evening Zoom meetings, hosted through November by the Cover Crop Grazing Committee — a collaboration between OMAFRA, Beef Farmers of Ontario, […] Read more
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
Request for Ontario farm names withdrawn
Freedom of Information request had drawn significant farmer concern
The agriculture community is celebrating a win after a Freedom of Information (FOI) request for all Farm Business Registrants was withdrawn. “Together, our farm organizations strongly opposed the release of this information as it has the potential to greatly impact the health, safety and security of our farm operations,” said Keith Currie, Ontario Federation of […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
