Could agriculture be a net-zero carbon emitter, or even a carbon sink? According to Vern Osborne, professor of animal biosciences at the University of Guelph, the answer is yes — and it could be done today, with current technology. During a presentation at the Farms.com Precision Agriculture Conference in London, Osborne detailed the future of […] Read more
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Could Ontario agriculture be a carbon sink?
Professor says it could be done today – if enough imagination and will is employed
Diesel prices expected to trend lower
MarketsFarm — Canadian producers may enjoy a lower diesel bill during spring seeding, as reductions in demand have weighed on diesel prices across North America. Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy, said retail diesel prices are down by about 10 to 15 cents per litre since the beginning of the year. The drop […] Read more
Producer pitches journeyman farmer idea
Could farm workers be certified like electricians or plumbers?
Glacier FarmMedia – It seems appropriate to have a “light bulb” moment while talking to an electrician. That’s exactly what happened to Kristjan Hebert last summer when a couple of electricians were working at his farm near Moosomin, Sask. Hebert was quizzing the electricians about their profession and what it’s like being a journeyman electrician. […] Read more
Farm has brush with identity theft
A cell phone number was ported and access to farm information, including banking, was gained
Glacier FarmMedia – Cattle producers Andrew and Laurie Johnson are warning others to secure their personal information after unknown fraudsters gained access to a cellphone and hacked into their farm operating accounts. The Bank of Montreal has said it will cover the losses, which Laurie said total hundreds of thousands of dollars, but the family […] Read more
U.S. cash farm income expected to slump as government aid drops
Crop farmers are expected to face continued pressure from low prices
Reuters – U.S. net cash farm income will fall 11 per cent this year as production costs rise and government aid programs set up to assist producers during the U.S.-China trade war wind down, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture forecast issued on Feb. 5. The drop, of $13.1 billion in inflation-adjusted 2020 dollars, […] Read more
Turning precision ag data into profits
Some farmers are convinced of the value as long as they have the tools to manage it
Adam DeVisser is a recent convert to using precision agriculture, but he’s practical about its application. “The value is not in computers making decisions for us, but in us making more informed decisions,” he says. Why it matters: Using technology and collecting data can really help producers’ bottom lines, but only if they plan it […] Read more
Open Food Network targets small-scale e-commerce
Not-for-profit platform now available in 12 countries
Food, unincorporated. That’s the tagline atop the website of the Canadian version of a 12-country digital commerce platform for small-scale farmers. Theresa Schumilas of Open Food Network (OFN) Canada, told those attending a Jan. 25 seminar at the Guelph Organic Conference that the platform is free for those selling less than $500 in produce per […] Read more
Turning farm data into dollars
Recording-keeping and understanding cost of production are where data show returns
Accurate and updated record keeping is vital for producers across Ontario. It allows producers to track data to make informed and timely decisions, and reduces environmental and legal risks. According to a 2015 report conducted by Agri-Food Management Institute, record-keeping was considered very important by profitable producers, said Erich Weber, business finance specialist with OMAFRA […] Read more
Vineland hires new automation leader
Hussam Haroun has joined Vineland Research and Innovation Centre (Vineland) as director of automation. In his new role, Haroun will oversee Vineland’s activities related to automation, artificial intelligence and digital agriculture technologies. He launched his own start-up after patenting and commercializing a new technology during graduate school. As CEO, he secured more than $3 million […] Read more
NYC equity firm to buy Xplornet
New investment expected to speed up rural broadband rollouts
A Manhattan private equity firm deep in “middle-market infrastructure” has committed to buy, and help improve service from, Canada’s single biggest rural broadband provider. New Brunswick-based, privately held Xplornet Communications announced Thursday it has signed a deal to sell majority control itself to Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners. The two companies’ announcement didn’t put a dollar figure […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
