The Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) has named a farmer and a long-time supporter of soil health as its 2019 Soil Champions. The OSCIA made the announcement at its annual conference in Kingston in early February. Jim Denys is a Middlesex County farmer, producing pork farrow-to-finish while cropping corn, wheat and soybeans. He […] Read more
Tag Archives Sustainable agriculture — page 6
Denys, Verhallen named 2019 soil champions
A farmer and an OMAFRA soils expert are being recognized for trying new practices to improve soil health
Eastern Ontario farmer named 2019 Innovative Farmer of the Year
Warren Schneckenburger places emphasis on minimizing tillage and compaction on his farm
Warren Schneckenburger’s attention to soil health, environmental stewardship and progressive production has resulted in winning the 2019 Ontario Innovative Farmer of the Year award presented by the Innovative Farmer Association of Ontario (IFAO). The IFAO cited Schneckenburger’s commitment to soil health and environmental stewardship through his practice of no-till soybeans and wheat, strip-tilled corn and […] Read more
Dresden farmer limits tillage in sugar beets and tomatoes to build soil structure
Mark Richards used his experience in strip tilling in other crops to make it work in vegetable crops
This story was part of Farmtario’s Chatham-Kent Farm Show guide Mark Richards has worked hard to assess and improve his farming practices over the last 20 years. He began with cover crops, then progressed into no till and strip till, notably in sugar beets and tomatoes, a practice not typically used in those […] Read more
Donation to boost soil health outreach
Donors aim to make sure best soil health information reaches farmers
The University of Guelph marked World Soil Day by announcing a $500,000 donation for soil health outreach in Ontario. The donation was made by Lillie Ann Morris, who has worked for more than four decades in agricultural advertising sales, Glacier FarmMedia, publisher of Farmtario and the agricultural division of information communications company Glacier Media Inc., […] Read more
Evaluating cover crops for the long term
Too early to assess corn and wheat yields, but the benefits to tomatoes already seem clear
It’s widely recognized that cover crops boost soil organic matter, but their long-term agronomic and economic benefits are less well understood. Researchers at the University of Guelph’s Ridgetown and Elora campuses have undertaken some long-term studies to identify the impacts of cover crops in some growing conditions and management styles common to southwestern Ontario. Why […] Read more
Ontario organic bill again introduced in legislature
Survey shows barriers exist to small-producer certification
The creation of organic regulations for Ontario is getting a third chance. A private members bill to create organic regulations was tabled Nov. 12 in the Ontario legislature by Progressive Conservative Jim McDonell, MPP for Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry. Why it matters: There are national organic standards that apply to products sold across provincial borders, but no […] Read more
Cover crops help reverse soil organic matter loss
The benefits may not show up immediately so farmers need to be patient
In Ontario, where the loss of soil organic matter is a long-standing problem, cover crops and other cultivation strategies designed to improve soil structure are playing an increasingly important role in cropland sustainability. However, a variety of factors are limiting how quickly Ontario farmers are adopting cover crops, even as soil organic matter in the […] Read more
OMAFRA strip till demo to highlight working units
The live demonstration gives farmers a chance to see strip till machines in the field
OMAFRA is taking soil health action to the field this year at Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show (COFS). The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs is hosting a live strip tillage demonstration every day at 11:15 a.m. in the Southwest Demo Field at the show. This is in addition to the regular equipment demonstrations […] Read more
Waterjet use on planters eliminates coulter-soil contact
Aquatill concept remains in testing phase, but may offer options for no-till farmers
The use of pressurized water as a cutting tool has come full circle. It was used extensively to power away earth during the 1850s California Gold Rush. Now, after being adapted and refined to carry out high-tech, precision cutting of metals and other industrial materials indoors, the technology has turned back to the ground. Why […] Read more
Swiss government urges voters to reject more state help for farmers
Zurich | Reuters — The Swiss government urged voters on Tuesday to reject more help for farmers and other proposals for agriculture in a referendum next month, saying they would send food prices rocketing and hurt the economy. Switzerland will two hold referendums on Sept. 23 — one on giving more state support to farmers […] Read more
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