It’s often said that farming is not for the faint of heart, and that goes double for working land in the Great Clay Belt. In an area three to four hours north of Ontario’s “near north,” the Cochrane-to-Kapuskasing region has the attention of many involved in agriculture, but the stark realities can quickly change peoples’ […] Read more
Tag Archives Tile drainage
Perspectives on farming in the Great Clay Belt
There are issues with infrastructure and soils as well as location
Demonstration farm experiments with controlled tile drainage on slopes
Multiple efforts to control water flow have shown effects in easier harvesting and less erosion
The Huronview drainage demonstration farm near Clinton continues to aggregate data from its numerous tillage drainage systems. “People are, like, ‘tell us whether it’s working,’” said project co-ordinator Mel Luymes. “Again, please wait. It’s going to take years for us to get a good answer from this. I’m glad we put it in when we […] Read more
How to get the most from farm drainage investment
It comes from exploring the benefits of proper drainage
The search for every last advantage in a field often requires growers to step out of their comfort zone, whether that means considering precision agriculture applications, reduced tillage, lengthening rotations or adding cover crops. Improving field drainage can have significant benefits for soil health, the overall on-farm environment and increased crop yields. Effective drainage removes […] Read more
American drainage studies show broad scale of returns on investments
Long-term data collection shows yield benefits and more effective soil conservation
Glacier FarmMedia – Two long-term research studies show a significant return on investment of tile drainage in American cropping conditions in the Midwest. Eileen Kladivko of Purdue University published an update on a 35-year study on a 15-acre plot of poorly drained silt loam soil in Indiana where tile drainage was installed. When the study […] Read more
Lessons learned from a drainage demo farm
Early lessons are emerging at the Huronview tile project
The Huronview Demonstration Farm will take years to tell all its drainage stories, but two years in, some anticipated lessons are starting to take shape. The site near Clinton is a collaboration among the Huron County Soil and Crop Improvement Association, Huron County, land drainage companies and the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority. In 2019, the […] Read more
Demand strong for drainage tile
High land values, commodity prices and assistance programs drive investments in tile drainage
From the far north to the deep south, landowners across Ontario continue to invest in tile drainage despite ever-increasing acreage costs. They’re doing so partially because of high land values. Why it matters: Farmers and other land investors install drainage tile to increase land values beyond existing per-acre purchase prices. Jesse Tait, board member for […] Read more
Huron County plastics recycling loop ends up in drainage tile
Blue-box collected bottles from rural homes are processed locally and used in tile
If a farm from Huron, Perth or Middlesex planned a drainage project this year, some of the plastic used in the tile likely had a former life as shampoo bottles and laundry detergent jugs on those same farms. For about 14 months now, an agreement has been in place between Bluewater Pipe and Listowel-based EFS […] Read more
Drainage changes to streamline process for minor improvements
New regulations aimed at saving money and time for farmers
Changes to Ontario’s Drainage Act could lead to a more streamlined process for farmers to make minor improvements to their systems. “We’ve created a new process for what we’re calling minor improvement projects,” said Tim Brook, drainage program coordinator with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). “These are projects that involve […] Read more
Bluewater Pipe-Soleno deal brings together family businesses
Bluewater Pipe to continue to operate as it has previously
Two of the original families of farm tile in Canada have come together in a deal that keeps the companies in independent ownership. Soleno, owned by the Poirier family and based in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., has purchased majority ownership in Bluewater Pipe, based in Huron Park, Ont. Bluewater Pipe was founded by Tony Kime, and he […] Read more
How close is too close when it comes to tile drainage?
Projects look at 12.5-foot tile spacing and potential yield benefits
A tile company is working with growers across southwestern Ontario to complete narrow spacing tile plots. Why it matters: Few projects have looked at the value of narrow tile spacing in Ontario. Opportunities like this help growers understand how different tile spacing can improve their crop. During a Middlesex Soil and Crop meeting, Tony Kime, […] Read more
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