Dig Deep Archive | Page 5 | Better Farming

Managing Farm Plastic

Keep your farm & the environment cleaner

By Emily Croft

Plastic products have contributed to many advancements in agriculture and are used daily by farmers, but as the world looks to improve environmental stewardship, Ontario producers are also searching for better ways to handle plastic waste.

Twine, bale wrap, silage bags and bunk covers are all used by livestock producers. Seed, pesticides, and fertilizer all come in bags, containers, and jugs that contain plastic. It is easy for these materials to pile up, particularly when disposal options are limited.

The Key Times

Managing crops through the reproductive stages

By Paul Hermans

It’s the cold, crazy days of winter and I am writing this article about harvest time. Why would I do that?

Anyone will tell you that the reproductive stages of crops are the most important – assuming, of course, you had all your ducks in line from planting through the vegetative stages of growth. (Which I covered in the January magazine.)

The Future of Farming

What can you do today for a better tomorrow?

By Colleen Halpenny

When looking to the future of your business, there can be an overwhelming number of variables to consider.

Current developments in technology, machinery, genetics, and sustainability prove that when it comes to innovation, agriculture is at the forefront in moving the needle.

Better Farming recently asked industry experts what areas deserve additional strategy today, to set up your business for a successful future.

Ontario Farmland: What the Market Tells Us

Whether you are buying or selling, it pays to be aware.

By Colleen Halpenny

Farmland across the province continues to be in high demand. As producers evaluate their current holdings and opportunities for growth, cost per acre is a number that most keep their eyes on.

As a finite resource, producers have long been aware that while land may become available, there is no new land to find. To better understand current markets, and explore new ways to grow, we talked with those in the know – to find Ontario producers the best solutions and strategies.

No Crops are Alike or are They?

By Paul Hermans

To the average city folk, all crops are the same. They need sun, water, plus nutrients to grow.

When we look more closely at corn and soybeans, yes, it is true they need all of this, but at different times of the year. Each crop is unique in their vegetative and reproductive stages of growth.

This article is the start of a two-part series. This month I will focus on the earlier vegetative stages of corn and soybeans. I will follow up with the second article on the reproductive stages.

Failing to Plan is like Planning to Fail

Seeking higher yields & bigger returns in 2023

By Paul Hermans

When buying a property, any real estate salesperson will tell you that three things matter – location, location, location. In agriculture the adage that holds true is planning, planning, planning. Failing to plan is like planning to fail.

The 2022 growing (and hopefully harvest) season has come and gone. Now our eyes turn toward the 2023 growing season with anticipation of higher yields and bigger returns.

Slow Going: Still Looking for Clarity on the 413

Tired producers search for answers on the fate of their farms.

By Emily Croft

Frustration grows and confusion continues as farmers continue to wait for news of the fate of Highway 413 – with limited communication and clarity since the resumption of environmental assessments in 2019.

While opposition is still being expressed by some groups, the continuation of highway development appears to progress slowly, drawing out the process for the affected residents of York, Peel, and Halton regions.

Another Look at Lyme Disease

Ontario’s Farm Country Still a Hotspot

By Nicholas Van Allen

Fever. Chills. Headache. Muscle aches and pains. Fatigue. Swollen lymph nodes.

As a farmer, you might be thinking that you are familiar with all these symptoms of COVID-19. But you’d be thinking about the wrong disease. In addition to muscle spasms and facial paralysis, these are in fact symptoms of something else – Lyme disease.

Living & Dying by the Seed Selection Sword

By Paul Hermans

With harvest nearing completion across Eastern Canada, attention is switching to crop planning for the 2023 growing season. Arguably seed selection is one of the most important choices a grower will make on their farm on a yearly basis.

Many factors need to be looked at when picking a corn hybrid or soybean variety. Yield comes to the top of the list every time. But knowing your fields and disease pressure, weed issues, soil types, etc., should play a big factor in ensuring you pick the right product for the right acre.

Are Your Farm Vehicles Safe?

Keeping your trucks secure from theft

By Emily Croft

Pickup trucks are an indispensable tool on farms across Ontario. Transportation between fields, hauling cattle, and running parts are just a handful of the tasks that a pickup truck might be used for on any given day. The necessity of the farm truck makes the concept of vehicle theft all the more concerning.

Over recent years, the theft of newer vehicles has become more difficult due to improvements to anti-theft technologies.