Dig Deep | Page 5 | Better Farming

Livestock producers face predator pressure

Farmers requesting financial support for reasonable care plans

By Kaitlynn Anderson
Staff Reporter

Wildlife predation is such a pressing issue for the province’s producers that the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) may ask the government for more assistance.

Cultivating a level playing field

Ontario could take notes from lessons learned through other provinces’ organic regulations

by Kate Ayers

Take control of charging water

Producers may be eligible for funding for erosion control structures

By Kate Ayers

Runoff and soil erosion are major issues in some areas of Ontario, and best management practices (BMPs) cannot always solely solve these problems, says Brad Glasman, manager of conservation services in the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority.

Accessing end-of-life care in rural Ontario

How legislation about medical assistance in death affects palliative care

by Jim Algie

Forecasting tools boost farm efficiency

Precision ag may be less daunting with multiple means of product assistance

By Kaitlynn Anderson

Many precision ag companies offer more than just an online resource.

Supporting rural Ontario’s health care

Poultry farmers raise funds for rural health research

by Jim Algie

A group of Huron and Perth County poultry farmers has gathered in the month of September for a few years now at the Seaforth Golf Club for what they call “The Chicken Classic.”

Less waste, more resources

Biofertilizers offer range of nutrients for land application

By Kaitlynn Anderson

With the Waste-Free Ontario Act underway, farmers could see more biofertilizers, such as LysteGro, being used across the province.

A shock to agriculture’s bottom line

Lessons to learn from California: Minimum wage increase should be gradual

By Kaitlynn Anderson

In California, the minimum wage is scheduled to increase to $15 per hour, similar to Ontario. However, there is one major difference: the time frame for the implementation of this increase.

Much ado about hemp

Highlighting the crop’s uses and abuses

By Nicholas Van Allen

Hemp has different uses and it’s incorporated into some products you might not have considered.

Finding new life in an old combine

A restored combine is the result of a partnership between a regional Case IH dealership and a local 4-H group

By Jennifer Jackson

click here for more dig deeps

OMAFRA launches mental health videos

April 23, 2019

Ontario’s provincial government is publishing a series of videos to help farmers with their mental health. OMAFRA’s videos will feature information and advice from farmers and leaders in the ag sector. The videos will be posted on OMAFRA’s Twitter account and website throughout the planting season. The videos originated from conversations with Ontario producers, said Ernie Hardeman, the province’s agriculture minister. “When we reached out to farmers and agriculture leaders to get involved in our spring planting mental health campaign, they stepped up to the... read more

Detoxifying DON in corn

April 18, 2019

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) researchers have made a discovery that can help corn producers manage grain contaminated with vomitoxin (DON). Dr. Ting Zhou and a team of scientists helped find a new species of the bacteria Devosia mutans from an Ontario alfalfa field. Within the bacteria are two enzymes that make DON non-toxic. This discovery could be a game-changer, he said. “With the bacteria and the enzymes, this opens a big door for several industries to use them in pre- and post-harvest applications,” he told Farms.com. From a pre-harvest perspective, the... read more

Ag in Ontario’s budget

April 16, 2019

To help restore fiscal balance by 2023-24, the Conservative government cut funding for some ministries – including OMAFRA – in Friday’s budget. OMAFRA’s spending allotment drops from $1.06 billion in 2018-2019 to about $839 million in 2019-2020, the budget says. The cut in the provincial ag budget is displeasing, said Keith Currie, president of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. “We are concerned with the OMAFRA budget cutbacks and will be reviewing these details carefully once spending estimates are available,” he said in a statement Friday. The... read more

Prepping for planting

April 9, 2019

Ontario growers are making the necessary preparations in advance of the 2019 growing season. While it’s still to early to plant any crops, it’s never too soon to get the machinery in order, said Todd Arthur, a cash cropper in Middlesex County. “We probably won’t plant anything until closer to the end of the month, so right now we’re just getting our equipment ready,” he told Farms.com. “It’s better to do it now and get it done than have to worry about it when you’re ready to plant.” Arthur is also deciding what crops to plant.... read more

Ontario farmers to plant more corn acres in 2019?

April 8, 2019

to plant record acres of corn this spring. The weak Canadian dollar is part of the reason the farmers are planting more corn. DON fears do not seem to be having a significant impact. Farms.com Risk Management conducted a 2019 Ontario Planting Intentions farmer survey from January 23rd – March 24th, 2019. The survey forecasts that Ontario farmers intend to plant a record amount of corn, unchanged soybean acres, and lower wheat acres compared to 2018. “This is inline to planting intentions recently announced by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA),” said Moe Agostino,... read more