4 The Business of Ontario Agriculture Better Farming | August 2024 INSIGHT FROM THE INSIDE INSIGHT FROM THE INSIDE INSIGHT FROM THE INSIDE INSIGHT FROM THE INSIDE INSIGHT FROM THE INSIDE INSIGHT FROM THE INSIDE LETTER FROM THE EDITOR UPDATE ON DRONES; BURSARIES DEADLINE Writer Emily Croft did some extensive research before bringing you our “Drones” update in this edition. “Things are improving but are not there yet,” says Jason Deveau in the article. Jason is an application technology specialist at OMAFA, and he emphasizes that improvements are still needed to ensure the efficacy and safety of spray drones. “There are definitely opportunities. These things fly – they can go where traditional equipment can’t. Spot spraying, places that are unsuited or dangerous for spraying, or perennial horticulture crops are where the big opportunities are in agriculture for drones.” Deadline is Aug. 31 to apply for the OFA’s 2024 post-secondary bursary program. The OFA will be awarding five post-secondary bursaries this year: Three $2,000 bursaries to students in an undergrad program, one $2,000 bursary to a person completing an apprenticeship, and one $2,000 bursary for an individual completing a post-graduate, veterinary or leadership program. Applicants should be able to demonstrate industry-related achievements, a genuine passion for agriculture and rural issues, and community involvement. Visit ofa.on.ca to apply. According to a new study led by Penn State researchers, the availability and adoption of high-speed broadband appears to boost the number of farms offering agritourism activities. Their findings, the researchers said, bolster the argument for expanding broadband availability in support of farm operators who want to benefit from the growing consumer interest in on-farm experiences. “Agritourism operations need to attract visitors, and most of their visitors find them online,” says Claudia Schmidt, assistant professor of marketing and local/regional food systems in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences. “Ours is the first study to examine high-speed internet and agritourism specifically, and demonstrates a clear relationship.” 1-888-248-4893 90 Woodlawn Road West Guelph, ON N1H 1B2 PUBLISHER & EDITORIAL DIRECTOR PAUL NOLAN ext 202 Paul.Nolan@Farms.com ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLISHER & EDITORIAL DIRECTOR LESLIE STEWART ext 265 Leslie.Stewart@Farms.com AGRICULTURAL JOURNALISTS EMILY CROFT MARY LOGGAN CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS EDITION MOE AGOSTINO CAMPBELL CORK DALE COWAN ABHINESH GOPAL PAUL HERMANS PATRICK LYNCH RON SETTLER RALPH WINFIELD ADVERTISING TEAM GLENN RUEGG JEFF McKEE JENNY LONGSTREET SCOTT FARHOOD SAMANTHA RENAUD JOAN SPIEGELBERG DESIGN & PRODUCTION TEAM TANYA MYERS GREG MARLOW SHAUN CLARK ANDREA WILLIAMS www.BetterFarming.com Better Farming magazine is mailed as a member-benefit to all farmer members of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. If you are not an OFA member, subscribe at: 1-888-248-4893 ext 281 Subscriptions@BetterFarming.com ISSN 1498-9344 (Printed) Canadian one-year subscriptions: $41 (11 issues; includes $4.72 HST). Two-year: $74 ($8.51 HST). U.S. subscriptions: $72 annually. International: $121. Single-copy back issues are $12. GST Registration #868959347RT0001 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to AgMedia Inc., 90 Woodlawn Road West, Guelph, ON N1H 1B2. Publications Mail Registration #1156. Publications Mail Agreement #40037298. Copyright ©2024 by AgMedia Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any content without written permission of the publisher is forbidden. Acceptance of advertising does not constitute endorsement of the advertiser, its products or services, nor do Better Farming, AgMedia or Farms.com endorse any advertiser claims. The publisher shall have no liability for the omission of any scheduled advertising. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada. Follow us on @BetterFarmingON “Teaching kids farm safety is at the top of the list of things to do because they get too comfortable around cows and equipment and forget the rules. You need eyes in the back of your head to know where they are at all times.” Leeds County producer, Page 10 “If you say and do the wrong things, you won’t have a successful succession. You have to be able to let things go, and that’s a challenge for all farmers. I heard a saying years ago that it’s easier to pass a farm from grandfather to grandson than from father to son for those reasons.” Doug Funk, Sr., Page 29 “Review this year’s herbicide program to make changes for next year. Record weed escapes and problem weeds by field/farm. I know it may be wishful thinking, but you should start recording what group of herbicides you used on each field/farm. Consider using scouting software that keeps track of your herbicide group used each year on the field/farm.” Patrick Lynch, Page 40 Cover: Sarah Richert photo; Pavlobaliukh - stock.adobe.com photo
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