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4 The Business of Ontario Agriculture Better Farming | December 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 MENTAL WELL-BEING; BIRD FLU CONCERNS December begins a season of unique mental health challenges for farmers across Ontario. Financial uncertainty, isolation, and short days can significantly affect our well-being. According to the Do More Agriculture Foundation, 45 percent of Canadian farmers report high stress levels, with 34 percent showing symptoms of depression. With these stats underscoring the importance of mental health, you can benefit from some support strategies. Stay connected. Winter can bring isolation, especially in rural areas. Staying active and engaged boosts mental well-being. Try joining local groups, connecting with friends, or exploring new activities. Stay active. Regular exercise, even during cold months, can help relieve stress and lift spirits. Keep a routine. A balanced diet and regular sleep have a powerful impact on mental health. Access ag-focused support. The Farmer Wellness Initiative, a CMHA program supported by the OFA, provides free, confidential counselling 24/7 (call 1-866-267-6255). And programs like Do More Ag’s “In the Know” offer mental health workshops tailored for farmers. Tavistock vet Dr. Nicole Burello spoke to us about the recent discovery of H5N1 avian flu in a pig in the U.S. for the first time. “It is concerning for not only the pork industry but other livestock industries as well. Influenza viruses are able to mutate rapidly, even between different species, which also could include humans.” (At press time a B.C. teen was being treated for a presumptive case of avian flu, the first known case in Canada. Officials were working to find the source of exposure.) “I think the livestock sector is well equipped to deal with outbreaks of different aetiologies. We’re very good at practising proper biosecurity measures on pig and poultry barns. “My biggest concern is hobby farms, homesteads and sanctuaries that typically do not have proper biosecurity measures, where there’s typically a lot of mixing and interacting of animals of different species, and exposure to wild birds/ waterfowl as animals are housed outside.” “The number of skilled trades coming into the industry is tremendous. Agriculture isn’t just ‘American Gothic’ – that painting of the couple with the pitchfork – anymore. It’s such a diverse opportunity, but we don’t talk about it to our kids.” - Steve Brackenridge, Page 17 “Aside from no frozen water bowls, my holiday wish for Ontario’s beef farmers is for a profitable year with continued strong cattle prices for both our cow-calf producers and feedlots in the province, as well as strong demand for Ontario beef both here at home and in countries around the world.” - Craig McLaughlin, Page 21 “The final game was either in Mitchell or Tavistock. Someone phoned the good news ahead. When we got back home late that night, the whole village was up. The Agricultural Hall was alight and full of people. There was singing and oratory. It was one of Holstein’s finest moments.” - Campbell Cork, Page 78 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 MARY LOGGAN EMILY MCKINLAY CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS EDITION MOE AGOSTINO CAMPBELL CORK DALE COWAN ABHINESH GOPAL PAUL HERMANS PATRICK LYNCH 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 Cover: Grove Family photo; Shawn Hamilton CLiX–stock.adobe.com photo
If you or someone you know is struggling, the Farmer Wellness Initiative can help. Call 1-866-267-6255 available 24/7, 365 days a year. This winter, prioritize the wellness of the farm’s most important agricultural resource – you, the farmer. Making Wellness Matter Wellness tips: 3 Self check-in: is your tank full of energy or running on fumes? Outsourcing lingering tasks can help complete the winter to-do list. 3 Recharge the batteries: find activities you enjoy while ensuring you’re getting enough rest to recuperate this winter. 3 Stay connected: keep in contact with loved ones and your community. 3 Reach out: if you or someone you know is struggling, there are resources and people available to help. “You are the farm’s most valuable resource” ofa.on.ca | @OntarioFarms | OntarioFarms | OntarioFarms | ontariofarms | ontario-federation-of-agriculture For more information and resources: ofa.on.ca/resources/ making-wellness-matter
6 It’s Farming. And It’s Better. Better Farming | December 2024 PLANT-TO-FUNGI COMMUNICATION DECODED AT U OF T Researchers at the University of Tor- onto (U of T) have cracked the code of plant-to-fungi communication in a new study published in the journal Molecular Cell. Using baker’s yeast, the researchers discovered that the plant hormone strigolactone (SL) activates fungal genes and proteins associated with phosphate metabolism, a system that is key to growth. This insight into how fungi respond to chemical signals at the molecular level could lead to new strategies for cultivating hardier crops and combatting disease-causing fungi. “As we begin to understand how plants and fungi communicate, we will better understand the complexities of the soil ecosystem, leading to healthier crops and improving our approach to biodiversity,” says Shelley Lumba, lead author and assistant professor in the department of cell and systems biology at the U of T. In the soil, plant roots engage with fungi in a silent molecular “language” to direct their structure. When plants release SLs, they signal fungi to attach to their roots, providing phosphates – the fuel plants need to grow, and a major component of most fertilizers – in exchange for carbon. Lumba and her fellow researchers investigated why and how fungi respond to SLs. Eighty per cent of plants rely on this symbiotic relationship, and enhancing this interaction with beneficial fungi could yield hardier crops, reduce fertilizer use, and minimize phosphate runoff. In other cases, disease-causing fungi can exploit chemical cues to infect crops, sometimes wiping out entire harvests. Understanding this chemical language could also help block such pathogens. Due to the complexity of the soil ecosystem, scientists couldn’t identify the specific chemicals that encourage beneficial fungi, or the effects of these signals, until now. BF The provincial government is planning to double its electricity grid capacity and reduce its reliance on fossil fuels by transitioning to renewable sources. New infrastructure will see the construction of new solar and wind energy facilities, battery energy storage systems, and transmission corridors. And, as OFA director Tracey Arts recently explained, “new energy infrastructure buildouts will mostly be decentralized in rural regions and will increase demand for access to farmland.” Arts, whose family milks cows and grows crops near Thamesford, wrote in an Oct. 28 release that “it’s essential that we build this infrastructure in appropriate locations so that we don’t negatively impact the environment and take critical farmland out of production.” She noted that the responsibility for these assessments will fall on the developers of energy projects on farmland. So it’s essential for farmers to stay informed and understand the details if they are approached with an energy project proposal. “Before signing a lease or an easement agreement, make sure it fits into your plan for your farm or property.” Arts explained that the OFA has developed a detailed fact sheet on this issue. Here are highlights from that document, with things to consider in your decision-making process. Suggested terms are three-year option, 20-year first term, with fiveyear renewals. Include a clause that lets either side cancel the agreement within 30 days; Keep the area covered by the lease small and make sure the agreement only applies to the actual lot being leased; Include a map that outlines where farm activities aren’t allowed and where new buildings can’t be built. Add a clause or map indicating where trees may or may not be cut; Try to negotiate a lease agreement instead of an easement or conversion to an easement as they can be difficult or impossible to discharge; Ask the company to provide an annual valid certificate of insurance covering liability, and avoid taking on any responsibility for site security. The full fact sheet is available at ofa.on.ca/resources. BF - Paul Nolan OFA’S ENERGY-PROJECT CHECKLIST Energy Storage Canada photo Beyond the Barn
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8 Story Idea? Email Paul.Nolan@Farms.com Better Farming | December 2024 Beyond the Barn Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) students hosted their annual Tractor Tug for Tots at the University of Guelph on Oct. 24. The event, run by the Student Federation at the OAC, started in 2008 and has run every year since to raise tens of thousands of dollars for local children’s charities. This year, the goal was to raise funds for the Children’s Foundation of Guelph and Wellington. The 2024 event raised around $14,500 for the foundation’s Food & Friends student nutrition program. U of G students, faculty, and alumni came together in teams of eight to 10 to pull two full-sized tractors down Reynolds Walk. Some 20 teams competed for a trophy and annual bragging rights. “Tractor Tug for Tots is really reflective of the passion that the Aggie students here on campus have,” says Mike von Massow, a professor of Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics at the U of G. This year’s tractors were a Case IH Vestrum 130, provided by Equipment Ontario, and a John Deere 6120M, provided by Premier Equipment. The Vestrum 130 was the heavier of the two, weighing 12,900 pounds, while the 6120M weighed in at 12,522 pounds. Each team pulls both tractors so that both heats are fair. “The two competing teams have a coin flip to decide which team picks the pulling order, and there’s some strategy there,” says Kurt Brown, marketing coordinator for Equipment Ontario. “Do you start with the light one so you don’t get tired, or the heavier one while you still have energy?” The winning group was a team of engineering students named ‘The Engineers.’ “With the OAC and the U of G, it’s such a long history of agriculture, and it’s nice to have these public events in front of more students. You have a diversity of different people pulling,” Brown says. This program helps ensure young students are fed both at school and at home. BF TRACTOR TUG RAISES OVER $14,500 A FARMING LIFE: CARL MOLLARD Fifth-generation farmer, husband, father, grandfather, and Ridgetown graduate. Born Jan. 4, 1964; Died Oct. 8, 2024. Carl Mollard was proud to have lived his whole life on his family dairy, beef, and cash-crop farm in McGillivray Township (Middlesex County). He was a fifth-generation farmer who farmed alongside his dad, Eric, and brother, Jeff. Carl was passionate about caring for his livestock, always ensuring his herd was happy and healthy. “He loved his ‘girls,’ his dairy cows. He knew them better than any other women in his life,” wife Anne Mollard tells Better Farming. “And he had the patience of Job with them. If a calf was born and wasn’t sucking, he’d be on his hands and knees trying to help it.” Though he was very busy with the farm, Carl always made time for his family and relaxing in his La-Z-Boy recliner. “His kids were always involved in the operation, and they’re stepping up,” Anne explains. “He has six beautiful grandchildren who loved to come to the farm, go to the barn, and drive the tractor with Grandpa.” Carl was diagnosed with lung cancer as a non-smoker in 2020. At the end of his fight, Anne and the family advocated for Carl to come home from the hospital to spend his last days on the farm. “He was on the tractor, helped fill the silo, and then on the last Saturday, he went to the field and watched them combine the beans and plant wheat. “He passed away peacefully in his La-Z-Boy, watching the neighbour plant through the window.” BF - Leslie Stewart Carl Mollard Kurt Brown photo
10 Better Farming | December 2024 Follow us on @BetterFarmingON Throughout the colder months, many farmers find themselves focusing on different activities than they would during the busy planting or harvest seasons. Better Farming recently connected with producers to ask what keeps them busy during the long Ontario winter. Many farmers said they spend time relaxing with family or participating in leisure activities. Of course, many also pointed out that the winter months could mean more time spent on farm maintenance, snow removal, and livestock care. Indeed, there is always work to be done and plans to be made for the upcoming season. Katie, Wellington County: “Planning for the next season, organizing for the next year, financial planning and forecasts, budgets, re-examining where we are and where we want to be, marketing and innovation, resting, and having fun in the snow with friends and family.” Tyler, Brant County: “Machinery maintenance, pre-season planning, budgeting, analyzing yield maps, and most importantly, spending time with family. There is always something to do on the farm when you love what you do. It’s not considered work; it’s a passion, hobby, and a way of life.” Steven, Elgin County: “Cutting firewood, trimming headlands, and equipment repairs. Planning next year’s finances. With the low commodity prices, it’s becoming more difficult for us smaller farmers to survive. Input costs have doubled or tripled on some items, especially replacement parts for equipment. This is very stressful! We need help from the government; their policies have brought us to this point!” Ken, Niagara Region: “Repairs, wildlife management, and planning next year’s crop.” Jessica, Elgin County: “In addition to cash cropping, we also have a small herd of sheep, which keeps us busy. Maintenance of equipment and farm projects also contribute to us staying busy. My husband plows snow for Hwy. 401 as well.” Ken, Simcoe County: “Feeding cattle, repair and maintenance of equipment, chopping firewood, moving snow. Snowshoeing … relaxing a bit more.” Geoff, Bruce County: “We have dairy as well as crops; we use the winter to analyze farm yield maps, make plans, do machinery maintenance, and maybe get away for a bit of sun.” Michel, Russell County: “Check what we did right or wrong, plan for next year, and machinery repair.” Lyle, Middlesex County: “Working with livestock and making repairs.” Digging Deeper WHAT KEEPS YOU BUSY IN THE WINTER? ‘There’s always something to do on the farm.’ By Mary Loggan Ontario producers tell us what’s on their to-do lists in the winter months ahead. Emily McKinlay photo
11 Better Farming | December 2024 Follow us on @BetterFarmingON Digging Deeper Doug, Middlesex County: “We have four priorities for the winter months: Looking after livestock, snow removal, equipment repairs, and enjoying some time off, preferably somewhere warm.” Patrick, Kent County: “Milking cows, chores that go along with taking care of animals, repairs to the barn, repairs to machinery, bookwork for pro-action, snoozing, making sure the laneway is clear of snow for milk transportation.” Veronique, Wellington County: “Playing catch-up on barn work and organizing.” Joanne, Perth County: “A vacation. Spending time skating and doing crafts with my grandchildren. Playing euchre with my parents. Planning crops for the spring and getting equipment ready for planting. Making sure all my custom help is organized for next season. Setting up payments for our land rentals. “And then, hopefully, another trip. To finish it up, some renovations to our house.” Bill, Elgin County: “Repair work, looking for farm equipment bargains, trade shows, meetings, and sleep.” Sandra, Grey County: “Winter is my busiest time when it comes to looking after cows.” Mark, Northumberland County: “Long-term farm planning, crop management planning, economic planning, meetings, conferences, machinery maintenance, special projects, holidays, family time, hockey. It’s not a slow time.” Tim, Oxford County: “Planning for next year. Scheduling livestock placements, and processing dates. Placing orders for spring planting. Reflecting on what worked and what didn’t this year.” Brady, Kawartha Lakes: “Just getting ready for the following year – going to conferences, making a game plan on how to do better in the following seasons.” Theo, Haldimand County: “Our chicken farm and fixing equipment always keep us busy.” Bert, Perth County: “During the winter, I study the markets for corn and soybeans and try to forward contract them at the peak price. I also study the price of equipment that we may need to upgrade. We also try to take a vacation in January to somewhere warm, to get rejuvenated and rested, which helps our physical and mental health.” Barclay, Wellington County: “Spreadsheet work, including adjusting crop rotations and budget-making. I like to spend my time reading and visiting friends that I can’t visit in the growing season. Going to appointments with health practitioners who can help me feel good enough to start another growing season. Winter is also a time for conferences and working on projects for volunteer groups.” Peter, Huron County: “Barn work, snowboarding, sledding, skating, visiting family and friends, weddings, and reading books.” Amy, Huron County: “Life on a pig and chicken farm doesn’t change much, whether it be summer or winter. Each day, we bring new life into the world and try to ensure there are no problems. Our days are filled with animal care. “Winter brings a lot of snow- blowing and clearing as Huron County is known to be a heavy snowfall area, and, from time to time, the need to pull trucks from the ditch. “It’s also a time to hold more team meetings, bringing the team together for training, fun, and fellowship. Winter is also a time to gather with family and friends to celebrate Christmas, giving thanks for the many blessings that we have.” Hauke, Perth County: “Raising chickens and blowing snow. I also enjoy tinkering with my old truck (1947 Mercury), keeping it all original. And once every winter, my family likes to go to Northern Ontario (Earlton) to visit the in-laws and to ice fish.” Derek, Niagara Region: “Icewine harvest, which includes installing netting, machine harvesting, removing all the nets, and pressing the grapes. “Equipment maintenance – almost everything needs to roll through the shop for service and repair. “Transition planning or updating, the kids’ hockey, and of course a winter vacation! “Overall, vineyard fieldwork never truly ends for the season. “Vineyards need different types of care throughout the entire year. Winter is when we do most of our pruning, which marks the start of the next growing season, as we are beginning to set the bud count. With that, we also need to monitor temperatures and look at using our wind machines if we see temperature drops forecasted and be alert for potential bud, trunk, or vine injury.” Sherry, Elgin County: “Machine maintenance and cleaning. Crop planning, soil testing, networking to obtain more ground, or working with other farmers to organize rotation. Family time.” Lloyd, Bruce County: “Play senior hockey, snowmobile, cross-country ski and, best of all, grandkids.” Luke, Huron County: “I spend my time checking that my livestock is healthy in the cold weather and making sure water troughs don’t freeze.” Nancy, Oxford County: “Clearing the snow during the winter is a top priority on our farm, as we need to ensure the milk truck and other farm vehicles have access.” BF Doing something interesting on your farm? With crops, machinery or livestock? We want to know! Paul.Nolan@Farms.com TELL US WHAT YOU’RE UP TO
12 Thank You for Your Trust & Time, Since 1999 Better Farming | December 2024 Research & Farm Science On Canadian wheat fields, a silent threat is shrivelling the golden yields of wheat. Fusarium head blight (FHB), a disease caused by a fungal pathogen, is devastating crops, producing mycotoxins that can rapidly damage plants, wither the kernels in the head of wheat and cost the economy billions of dollars in damaged goods. Climate change is only fanning the fungus. Hotter temperatures and heavier rainfall are the ideal breeding ground for the FHB pathogen, as more spores are released in the warm, moist conditions becoming increasingly common on Ontario’s farms. On the frontlines of this battle is Dr. Helen Booker, leader of the wheat breeding program at the University of Guelph. For the last four years, the plant agriculture professor has been meticulously breeding wheat varieties to withstand FHB and other diseases and testing them at sites in Ontario’s network of crop research centres. As Canada is a global supplier of wheat, and the majority of winter wheat is produced in Ontario, Booker’s hope is to give farmers a fighting chance to ensure that wheat remains a dependable source of food for the entire world. “Our lab was considered essential during the pandemic,” Booker says. “We can’t just stop. And because the end-use market for most winter wheat in Ontario is for the production of flour for pastries, pizza dough and bread, we can’t have contaminated grain. That’s not an option.” From breeding to bread: How to give the world healthy grains Booker’s wheat breeding program is a feat of industry and government collaboration to supply the world with healthy grains. Together with private and public partners and a team of professional staff, graduate and undergraduate students, she breeds varieties for disease resistance but also for traits economically critical to farmers: high yield, optimal maturity time, height and structural strength. Since Booker took over leadership in 2020, the program has already brought five new varieties of wheat to market. One standout is OAC Constellation, named in honour of the Ontario Agricultural College. It is the first Canadian eastern soft red winter wheat release that’s now considered the standard by which other similar varieties are tested. Others, like OAC Virgo and OAC Moon, are the keys to our cakes, pastries, cereals, crackers and biscuits. “It’s a constant battle for improvement and staying ahead of the pathogen,” Booker says, as one new seed represents years of careful genetic selection, disease-resistance testing and field trials. “We need collaboration to get all the information we need.” To craft the perfect wheat, Booker essentially crosses elite parent lines to create multiple generations of crops containing ideal traits. Wheat rusts are introduced to these test crops to identify survivors with natural resistance that will advance through the proBREEDING THE PERFECT WHEAT Researchers look for strains resilient to devastating diseases. Based on a recent release from the Unversity of Guelph. U of G researcher Connor Belot analyzes FHB nursery data. University of Guelph photo
13 Thank You for Your Trust & Time, Since 1999 Better Farming | December 2024 gram. Many generations later, the wheat becomes genetically stable enough for larger-scale testing. A specialized small plot combine has proved critical for that stage. The combine harvests experimental plots of wheat and accurately measures traits, like yield and grain quality, at the field level. With an investment from the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP), a five-year, federal-provincial-territorial initiative, the combine can be found on the field now and is shared among many other breeding programs at the site. As for FHB, Booker’s program runs one of the three fusarium screening nurseries in Ontario, where wheat lines are given the fungal pathogen that causes FHB and maintained under mist irrigation to promote disease development. Researchers then identify genetic resistance in the wheat breeding lines by estimating the incidence and severity of the disease. Throughout testing, Booker’s lab works with collaborators across the region who bring their specialties to gather more data. U of G’s Dr. Shu Chen, senior research scientist and manager at the Agriculture and Food Laboratory, studies the metagenomics of FHB to better understand the pathogen, while trials at research centres across the province ensure that the wheat can adapt to Ontario’s diverse environments. Specialized labs conduct detailed analyses on the wheat kernels themselves to measure specific end-use traits. If minimum requirements are met – that is, the wheat has specific agronomic, end-use kernel quality and disease resistance traits – and if the variety is proven stable, uniform and distinct from others, it can be registered as a new cultivar and distributed to the market, where it eventually finds its way down the chain and into our homes. ‘Working together is the only way’ Initiated in 2014, the wheat breeding program was formed as a partnership between U of G, Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO) and SeCan. These organizations represent a large network of grain farmers and seed-growing companies in Canada, with Booker herself filling the GFO professorship in wheat breeding and genetics. The research locations – the Ontario Crops Research Centre sites in Elora and Ridgetown – are owned by Agricultural Research and Innovation Ontario (ARIO) and managed by U of G through the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance. “Breeding in crops is all about adaptation, and so multiple sites are needed,” Booker says. “People want to work with us because we have access to sites through the Alliance. Working together is the only way to do it.” Booker took over the program in 2020 following the passing of the previous leader, a beloved student 22_0470_Poly_GrowGrp_HalfHoriz_US_MXsp Mod: September 9, 2024 9:14 AM Print: 09/09/24 page 1 v2.5 πSHIPPING SUPPLY SPECIALISTS GROWING SELECTION ALL POLY BAGS ALWAYS IN STOCK COMPLETE CATALOG 1-800-295-5510 uline.ca ORDER BY 6 PM FOR SAME DAY SHIPPING Research & Farm Science
14 Ate Today? Thank a Farmer. Better Farming | December 2024 Research & Farm Science mentor and researcher, Prof. Alireza Navabi. “I came into a supportive environment when there was a gap in leadership, and people really came together,” Booker says. “Now my role is to steward the program, and then lead it onto the next generation.” AI solutions point to future of wheat breeding The next generation has already begun the work. Thanks to two of Booker’s graduate students, Riley McConachie and Connor Belot, a free app will allow farmers to take a photo of their wheat plot using their smartphones and receive a near-instant analysis of wheat head infection levels. “Riley’s research has built the technology that allows you to take a picture of a wheat plot and evaluate the disease,” Belot says. “My research asks: How do you scale that up to the field level? That involves developing some way to use satellites or drones to get a field-level average.” “It’s worked out better than I think anybody would have expected,” McConachie says. He adds the app is about 86 per cent accurate on the field level, improving with better technology and deep learning capabilities every year. Assessing FHB manually – that is, standing on the field and trying to visually determine its severity over hundreds of wheat heads – is time- consuming, subjective and inaccurate. Many foliar (leaf) disease signs include hard-to-spot brown or orange discolourations, which could be easily confused with things like hail damage. The app could prevent those costly human errors. By meticulously labelling field images of wheat plots, McConachie and Belot trained one open-source, deep-learning technology to create a perfect outline of the wheat head. U of G students get ready for future of agriculture The artificial intelligence (AI) model students trained, YOLOv8, identifies the general whereabouts of the wheat head. They incorporate it with another model, Segment Anything by Meta AI, that uses this general location and traces an accurate image of the head that filters out any background information. From there, the app applies a spectral index. This essentially uses the different red, blue and green values captured by a cellphone to determine if the wheat head is diseased, and by how much. As McConachie describes, integrating these AI models with spectral index has not been done before. The two worked closely with Dr. John Sulik, plant agriculture professor at U of G, who they say was critical in helping develop and test the methods. “Spectral index isn’t anything new, but people kind of forgot you could use it like this,” McConachie says. “We brought back something that was on the fringe, concepts developed by NASA in the ’70s, and then we combined that with deep learning to create a completely new approach.” The two hope the app will be ready as early as next year, bringing farmers yet another powerful solution to FHB. In the face of climate change and food insecurity, Booker and her students continue their essential work to help put bread on the table. Along the way, hands-on experience provided by Booker and her team of researchers helps students like McConachie and Belot refine their industry knowledge, learn new methods and gain valuable leadership and problem-solving skills to succeed as part of Ontario’s agri-food workforce. And though the battle between wheat and fungus rages on, with every new seed and technological innovation, farmers may just be ready for the fight. BF Dr. Helen Booker hopes to end wheat contamination. University of Guelph photo
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16 The Business of Ontario Agriculture Better Farming | December 2024 Labour Shortage As the agriculture industry continues to evolve, so does its need for labourers. Many farms across Ontario have challenges finding employees, making it difficult to complete daily tasks while growing their businesses. Jennifer Wright, executive director of the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC), says as the labour shortage grows, some farmers are reducing inputs and production or leaving the industry. “The labour shortage in Canadian agriculture is continuing to grow. What we are seeing through our research and work with producers is that it is now affecting inputs they are putting in,” says Wright. “We are seeing a change in business models and are hearing that some producers leave the industry because of these shortages. It is changing the amount of work they have on their farm and the amount of stress which is placed on themselves and other employees while making sure the work gets done.” In 2023, CAHRC published an Agricultural Labour Market Forecast using data from a 2022 survey. In this report, they estimated that more than 100,000 jobs may have been unfilled during the peak season of 2022. Some 71,000 jobs went to foreign workers, but that still left 28,000 positions open. The report also estimates that due to the aging population of farmers, the industry will see more than 85,000 retirements before 2030, contributing to the expected 15 per cent increase in the labour gap. Steve Brackenridge, OFA director, farmer and grain elevator owner near Peterborough, believes that the industry can be attractive to new workers. “There are vast opportunities for people to work in agriculture,” says Brackenridge. “It can be a fulfilling and rewarding career for anyone who chooses to get into it.” How is the labour shortage affecting production, and how are farmers managing it? Cause and effect The population of rural communities has been changing, and at the same time, agriculture has been rapidly evolving to keep pace with technological advancements. “The Canadian population is changing. Overall, the population is aging, so the workforce is aging, and all industries are facing labour shortages to some degree,” says Wright. “Agriculture tends to have an older workforce. The average age is around 57 years, and fewer young people are coming into the workforce.” The rising age of Canadian farmers will play a role in the number of retirements predicted by the CAHRC Agricultural Labour Market Forecast. Some retirements may be premature due to a lack of farm labourers and increased stress and workload. Wright adds, “Rural communities are smaller, and farmers aren’t having as many children. Their children are also not necessarily staying and working on the farm.” As farmers retire, and fewer are replaced by younger workers, the changing nature of farm work has influenced the labour gap. Advancing technology, artificial intelligence, autonomous equipment, and fewer manual labour jobs have created a demand for a new skill set. “The work is changing to some degree with the introduction of more technology, automation, and AI. That’s SCARCITY OF EMPLOYEES IS PROMPTING NEW APPROACHES TO HIRING KEEP AN OPEN MIND ABOUT NEW FARM LABOUR BY EMILY MCKINLAY Emily McKinlay photo
17 The Business of Ontario Agriculture Better Farming | December 2024 Labour Shortage changing the skills required at every level of work,” says Wright. Brackenridge notes that this challenge is present off the farm for equipment dealers and mechanics as well. “Manufacturers and dealerships are struggling to get skilled tech people because agriculture is getting very advanced with GPS and the amount of data we collect off equipment. They are struggling to find people to do that,” he explains. “The number of skilled trades coming into the industry is tremendous. Agriculture isn’t just ‘American Gothic’ – that painting of the couple with the pitchfork – anymore. It’s such a diverse opportunity, but we don’t talk about it to our kids.” The CAHRC report also found that sectors involving more hands-on labour were experiencing the shortage to a greater extent. During the peak growing season, greenhouse and nursery, tree fruit and vine, and other crop industries (excluding grain and oilseed production) accounted for 46 per cent of the vacant positions. To accommodate the scarcity of employees for these positions, farmers have been attempting to increase their efficiency to reduce the number of people needed. “They are trying to find efficiencies in ways work is done,” says Wright. “Some farmers might be looking at contracting out some of the work – like spraying, planting, and harvesting – if they don’t have enough staff. “Unfortunately, we are seeing some farmers reducing their inputs and production to better align with what they know their workforce will be able to manage. We are also seeing farmers leaving the workforce because of the stress of not having enough employees and finding and retaining workers year after year.” Recruitment and retention How can producers ease the stress of recruitment and retention? Many farmers have traditionally relied on neighbours and word-ofmouth to find employees. This approach has worked for Brackenridge. Employee Rachel Campbell didn’t come from an ag background but applied for her position with the farm and elevator because she heard about it from her sister. “My sister worked at Green Tractor, and she’s also a horse trainer. One person who brings grain to our elevator mentioned to her that there was a job opening,” explains Campbell. Brackenridge adds, “Somebody heard we were looking for someone to work. Rachel appeared, and we gave her a chance. We usually do a twoweek trial, and at the end of that, if you don’t like it or I don’t think it’s a good fit, then no harm, no foul. “Even without ag experience, Rachel is probably one of the best employees we have. She came with an eager willingness to learn and no preconceived notions and embraced it.” Wright also suggests reaching past close contacts to broaden your search when searching for new employees. “The traditional way of hiring is telling neighbours you’re looking to hire. There are not as many people in that circle,” says Wright. “Farmers should try taking a different approach. They could be posting jobs online or providing information on their website if they have one. They can also try connecting with recruitment agencies if necessary or get the word out on Facebook or LinkedIn.” She encourages farmers to follow best human resources practices with their job postings. They should include clear descriptions of the working environment and the necessary skills. It is also effective to conduct a structured recruitment process, including interviews. “Following good HR practices can help with the hiring process once you get resumes coming in, and it can help on the retention side. “Connect with local employment offices, or local colleges and universities, that may or may not have agriculture programs. There may be someone that does not have specific agriculture experience but has different experience that could be translated into a farm environment, and they could be trained on the job.” As Brackenridge found with Campbell, sometimes the right attitude can outweigh direct farm experience. While some farms find recruitment challenging, others struggle more with retaining employees. “There are lots of things that make it difficult to retain employees. There are challenges sometimes with seasonality, and it’s not always possible to have that ‘9-to-5’ or Monday-to-Friday schedule,” says Wright. “But there can be other benefits. Over the planting season, employees might be working longer hours or on weekends, but during the winter, they might have every Friday off or have a more flexible schedule.” Brackenridge and Campbell both recommend giving employees a seat at the table and an opportunity to learn. “I did my two-week trial and loved it,” says Campbell about starting her job with Brackenridge. “Now they’ve taught me more, so I can contribute more. That has been a big factor for me wanting to stay here, and now I want to learn more. I applied because I needed a job with those hours, but I ended up staying because I loved learning.” Brackenridge says, “Farms in Ontario are still mostly family farms. If you treat your employees like family – with respect and hear what they have to say – they tend to stick around. And it eases the burden on the operator because they receive good quality advice from invested employees.” He insists that employee engagement and investment are the key to retention. “I really believe that for retaining employees, they do have to have a seat at the table. FARMERS LOVE MAGAZINES 92% of farmers use ag magazines monthly, compared to 44% for websites, 43% for radio and 10% for farm shows. (Verified Readex Research study)
“They should be engaged in doing the work that needs to be done. Talk about what’s coming up in the next few weeks and where your struggles will be with bills due, weather events, and getting crops in. “By having those employees engaged, they buy in. Even when they are not financially invested in the outcome, they are emotionally engaged. That engagement with employees means we don’t have turnover, which is nice because it’s stable.” Strong HR practices and listening to employees’ concerns and goals are essential to ensuring that workers know the farm values them. Wright says farmers can use CAHRC as a resource for HR management with their employees. “At CAHRC, we have all the tools and resources for HR management for farmers,” she explains. “Those HR best practices can go a long way, even if the farm is mostly family. Having an HR structure and plan like every other aspect of your business can go a long way.” Education As agriculture evolves, the workforce changes and new skills are necessary; education and training must also change to reflect the industry. Many people don’t recognize the variety of career opportunities in the industry. New positions requiring a technology, science, or engineering background have become common. “I think the biggest challenge is that we don’t talk enough about diverse opportunities in agriculture in our education system,” says Brackenridge. “Without talking about it in primary or secondary school, it’s not a career path anyone would consider if they didn’t grow up on a farm.” Wright says that CAHRC provides support to farms looking to train new employees who may not have prior experience. This can help skilled workers from other fields join the industry. “We offer on-job training guidance to help farmers hire people and train them to national occupation standards,” explains Wright. “On-farm training and education is something farmers should always be looking at. Even if someone doesn’t come from an ag background and may not be coming from an ag college or university, producers could hire someone from an environmental science background who could help with soil health, or maybe a biology background for animal production systems.” Once farmers have hired employees and have a good relationship, Wright says, “Take time to talk, be a good listener, and respond to what your employees are looking for.” BF Labour Shortage EMILY MCKINLAY Emily lives on a beef farm, raising Red Angus and Simmental cattle. She holds a Master of Science in Animal Biosciences from University of Guelph, with a focus on ruminant nutrition. https://agriculture.newholland.com/nar/en-us EQUIPPED FOR A NEW WORLD™ Bob Mark New Holland Sales Ltd. Campbellford • 705-653-3700 Bob Mark New Holland Sales Ltd. Lindsay • 705-324-2221 Bob Mark New Holland Sales Ltd. Napanee • 613-354-9244 Bob Mark New Holland Sales Ltd. Sunderland • 705-357-3121 Delta Power Equipment Mitchell • 519-348-8467 Delta Power Equipment St. Marys • 519-349-2180 Delta Power Equipment Tilbury • 519-682-9090 Delta Power Equipment Waterford • 519-443-8622 Delta Power Equipment Watford • 519-849-2744 Delta Power Equipment Winchester • 613-774-2887 Ebert Welding Ltd. New Liskeard • 705-647-6896 ESM Farm Equipment Ltd. Wallenstein • 519-669-5176 Maxville Farm Machinery Ltd. Maxville • 613-527-2834 McCauley Equipment Sales Orillia • 705-325-4424 Oneida New Holland Caledonia • 905-765-5011 Oneida New Holland St Catharines • 905-688-5160 Regional Tractor Sales Ltd. Freelton • 905-659-1094 Richards Equipment Inc. Barrie • 705-721-5530 Robert’s Farm Equipment Sales, Inc. Chesley • 519-363-3192 Robert’s Farm Equipment Sales, Inc. Mount Forest • 519-323-2755 Robert’s Farm Equipment Sales, Inc. Walton • 519-887-6365 Smiths Farm Equipment (Jasper) Ltd. Jasper • 613-283-1758 Stewart’s Equipment Erin • 519-833-9616
20 Story Idea? Email Paul.Nolan@Farms.com Better Farming | December 2024 Christmas wishes As 2024 winds down, farmers across Ontario are taking stock of the year’s highs, lows, and everything in between. It’s that reflective, forward-focused time in the ag community – when challenges get reviewed and big dreams for 2025 start to take shape. In a landscape that’s constantly evolving, Ontario’s agriculture scene is buzzing with fresh ambitions and big ideas. So, what’s on the ag community’s Christmas wish list for the new year? Better Farming caught up with farmers, industry leaders, and ag experts to find out what they hope for in 2025. From Christmas cheer to crop goals, their responses are as insightful as they are inspiring. Rob Black, Senator, Ontario “There is so much I wish for the ag industry in the coming year! From better government assistance while transitioning to carbon-friendly farming techniques, to recognition for past innovations, and more industry input in government policies and decisions! “We know the ag industry does great work, but they deserve better recognition for all their hard work from coast to coast to coast.” Rob Flack, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness “I hope to see more Ontario-grown and produced agri-food products off store shelves and onto tables, counters, and kitchen cupboards in homes across our province. “Ontario is home to almost 50,000 farms and over 54,000 food retailers, producers, and food service businesses who generate close to $51 billion in GDP while exporting $26.2 billion in agri-food products to consumers all over North America and the world. We have some of the world’s best meat, wine, cider, produce, and finished foods, from honey to jam to sauces. “Our government will continue to work to promote these products, and our Grow Ontario Strategy aims to increase the amount of food produced and consumed in Ontario by 30 per cent by 2032.” Rob Black Cathy Lennon Rob Flack Craig McLaughlin Mark Hamel Tara Terpstra Scott Helps Dr. Wade Wright FARM LEADERS SHARE THEIR CHRISTMAS WISHES SANTA’S AG WISHLIST BY MARY LOGGAN gqxue - stock.adobe.com
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