Better Farming | October 2024

4 The Business of Ontario Agriculture Better Farming | October 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 PROUD OF OUR PAUL; SPRAYING CEREAL RYE Better Farming writer Paul Hermans has been recognized as the 2024 International Certified Crop Advisor of the Year by the American Society of Agronomy. Paul, who’s a Corteva Agriscience agronomist based in Eastern Ontario (representing Pioneer Seeds), is being honoured for his innovation and mentorship in the agronomy field. A University of Guelph alumnus with a very busy schedule, Paul recently explained to me why he continues to educate the farmers of Ontario through this magazine. “Part of my job as an agronomist is to share views on agronomy,” said Paul. “Growers get their agronomy information through different media in today’s world; some being through social media, others at in-person meetings. In agriculture, a lot of growers still like reading print. “Writing for Better Farming allows me to share current agronomy ideas along with the research work I do locally with a superb bunch of growers in Eastern Ontario. “I appreciate the feedback from customers who have reached out to me commenting on past articles. “It is an honour to be a writer here, alongside two other keynote CCA members, Patrick Lynch, and Dale Cowan.” It’s a good time for good word on cereal rye, a versatile cover crop that can be seeded late into the fall. This winter cereal overwinters reliably and grows rapidly in the spring. You’ll find more insight on fieldcropnews.com on how “delayed termination of rye by herbicide prior to soybean planting can enhance weed suppression and soil benefits.” So when to spray your cereal rye before soybeans? Again, more insight on the OMAFA site, but the simple answer is to “spray the cereal rye cover crop just prior to planting soybeans ‘green’ into it. Delaying termination until planting maximizes cover crop benefits and poses minimal risk to the soybean crop.” “New planting equipment, so we could improve seed placement and have variable rate technology with individual row shut-offs to minimize overlap.” - Bruce County farmer on his off-season shopping list, Page 10 “When a physician is looking for a job, the financial incentives and overall salary of rural positions must be high enough so that there is a draw of workers from urban to rural.” - Dr. Rithesh Ram, Page 21 “The first two generations paid for the farm with potatoes as the farm grew. It was 200 acres at the turn of the century. Our livestock have carried the farm over the last 50 years with the milk production starting in the ’60s, coming out of a mixed farm in the ’50s.” - Scott Wilson, Page 26 “I’ve noticed that farmers have so many questions. They want to know everything, and they’ll get down into the nitty-gritty of what you’re doing: Profit margins, how to make something work …” - Eleanor Renaud, Page 33 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: chaofann/iStock/Getty Images Plus; West Port Holsteins photo

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