Search
Better Farming OntarioBetter PorkBetter Farming Prairies

Better Farming Ontario Featured Articles

Better Farming Ontario magazine is published 11 times per year. After each edition is published, we share featured articles online.


Behind the Lines - February 2012

Monday, February 20, 2012

Self-reliance is part of our farming heritage in Ontario. We cleared and drained our own land, built our own barns and repaired (and in some cases fabricated) our own machinery.

For most of the last century farmland drainage in Ontario has been contracted to others however. The high cost of professional equipment (hundreds of thousands of dollars in the case of traditional drainage machinery) made it a hard purchase for a single farmer to justify.

A few years ago large farmers started scooping up used excavators (AKA shovels or high hoes). Priced at $25,000 -$50,000 they cost less than what farmers spend on a typical new farm tractor. Ask a farmer why he bought a bought a 25-tonne machine more commonly associated with large scale construction projects and the usual explanation is timeliness and lower costs.

Those are the same words you hear from those who've bought their own tile drainage machines: the subject of this month's cover story beginning on page 12.

To be sure, do-it-yourself tile drainage machines haven't generated the same enthusiasm as used excavators even though a brand new tile plow costs far less. For one thing there are some powerful arguments in favour of entrusting this critical task to government-regulated professionals.

On the other hand, GPS systems have become commonplace on farms as have the large farm tractors required to pull a tile machine effectively. Buying and operating a laser is no longer a big stretch. So some farmers, like the individuals featured in our story, are tempted to give the do-it-yourself approach a try. Let us know what you think.

The move to online cattle auctions has been slow to catch on in Ontario. That may be changing. Mary Baxter's story on page 46 explores a pilot project being undertaken by the Ontario Cattlemen's Association that may accelerate the trend.

It's been running for more than five years now but we can't recall ever receiving as many correct responses to our popular CSI feature as we did this month. If you missed out this time there are still two more opportunities to win a wireless weather station before CSI's annual summer hiatus begins following our March issue. BF

ROBERT IRWIN & DON STONEMAN

Current Issue

January 2025

Better Farming Magazine

Farms.com Breaking News

A Whole Lotta Innovation

Tuesday, December 31, 2024

A good holiday read is hard to find. Although admittedly not very festive, we’ve got something for you: the Winter 2024 Farms.com Precision Ag Digital Digest. Coming December 28, this issue wraps up 2024 with a whole lotta innovation and a whole lotta love from our team (do you... Read this article online

Tools and Equipment for Livestock Farmers

Monday, December 30, 2024

The holidays have come and gone; did you get everything you wished for during the holidays? The Farms.com team thought we would share some tools and equipment that farmers wish they had to help them out on the farm. Whether you are tending to beef or dairy cows, sheep, goats, poultry... Read this article online

Snow Begone: The RapidTrak Series

Friday, December 20, 2024

BYLINE: Zahra Sadiq Winter is upon us, and with it comes thick layers of snow, making everything just a little more difficult. But it doesn’t have to be that way, thanks to the RapidTrak Snow Blowers by Ariens. This company’s story starts in 1933 when Henry Ariens took his sons... Read this article online

BF logo

It's farming. And it's better.

 

a Farms.com Company

Subscriptions

Subscriber inquiries, change of address, or USA and international orders, please email: subscriptions@betterfarming.com or call 888-248-4893 x 281.


Article Ideas & Media Releases

Have a story idea or media release? If you want coverage of an ag issue, trend, or company news, please email us.

Follow us on Social Media

 

Sign up to a Farms.com Newsletter

 

DisclaimerPrivacy Policy2025 ©AgMedia Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Back To Top