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 - March 2014

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

It's been more than a decade since the Aylmer Meats crisis shook the province's small abattoirs from top to bottom and a plethora of new rules resulted in the closing of 100 plants that had served livestock producers across the province. Farmers in many parts are still feeling the effects of that exodus. Their frustration is compounded by the increasing demand for locally produced meat that isn't associated with many "food miles."  

Field editor Mary Baxter looked across the province to see how producers are working to resolve the situation, including travelling to Manitoulin Island and Rainy River. The question of matching abattoir capacity to local production and willingness to take part in the project can be difficult to resolve. Some of it has to do with answering that old question of "which comes first – the chicken or the egg?" Baxter's conclusion: there's more to building a successful community abattoir than building infrastructure. Her story on "community-driven solutions" begins on page 10.

January's Crop Scene Investigation feature (number 49) was a particularly hard one for readers to solve, but several of you persisted and we are happy to announce that we have a winner. To learn who won and why, see page 30. We did have a large number of responses to our February CSI. The answer to what caused Roman's soybeans to struggle can be found on the same page.

The subject of this issue's Up Close feature is Ben Loewith, one of the partners in Summitholm Farms at Lynden. CanWest DHI, the dairy recording corporation, recently awarded Summitholm one of the top three scores in Ontario in six management areas. Loewith's description of his return to the family operation makes intriguing reading. Look for that on page 37.

Summitholm, along with other farms, is always looking at new technologies to make life and management easier. Many of those technologies are Internet-based, but may not be available to a lot of farms because they are in so-called "remote locations." In our April cover story, we will be looking at plans to expand the Internet capacity in the province to reach even low-population-density areas, where many farms can be found. As well, we will be expanding on some of the new technologies.

The Nebraska Test Reports aren't perfect, but as Power at Work columnist Ralph Winfield notes, they are an invaluable decision-making tool for anyone who wants to compare tractor performance. For a fascinating perspective on the history and current use of the program, see page 41. BF

ROBERT IRWIN & DON STONEMAN

Current Issue

April 2025

Better Farming Magazine

Farms.com Breaking News

U of G Students win Branded Farms.com Chairs

Thursday, April 3, 2025

Farms.com was pleased to support the University of Guelph’s annual College Royal which was held March 15th & 16th, 2025 – it was the 101st edition. Every March, the University of Guelph hosts College Royal, the largest university open house event in North America. This annual... Read this article online

Lynmark Farms named Master Breeder for 2025

Wednesday, April 2, 2025

The Canadian Milking Shorthorn Society has announced that Lynmark Farms has been named as a herd for 2025. Lynmark Farms is owned and operated by Tim Shearer and Irene Vietinghoff of Norwood, Ontario. They are the third Milking Shorthorn herd to be recognized as a since this... Read this article online

John Deere collaborates with Dovetail Workwear

Wednesday, April 2, 2025

Built by, for, and with women, Dovetail Workwear is teaming with John Deere ( Deere & Company) to develop a collection of apparel and gear specifically designed to address the needs of women in the agricultural industry. The companies said there’s a shared commitment to celebrating... 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