Behind the Lines - May 2015

Friday, May 1, 2015

Cheap land in northern Ontario has long been an open secret. A Better Farming editor attending the Dairy Expo in Stratford in February ran into a young dairy farmer of his acquaintance who had set up shop 10 years earlier in northern Ontario and expanded his operation with the recent purchase of every dairyman's dream, "land across the road."

"Don't tell anyone," he said, about his location, pointing out that installing tile drainage in those fields cost more than the actual purchase price of the land. In fact, over the years, Better Farming has carried several stories about "the secret." Back in 2009, when the International Plowing Match came to Earlton, we ran several northern-Ontario features, including a cover story. Apparently that's the time period when renewed interest in the north began to take off.

That "secret" of cheap land will definitely be out of the bag if organizations such as Beef Farmers of Ontario and various development-minded municipalities have their way. Proponents say that northern Ontario is ripe for agricultural development. The beef industry in particular is promoting this, at least partly in its own self-interest. Packers are crying for cattle, and unhappy packers are less likely to stay in their current location if the opportunity comes to rebuild their capital expensive structures elsewhere. Writer Jim Algie explores the potential of northern Ontario through the eyes of young Dufferin County producer Andrew Gordanier. That story starts on page 14.

Precision agriculture adoption is one of the ways to cut costs. We introduced Niagara College's Mike Duncan as a columnist several issues ago. He's back this month, explaining the value of yield maps to decision-making and year-to-year comparisons of fields.  That column starts on page 26.

The use of neonicotinoids as seed treatments is probably the most polarizing debate in Ontario agriculture today. That's also the case in Europe, where bans have been put on the use of neonics, in some countries for several years. It's an election year, our European columnist Norman Dunn notes. Don't expect to see those bans coming off any time soon. Norman's column starts on page 60.

Beef prices are good for producers, crop prices are not so good for those in the business who are looking for ways to save money. Agronomist consultant Pat Lynch addresses the question of how and what inputs growers can cut back on in the current growing season. His column starts on page 24.

We also want to congratulate Pat for his recent induction into the Stratford Perth Museum Agriculture Wall of Fame. Pat has been providing Better Farming readers with cutting-edge crop advice ever since we published our first issue back in November 1999. He obtained his Masters of Science degree from the University of Guelph and then began his career in 1972 as a soil and crops advisor for the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food. He later moved on to work as a private crop consultant. The Wall of Fame recognizes current or former residents who have made outstanding contributions to agriculture in Perth County.  BF

ROBERT IRWIN & DON STONEMAN