Eastern Ontario study could determine where tile drain nitrogen goes Tuesday, March 20, 2012 contributed photo: Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry MP Guy Lauzon and Lawrence Levere, South Nation Conservation authority board chair are pictured with a controlled tile drainage unit. by BETTER FARMING STAFFA $600,000 Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada grant announced Wednesday will pay for a four-year study to test the effectiveness of tile drainage control structures. The money, granted to the South Nation Conservation Authority near Finch, will be used to assess whether keeping water in tiles saves nitrogen for plant uptake or simply allows it to be released into the atmosphere.Ronda Boutz, water quality coordinator for the authority, says the control structures are designed to hold back moisture during the growing season by regulating tile flow. The study aims to find out ”how to best manage these systems so we have improved water quality, improved yield and reduction of greenhouse gases.” Work done a year or two ago by AAFC, she says, seemed to show that nitrogen that remained in tiles was being taken up by plants and did not gas off.“What we really want to do with the funding announced this morning is take a closer look at where the nitrogen is going,” Boutz says. “If we manage to use the systems correctly, how much could it reduce greenhouse gas emissions?” She adds they will be looking at “an optimal way to set the levels in the structures so we don’t compromise the crop yield, yet maintain the nitrogen in the water.”The tile control structures they use are produced in the United States and cost between $600 and $800 each, depending on the size. Boutz says the total cost with installation is about $1,000. Local farmers and researchers from the universities of Waterloo and Ottawa are involved in the study along with the conservation authority. The study began last fall and is expected to wrap up by August 2015.Funding for the project comes from the Agricultural Greenhouse Gases Program focusing on the development of on-farm greenhouse gas mitigation technologies. BF Canadian hay headed for China Interest is strong in Canadian soybeans
Ontario Apple Growers name new Chair Wednesday, January 15, 2025 Chris Hedges of Vanessa, Ontario, has been elected as the new Chair of the Ontario Apple Growers (OAG). After completing a year as the organization’s Vice Chair, Hedges () takes over from outgoing Chair Brian Rideout of Blenheim, Ontario, who has led the OAG since December 2023. Past OAG... Read this article online
Dynasty bean wins innovation of the year Wednesday, January 15, 2025 Dynasty, a dark red kidney bean developed by the University of Guelph, has earned the 2024 Innovation of the Year award. This high-yield, disease-resistant variety has become a top choice for growers in Ontario and North America due to its adaptability and strong performance. The award,... Read this article online
Bonnefield Announces Key Executive Promotions Tuesday, January 14, 2025 Bonnefield Financial Inc. recently announced the elevation of two of its senior executives, signaling a strong move to bolster its leadership amidst ongoing expansion efforts. Andrea Gruza will step into the role of President. Gruza, who has been instrumental in shaping Bonnefield’s... Read this article online
Nuffield Canada Scholar Presentations to take place in Halifax Tuesday, January 14, 2025 On January 24, 2025, Nuffield Canada will host its at the Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Hotel. Anyone interested is welcome to attend. Nuffield Canada seeks “to ignite global exploration, discovery, and innovation in Canadian agriculture.” Its mission is “to provide a dynamic... Read this article online
Re-defining waste in Canada Friday, January 10, 2025 Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) has provided an update on some of its ongoing research in biomass and bioproducts. Biomass is a renewable organic material that comes from plants and animals, including crops grown for non-food uses, leaves and stalks, fruit skins, and... Read this article online