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August 2018

Better Farming Magazine August 2018

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Unpacking the changing ag export markets

CETA may unlock possibilities for increased Canadian agri-food exports to Europe

By Jim Algie
Writer
Better Farming

“Modest” Canadian gains from the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with the European Union should include growth for the agricultural industry and food exporters, a report from Jean-Denis Fréchette, the independent parliamentary budget officer says.

Laying the groundwork for better soil

Agronomist discusses how farmers can adopt soil best management practices

By Kate Ayers
Staff Writer
Better Farming

As stakeholders consider ways to implement Ontario’s soil health strategy, a Certified Crop Adviser from Middlesex County provides grounded tips on how producers can adopt new soil management practices on their farms.

Taking the fear out of data sharing

Cash cropper shares how precision ag benefits his farm business

By Kaitlynn Anderson
Staff Writer
Better Farming

Jason Robinson, a third-generation cash crop and vegetable farmer in Courtland, Ont., uses a range of precision ag technology in his family’s operation. Much of his equipment can collect data.

Robinson, who farms with his father, uses this data to make decisions throughout the year.

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Helping pork producers lower feed costs

July 17, 2018

Canadian pork producers may soon have a better understanding of how feeding strategies can affect pig health and performance. Brandon Lillie and Vahab Farzan, two researchers at the University of Guelph, are working with a team of graduate students to examine “the impact of feed quality and health on pig growth performance under commercial farming conditions,” a summary on the Ontario Pork website states. The team based the project off the late Kees de Lange’s study at the university’s Arkell Research Station. Lange found that low-cost reduced animal protein diets do... read more

Cigarette causes fire at Ont. produce plant

July 16, 2018

A weekend fire at a southwestern Ontario produce plant caused millions of dollars in damage. Leamington Fire Services responded to a fire around 6:20 p.m. on Saturday at a location that matched the address of TopLine Farms, a commercial vegetable greenhouse operation. The Kingsville Fire Department provided assistance controlling the blaze and the Salvation Army assisted afterwards. Fire and cleanup crews cleared the scene around 10 p.m. They remained on site assessing structure and product damage until about 1:00 a.m. Sunday, and determined a probable cause. The “suspected cause (... read more

Getting to the root cause of crop deficiencies

July 16, 2018

Soybean growers across the province may want to keep an eye on the health of their crops. Many Ontario fields show signs of potash and manganese deficiencies, Thursday’s OMAFRA field crop report said. To identify these nutrient deficiencies, producers can look at the soybeans’ leaves. If a plant lacks potassium, its leaves will begin to yellow along the margins, the report said. Manganese deficiency, in contrast, causes entire leaves – except for the veins – to become yellow. This symptom will first appear on the younger leaves. Different factors cause these... read more

How to combat white mould

July 13, 2018

an specialist shares a comprehensive strategy to address the disease By Evan Karigianis Farms.com Writer Ontario producers need to use a multipronged approach to deal with the threat of white mould in soybeans, said Horst Bohner at Bayer CropScience’s Dead Weeds Tour. The fungus thrives during cold, rainy seasons (under 30° C), and will deposit sclerotia during harvest. The sclerotia are the hardened reproductive bodies of white mould and they can remain infective for over three years. “White mould is a big problem and is pretty consistent across Eastern Canada,”... read more

Keeping kids safe on the farm

July 12, 2018

Now that many farm kids are home for their summer vacations, they may be around equipment while playing outside. These children could be at risk of getting into accidents on the farm. Thankfully, farmers and their families can take multiple steps to protect people from getting hurt. For example, producers can designate safe spaces near the house for their children to play in, Todd Arthur, a member of the Elgin Middlesex Farm and Home Safety Council, told Farms.com today. Farmers can also talk to their kids to help them understand any boundaries, especially as equipment traffic increases... read more

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