By Ron Settler
Are you one of those people who don’t want to retire? Perhaps you enjoy what you do and don’t want to quit. Maybe you don’t know what you would do if you retired so you just keep working. Sometimes people don’t retire because they don’t think they can afford it.
By Paul Hermans
The 2023 corn growing season across most of Eastern Canada will go down in the history books as being one of the highest yields on record.
Looking back at the 2023 growing season may leave a few agronomists scratching their heads as to why the yields were so high.
Compiled by the Better Farming Editorial Team
Looking ahead to next growing season, you can be sure these uninvited guests will return, to compete with crops, steal essential nutrients, water and sunlight, and hinder profitability. This article looks at seven notorious annual weeds, diving into their characteristics, the threats they pose, and the best strategies to combat them for 2024.
By Emily Croft
The Farmerettes, also known as the Farm Service Force, were created in 1941 to fill the demand for farm labour created by the Second World War. These women worked in the fields and processing factories, producing the food that fueled the war effort.
Bonnie Sitter of South Huron has been speaking with past Farmerettes and sharing their stories since 2018. And her work is now creating renewed awareness of their vital, historical role.
By Paul Hermans
Looking at historical yield gains for both corn and soybeans across North America is exciting.
Over the past 25 years, corn yields have increased by about 50 bushels per acre, and soybeans have increased by approximately 15 bushels.
But are we feeding this crop adequately to maintain these high yields?
Why are yields on the rise?
By Richard Kamchen
Farmers may want to consult their tax advisors for a heads-up about the potential for additional mandatory filings.
For 2023, Underused Housing Tax (UHT) and bare trust reporting promise to have massive impacts that tax experts are still working through while trying to educate their clients about how they may be affected, says Cara Noble, tax manager at Yates Whitaker LLP.
By Emily Croft
Guidance systems have become commonplace on Ontario farms as precision agriculture technologies grow in popularity. Various available features and accuracy levels mean farmers can choose a guidance system that best suits their operation’s needs.
“Guidance systems can be useful for everything from fertilizer application straight through to planting, tillage, and hay,” says Jordan Wallace, sales and advanced solutions technician at GPS Ontario.
By Paul Hermans
With harvest complete, focus shifts to seed selection for the 2024 growing season and beyond.
Looking back allows us to predict future crop performance. From a soy-bean perspective, we can learn lots from the 2023 growing season to help us succeed in the future. A little detective sleuthing will help us win big – solving crop-scene cases and achieving optimum yields.
By Leslie Stewart
Do you have a collector on your shopping list this holiday season? Maybe you’ve been interested in starting your own collection and would like to know more about farm antiques?
Farming is a constantly evolving industry. While we rely on precision technology, our relatives and ancestors had a more hands-on approach. Items from those days bring back fond memories and curiosity for enthusiasts.
By Emily Croft
The OFA created the Revive Fund in 2020 to support projects created by regional federations to improve their rural communities.
“The Revive Fund started as a COVID project for us,” says Drew Spoelstra, vice-president of OFA.
“We had some significant savings because we couldn’t have meetings or events or gather as a board in person.”
The fund was created using the saved money as a way for the OFA to continue to give back to their membership.