Jeff Leal’s cabinet role expanded on Jan. 12, 2017, according to a government release. He retains his role as Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs but was also appointed Minister Responsible for Small Business. Better Farming reporter Jennifer Jackson asked Leal if Ontario producers should be concerned about his additional responsibilities.
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As urban traffic inches closer to some farmers’ fields, farm road safety becomes a growing priority. Farmers have to travel on busy roads to reach their fields and some roads are difficult to navigate with large equipment. Turning off of the road, especially when making a left-hand turn, can be risky. There’s also the risk of rollovers – a risk which can be heightened by soft shoulders and narrow roads.
By Nicholas Van Allen
For many years, hazelnut farming has been confined to the Pacific Northwest – in places like Oregon, Washington State and British Columbia. But, with grower trials now underway in Ontario and new science, Ontario’s hazelnut growers are on the cusp of major industry expansion.
In many ways, the evolution of hazelnut farming has been shaped by the presence of the eastern filbert blight, a canker disease which infects hazelnut trees.
By Jim Algie
Agricultural water use in Canada has varied widely in recent years mainly because of fluctuations in rainfall, Statistics Canada’s analysis and survey work shows.
The federal agency conducts agricultural water surveys as part of its Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators program. Data for the 2016 survey is scheduled for release in September 2017, a statement on the Statistics Canada website says.
Photos by Jim Algie
The Ontario Ministry of Education is currently engaging in accommodation reviews and school system adjustments – many of which seem to target the province’s rural schools. According to estimates from the Ontario Alliance Against School Closures, 500 rural schools face major change – including closure.
By Jennifer Jackson
Some producers may have a strict preference for either drone or satellite imagery for use on the farm. However, it may not be a choice that needs to be made, some industry experts say. The two technologies vary in their uses and could complement each other well under the right conditions.
Across the province, farmers struggle with access to reliable, high-speed Internet. Rural service can be interrupted by wind and precipitation – and plans can be costly.
Photos and captions by Mary Baxter.
The winter snowfall means the return of snowmobiles to the extensive network of trails across the province. But preparation for the 2016-17 season has been challenging.