Serving up the details on cell-based meat
Will cell-based meat be classified as a novel food? If so, what will this mean for producers and consumers?
By Kate Ayers
Staff Writer
Better Farming
Dig Deep Archive
Dumping dirt: Excess soil turns up on farmland
Chatsworth Township producer encouraged municipality to pass site alteration bylaw
By Kaitlynn Anderson
Staff Writer
Better Farming
Many rural Ontario municipalities have struggled to deal with soil dumping operations. In the process, some residents have diligently tackled this problem and encouraged change in their regions.
Pat Cardoza, a beef farmer in Holland Centre, is one such individual.
Sensing your soil’s potential
Image detection systems could enable producers to reduce chemical usage by up to 90 per cent
By: Kate Ayers
Staff Writer
Better Farming
Producers could use sensor-based precision herbicide applications as another tool to fight hard-to-control weeds in their fields.
Canada’s cannabis race blossoms
Ontario horticulturist agrees to rent land to a cannabis producer
By Nicholas Van Allen
Writer
Better Farming
WeedMD’s management built the company’s Strathroy facility with the help of Jerry Zakaria, CEO of Perfect Pick Farms.
Zakaria owns 98 acres of land and rents five of them to WeedMD. Soon, this rental arrangement will grow to 12 acres as part of WeedMD’s expansion into cannabis extraction. WeedMD also has an option to buy the other 86 acres.
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.
Unpacking the changing ag export markets
CETA may unlock possibilities for increased Canadian agri-food exports to Europe
Tracking data from farm gate to dinner plate
Canada’s beef industry strives to show traceability and sustainability throughout the supply chain
By Kate Ayers
Staff Writer
Better Farming
Blockchain is an emerging technology that provides supply chains with an online documentation system, which the agri-food industry can use to improve traceability and food safety, as well as reduce food waste.
Reaching the end of the road
The municipality of Dutton Dunwich continues to support its local businesses, despite increasing infrastructure expenses
By Kaitlynn Anderson
Staff Writer
Better Farming
Cameron McWilliam runs a cash crop, beef and turkey operation with his wife, Anne Marie, in Elgin County.
He also serves as mayor of Dutton Dunwich, a rural municipality in southwestern Ontario.
Through both of these roles, McWilliam is familiar with the importance of rural infrastructure.
Walking down the barn aisle
An American ag group promotes on-farm wedding venues
By Jim Algie
Writer
Better Farming
The Kentucky Department of Agriculture wants a bigger slice of the US$72-billion American wedding industry spending to be directed to local farms. So, the agency has kicked off an active campaign to encourage publicity for the state’s 650 agri-tourism destinations.