Dig Deep Archive | Page 7 | Better Farming

A shock to agriculture’s bottom line

Lessons to learn from California: Minimum wage increase should be gradual

By Kaitlynn Anderson

In California, the minimum wage is scheduled to increase to $15 per hour, similar to Ontario. However, there is one major difference: the time frame for the implementation of this increase.

While the Ontario government plans to enact the change over a period of 18 months, California has set a date of 2023 – about eight years after the change began in the state in 2016.

Much ado about hemp

Highlighting the crop’s uses and abuses

By Nicholas Van Allen

Hemp has different uses and it’s incorporated into some products you might not have considered.

Nutritionists and health experts prominently note hemp’s benefits to Canadian diets: hemp seed is a rich source of both protein and healthy fats. “Two tablespoons of shelled hemp seeds can contain between seven and 11 grams of protein,” and are a source of dietary fibre, EatRight Ontario says.

Finding new life in an old combine

A restored combine is the result of a partnership between a regional Case IH dealership and a local 4-H group

By Jennifer Jackson

When Craig Smith, co-owner of O’Niel’s Farm Equipment Ltd. in Binbrook, told Robert Meier, Territory Sales Manager for central and eastern Ontario for Case IH, about a 1930s A-6 Case combine that was up for sale at auction, it wasn’t long before the pair set a plan in place for the piece of equipment.

The combine needed to be restored and Meier knew the right team for the job: the local 4-H machinery club.

Growing a future in the north

Provincial government increases support for livestock production in northern Ontario

by JIM ALGIE

The Northern Livestock Pilot project announced in May by Jeff Leal, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, followed both a provincial strategy and a growth plan for agricultural opportunities in northern Ontario.

Milking the most out of a good situation

The processors: Innovations at Gay Lea Foods

By Nicholas Van Allen

Only one year ago, commentators were making noise about the state of Canadian skim milk dryers. Ten of 12 were out-of-date and all of them were at capacity.

Now, we’re seeing efforts from companies like Gay Lea Foods to address these shortages.

The value of woodlots under cap & trade

Professional forester hopes his experiences will help smaller woodlot owners

by Jim Algie

At 100,000 acres of bush and lake land, Haliburton Forest & Wildlife Reserve Ltd. doesn’t really fit the description of a farm woodlot. Rather, it is the largest, privately-owned forest in southern Ontario.

Navigating Ontario’s cap-and-trade program

Program participant examines impacts on business

By Jennifer Jackson

Companies and consumers alike are working to determine what the cap-and-trade program means for them, as the government continues to develop its regulations.

Producers break into ‘superfoods’ market

New North American quinoa growing network announced

By Jim Algie

In March, Denver-based Ardent Mills announced the creation of what it described as “the largest quinoa growing network in North America.” The company is working in close cooperation with Saskatchewan grower and Canadian quinoa pioneer Joe Dutcheshen.

Applying the new beef verification program

Bob Wilson is proud to do his part in promoting the Canadian beef brand

By Jennifer Jackson

“If we want to expect to be able to market our product and do the job we love, we need to provide a product that people can trust,” says Bob Wilson of Gilbrea Farms, located just north of Guelph. This belief is one of the main reasons why Wilson registered his feed stock operation in the Verified Beef Production Plus (VBP+) program – a way for the industry to come together for accountability.

Debating proposed land use restrictions

Proposed county plan aims to balance needs of the farming community with desire to protect the environment

by Jim Algie

A proposed natural heritage plan for Grey County appears to have avoided the landowner hostility that greeted a proposal, subsequently withdrawn, for expanded controls in some areas by the provincially-appointed Niagara Escarpment Commission (NEC).