Dig Deep Archive

How to save our rural third places

Planners, farm leaders and educators discuss ways to revive these community anchors and places of social engagement during turbulent times.

by Kate Ayers

Farm life is known for its strong ties to and close relations with neighbours, friends, and colleagues.

The growing challenge of minister’s zoning orders

Several policy and legal mechanisms exist to protect farmland in Ontario

By Jackie Clark
Staff Writer
Better Farming

Farmers and other agricultural stakeholders across Ontario advocate for the protection of farmland, and a few policy and legal tools are available to help them.

Help protect your crops from weather extremes

By Kate Ayers
Staff Writer
Better Farming

As increasingly extreme weather adds another element of unpredictability to crop production, farmers are considering changes in their operations to help maintain yields.

“Studies show that we can definitely expect more volatile weather,” Rebecca Shortt said in an interview with Better Farming.

Perfect your planter

Producers can add features to improve the safety of their farm equipment

By Jackie Clark
Staff Writer
Better Farming

When it comes to farm equipment, “safety is very important and often overlooked,” Mark Burnham told Better Farming. He’s a farmer in Cobourg with experience in agricultural engineering.

“We aren't just talking about road safety either; personal and environmental safety are also very important.”

Prep for success in 2021

Farmers can use information from seed guides to inform management practices later in the season

By Jackie Clark
Staff Writer
Better Farming

Once your crop is growing in the field, it’s up to Mother Nature and your agronomic management decisions to try to capture the full yield potential of that seed.

The latest frontiers in corn & soybean research

An associate professor at the University of Guelph provides insight into his responsibilities as a researcher, educator and editor-in-chief

By Kate Ayers
Staff Writer
Better Farming

Ongoing crop research and development are critical to keep the Canadian agricultural industry competitive.

As a result, the ag industry needs a large network of passionate, skilled and dedicated crop specialists committed to excellence in research.

Producers beef up ways to manage what they measure

A research centre in Alberta delivers genomic information to livestock producers

By Kate Ayers
Staff Writer
Better Farming

Genetic information rests at the centre of better understanding how living things function and adapt to their environments.

The livestock industry can use this information, such as genotypic and phenotypic data, paired with breeding tools to obtain desired traits in progeny and make improvements throughout the value chain.

Risky business: Mitigate risk on the farm

Managing your operation’s debt service capacity is part of an overall risk management strategy

by Jackie Clark
Staff Writer
Better Farming

As producers look to maintain or expand their operations, they must be mindful of their debt servicing capacity, Carl Fletcher told Better Farming.

New ag research methods reach farm concessions

Living labs provide opportunities for global collaboration to solve complex issues in the agri-food industries

By Kate Ayers
Staff Writer
Better Farming

Agri-food groups around the world promote sustainability throughout the value chain and launch new efforts to tackle overarching challenges.

Through living laboratories, better knowns as living labs, farmers, advisers, researchers, consultants, and other stakeholders co-develop and test innovative solutions to complex agri-environmental issues.