For many in parts of southern Ontario, the summer dryness of '22 caused stress and poor yields. Looking ahead, what's in store for weather trends, water cycles, and average temperatures? At last week's Ontario Agricultural Conference, Bernard Tobin caught up with Michigan State University professor of meteorology and climatology, Jeff Andresen, to talk about what... Read More
Category: Crop Production
Protecting grain crops from costly plant diseases and making crop production more resilient to climate change are two goals a new $2-million gift to the University of Guelph from Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO). Announced at the close of the Ontario Agricultural Conference, the funding will support a new GFO professorship in field crop pathology... Read More
The Beef Cattle Research Council's Future Farm scenarios has looked at the five-year financial impact of investing in rotational grazing management or tightening up the calving season. Drawing on findings from the Canadian Cow-Calf Cost of Production Network, the scenarios exercise looked at where to invest in infrastructure to best improve profitability. For both questions... Read More
Climate change has cascading effects on many areas of life, many of them negative. However, a changing climate provide some upside potential for crop production. Jeffrey Schussler, an Iowa-based ag technology and research consultant with Schussler Ag Solutions, presented this week at the Ontario Agricultural Conference on how climate change has benefitted agriculture, how genetics... Read More
John Deere unveiled a new sensor-based starter fertilizer placement technology for planters as part of the company's keynote address at the CES 2023 tech industry show in Las Vegas on Thursday. The ExactShot system is designed to send out precise small bursts (approximately 0.2 ml) of starter fertilizer onto individual seeds as they are planted,... Read More
When market volatility is not the motivating factor for growers to sell, how do marketers avoid selling complacency setting in? Jonathon Driedger of Leftfield Commodity Research says that the markets could test new highs in the year ahead, but that small moves over time may be more likely in the year ahead. At the top... Read More
Welcome back to Wheat Pete's Word! Host Peter Johnson is back in the host seat, even while working hard presenting and coordinating in-person learning opportunities around Ontario. In this first episode of 2023, Johnson tackles forward thinking on building base fertility, discusses what's worse for wheat (too cold, too much water, breaking dormancy), and joins... Read More
The Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission (SaskCanola) and the Saskatchewan Flax Development Commission (SaskFlax) have announced a new management collaboration. Greg Sundquist, chair of SaskFlax, says the new arrangement offers "administrative and operational efficiencies within our industry ensures that growers’ levy dollars are put to the best use." Canola and flax levies will continue to be... Read More
This is the first in a series of short introductions of Students of Agriculture. From undergraduates, to PhDs, or those learning out in the world, this series will share snippets of different journeys in agriculture education. Know a student with a neat story? Send Lyndsey a message (lsmith@realagriculture.com) to have them recognized as a Student... Read More
Now is an interesting time to be making decisions on old crop marketing or pulling the trigger on new crop pricing. Some farmers are well set for new crop, but market analyst Jonathon Driedger of Leftfield Commodity Research says there are three key factors that bear watching early in the new year. Looking very big... Read More