Seed labs, the services they offer and the role they play in crop production is changing. Within the year, changes to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) will shift certain roles and responsibilities to the private sector. Crop inspection services and some analytical services will move outside of the CFIA and seed testing labs are... Read More
Category: Crop Production
While it may not be the go-to piece of equipment every year, the moldboard plow can still accomplish what other implements cannot in certain circumstances. The plow's reputation has taken a few knocks, but with careful planning and judicious use, farmers can minimize the risk of plow pan and organic matter losses and put this... Read More
The Canadian Plant Technology Agency (CPTA) announced today that an agreement has been reached to allow commercially-grown Faller wheat into the U.S. via ADM and its approved affiliates. Farmers should note, however, that while there are now approved ports and terminals to take the wheat, beginning in 2014, all Faller wheat grown in Canada must... Read More
There are a couple things, as someone who writes in the public domain, I don't ever really want to meddle in. Religion is likely at the top of that list, and I want to make it very clear that this column is not about religion at all. It's about misinformation that just so happens this... Read More
Lots to discuss this week on the Ontario Agronomy Geeks. The guests this week are Steve Denys, VP Sales and Marketing Pride Seeds, Peter Johnson, Wheat Specialist OMAFRA, and St. Thomas based farmer Peter Gredig. We hope that you enjoy the first edition of the Ontario Agronomy Geeks, where we discussed the corn and soybean... Read More
Changes to Canada's variety registration system and staying competitive and innovative were hot topics at this week's Canadian Seed Trade Association semi-annual meeting. Federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz was on hand at the CSTA semi-annual meeting to announce a $100,000 worth of funding for the seed industry, but after that announcement the discussion turned to... Read More
For the last 20 years, Dr. Helen Thompson has worked on the research side of the agricultural industry with Britain's Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA). She recently left FERA to start work with Syngenta, a move that has caused a bit of a stir in the agriculture industry there. But, controversy or not, Thompson... Read More
We've said it before, and we'll say it again, the sprayer is really a multi-purpose tool on the modern farm. From pre-seed burn-off, to in-crop protection and fertility applications, to post-harvest, the sprayer rarely sits still on the farm. Because it's involved throughout the entire growing season, the sprayer could potentially be a great place... Read More
Fall and early winter are a great time for testing soil and seed and analyzing those results, to begin planning for the next growing season. Often, we do all of this planning but then never take the time during the year to check and see if we could be doing better or if the plan... Read More
Both farmers and crop production companies are very focused and interested in increasing plant health through the entire growing season. The industry has set its sights on accomplishing this through the increased use of seed treatments and fungicides. Whether it be canola, wheat or corn, Canadian farmers are very prepared to invest in the health... Read More