Drew and Heather Spoelstra of Binbrook, Ont., have been named Ontario’s Outstanding Young Farmers (OYF) for 2026, following the regional competition held April 7 to 9 in St. Jacobs, Ont. Based at Binbrook, the Spoelstras operate Roy-A-Lea Farms Ltd., a diversified family farm producing grains, hay, dairy, and beef. Heather Spoelstra leads the Roy-A-Lea Clydesdales... Read More
Category: News
Saskatchewan has announced the Emergency Use Registration for two per cent liquid strychnine has been expanded to allow a broader range of Saskatchewan rural municipalities (RMs) access management of Richardson's ground squirrels (a.k.a. gophers) until November 2027. Last week, the Saskatchewan and Alberta governments announced areas where the emergency use registration would apply. Saskatchewan's initial... Read More
Rising costs, shifting consumer habits, and global uncertainty are creating a challenging environment for Canada’s food and beverage manufacturers—pressures that are increasingly working their way back to the farm gate. In this interview, Shaun Haney speaks with Craig Johnston, chief economist with Farm Credit Canada (FCC), about the 2026 Food and Beverage Report and what... Read More
I know better than to ask a farmer when they plan to retire. Most will tell you....they don't. But many more do have ideas about things they'd like to do and see when they're maybe not so busy (ahem). The question of "retirement" is two-fold: what will you do with your time, but, more importantly,... Read More
Herbicide-resistant weeds continue to spread across Ontario, but agronomists warn that two species — waterhemp and Palmer amaranth — are raising the most concern as the 2026 growing season approaches. At this week’s Ridgetown Agribusiness breakfast meeting, agronomists, scientists, and ag retailers highlighted the rapid expansion of waterhemp, the emerging presence of Palmer amaranth, and... Read More
After an introduction featuring Maverick Ag CTO Taylor Phillips, Devin Lammers joins Evan Shout and Kristjan Hebert to talk about where AI in agriculture is actually creating value and where it still falls short. From a bison ranch in South Dakota to MIT, FBN, and now TerraClear, Devin brings both a tech and farm lens…Read More
Rising fertilizer prices and ongoing questions about supply have many Ontario growers watching the market closely this spring. But according to insights shared at the first Ridgetown Agribusiness breakfast meeting this week, availability—not price—may be the more important factor shaping fertilizer decisions as the 2026 planting season approaches. Southwest Ag Partners agronomist Jason Van Maanen... Read More
UPL Corp is offering pulse growers a new option to manage aphanomyces root rot, a soilborne disease that continues to pressure pea and lentil production across Canada. The company says its Rancona Trio seed treatment, when used in combination with Belmont 2.7 FS, is the only product in Canada currently providing control of the disease.... Read More
Air Tractor Holdings announced Monday that it has acquired competitor Thrush Aircraft in a deal that combines the two largest aerial application aircraft manufacturers. The transaction also brings together both companies founded by spray plane pioneer Leland Snow. “This is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. It’s the best path forward to... Read More
The federal government is extending the higher interest-free portion on cash advances for 2026. Coinciding with the start of the government's new fiscal year on April 1, Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald announced the interest-free limit under the Advance Payments Program (APP) for 2026 will be maintained at $250 thousand for non-canola advances. By default in... Read More