Reading Time: 6 minutes The search to improve field-crop production never ends. Just when you think science has reached its apex, a new input comes along, a new planting practice gets tested, a new combine design gets introduced. And, of course, somewhere a grower comes up with an idea that no one has really looked at before. In 2017, […] Read more
Stressing soybeans may actually help
The big question is: what are you trying to achieve, more bushels? Or an easier harvest?
The next step in ‘sustainable agriculture’
For farmers, there will be extra costs, but also opportunities
Reading Time: 5 minutes Where some see an opportunity, others see only difficulties. Where some accept change and inevitability, others reject emerging trends and try to hold out against the onrushing wave. Such is the reality of modern farming, where some embrace change, sometimes reluctantly, while others fight paradigm shifts with all their might. During the course of the […] Read more
Soil organic freefall
Comparisons that date back 40 years or more in some counties show just how much organic matter we’ve lost, and how hard it’s going to be to replace it
Reading Time: 7 minutes For much of the past decade, provincial extension personnel, certified crop advisors (CCAs) and retailers have talked about declining soil organic matter levels in soils across Ontario. The trends towards intensive farming, shorter rotations, a decline in livestock farming and general practices that focus more on yield are some of the factors cited, together with […] Read more
Continuous rinse system makes sprayer cleanouts easier
Here’s a new way to do sprayer cleanouts that saves time and is great for the environment
Reading Time: 7 minutes Certain jobs on the farm aren’t anybody’s favourites. Repairing a planter in the middle of a soybean field in early June is right up there on that list, and so is picking stones on just about any day. And up there with them is cleaning out the sprayer, which is another of the chores about […] Read more
The next tipping point for Canada’s corn growers
Some Illinois growers are already at the tipping point for resistant weeds. Are Canadian corn growers far behind?
Reading Time: 5 minutes The march of glyphosate-resistant Canada fleabane through Ontario has been nothing short of striking, going from Essex County in 2010 to the Ottawa Valley by 2015. And now other resistant weeds are also spreading. In the U.S., waterhemp and Palmer amaranth are the new “dynamic duo” with their own resistance movement. It’s to the point […] Read more
Dealing with those early weeds
Forget the old arithmetic. Your losses from early weeds are probably much more costly than you’ve ever imagined
Reading Time: 6 minutes In a time of low commodity prices and a growing incentive to maximize profit on every acre, it’s hard enough to accept that some growers are giving up $14 per acre on corn. It’s unfathomable that they might be losing $84 per acre. Yet that’s the startling assessment of the impact of delayed herbicide application […] Read more
Ready for the NEW cost of production?
It's a bit more complex, but a lot more accurate
Reading Time: 6 minutes Calculating your farm’s cost of production (CoP) has been a focus of discussion for more than 20 years. According to some in the agri-food industry, it’s been embraced by more growers in the past 10 years, particularly with cyclically low commodity prices, comparatively higher land costs, plus seed and technology costs and the need to […] Read more
The ‘precise’ in precision agriculture
Making cost-of-production decisions is possible using available software
Reading Time: 8 minutes In the world of precision agriculture, each new growing season seems to bring a fresh batch of brand new technologies, complete with upgrades to existing systems. No question, it can be a challenge just to keep up with the variety and capability of some of these innovations, let alone figuring out which might have the […] Read more
A shareholder plan for farm employees
With family and non-family ownership, Marie-Claude Mainville’s management of this Quebec farm may become a new Canadian pattern
Reading Time: 7 minutes Back in 1979, friends Jan Van Gennip and Orance Mainville decided to join forces to get into the feedlot business. Van Gennip had the farm, Mainville brought his knowledge of cattle and business, and together they formed Fermes Janor. Since then, Mainville (now semi-retired) has been joined by his daughter Marie-Claude, and many partners have […] Read more
Eastern Canada agricultural conferences in 2018
Kick-start your 2018 with our guide to this winter’s most important meetings and conferences, covering all the topics you want to get updated on, from agronomics and soil health to market trends and technology
Reading Time: 4 minutes Another new year is within sight, and turning the calendar to 2018 promises to bring a wealth of opportunity for learning and discussion — maybe even a friendly debate or two. Every meeting and conference season brings something new, whether it’s the latest innovations in precision ag or data management, or fresh insights into fertility […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
