GUELPH, Ont. — The development of “luxury fertility” isn’t quite enough for a biodynamic farmer from New York state. Hugh Williams is beginning to use keyline soil management techniques to make additional gains on 65 acres of pasture, orchard and vegetable ground at Threshold Farm in the Hudson River Valley. “This is revolutionary. It’s going […] Read more
Stories by Jeffrey Carter
Local fibre industry builds network of stakeholders
Called fibresheds, these value chain networks can comprise farmers, dye producers, woolen mills, artisans, designers and retailers
GUELPH, Ont. — Fibresheds are beginning to catch on. “This is like where the organic food industry was 15 or 20 years ago,” said Jennifer Osborn of the Upper Canada Fiber Shed, who talked about the phenomena at the Guelph Organic Conference Jan. 30. “With this model, you can have a lot of impact, producing […] Read moreSmaller production costs see dairy farmers take price cut
DRESDEN, Ont. — Dairy producers will be paid roughly one percent less for their milk this year, which the Dairy Commission of Canada says may show that supply management is working. “Nobody who usually criticizes supply management made a comment,” said commission spokesperson Chantal Paul. The planned reduction is a response to a survey by […] Read more
New trucks may not suit all farmers
Industry group wants to see more efficient trucks on the road
RIDGETOWN, Ont. — The shift to better fuel economy in the trucking industry may be bad news for farmers looking for a used tractor trailer. Many units on the roads today were designed for high-speed highway travel and may not be a good fit for short-haul duty, said Mike Roeth, executive director of the North […] Read moreClimate gives Canada protein advantage
Competitors in more moderate climates can see better yields, but can’t match Canadian growers’ quality
RIDGETOWN, Ont. — Canadian wheat growers can learn from their English and Irish counterparts, but it won’t undo fundamental drawbacks related to climate. Jim Orson, special adviser to the National Institute of Agricultural Botany in England, said moderate winter and summer temperatures, plenty of sunshine, a lengthy growing season and adequate rainfall, especially during grain […] Read more
High tunnels help growers harvest year-round
In the right greenhouse, some cold-hardy vegetables can be grown in winter without additional heating
ORILLIA, Ont. — High tunnels are not just about extending the growing season for market gardeners. In latitudes where the sunlight allows, some are now harvesting crops year round with no supplemental heat. Adam Montri operates Ten Hen Farms at a latitude of 42.8 degrees north in central Michigan with his family. He is also […] Read more
Farmers need an integrated pest plan
American researcher says neonicotinoids aren’t an answer to every insect problem
RIDGETOWN, Ont. — The neonicotinoid interaction between soybeans, slugs and predatory ground beetles provides an argument for integrated pest management, says a Penn State researcher. “I didn’t come here to bang on neonicotinoids. I came here to talk about pesticides in general,” John Tooker told the recent Southwest Agricultural Conference in Ridgetown. “There can be […] Read moreU.S. farm subsidies called unfair to Canada
Analyst says American programs guarantee higher prices despite forecasts for lower commodity returns
RIDGETOWN, Ont. — Subsidies under the 2014 U.S. farm bill are not farmer friendly for Canada, particularly when combined with low commodity prices, says a government policy analyst from Michigan State University. “Every cent of budget costs paid to our farm programs is a subsidy against which Canadian farmers must compete,” David Schweikhardt told the […] Read more
Save civilization — grow topsoil
Soil-building practices reduce flooding and disease transmission and produce cleaner water
ORILLIA, Ont. — Farmers need to move beyond conserving topsoil and start growing it, according to a Vermont grazier, educator and consultant. “The best we’ve been able to do is that we’re losing 10 times more soil than is being grown. At least, that’s the latest numbers I’ve seen,” Abe Collins told the Ecological Farmers […] Read moreDon’t treat soil like dirt, says expert
Ecologist David Pimentel, professor emeritus at Cornell University, says farmers can increase their soil organic matter by 10 percent a year. Unfortunately, too many treat their soil like dirt, he said. Depending on the region, topsoil is being lost 10 to 40 times faster than the rate of soil formation. “Very few people care about […] Read more
