DRESDEN, Ont. — A Quebec company has begun marketing the first bovine foot bath for the control of digital dermatitis with a drug identification number issued by Health Canada. Genevieve Legault, manager of regulatory and quality affairs with Thymol Technology, said Thymol Hoof is currently being promoted among Quebec veterinarians. The DIN was issued in […] Read more
Stories by Jeffrey Carter
Subsurface drip irrigation pays for Ont. farmer
Corn grower with sandy soil details the costs and yield benefits behind the 67-acre installation project
DELHI, Ont. — Corn grown in this southeastern Ontario region, on what’s known as the Norfolk sand plain, is a virtually writeoff — except where a handful of farmers installed subsurface drip irrigation systems. It was difference between disaster and success for Todd Boughner, manager of Judge Farms, and Jeff Lipcsik. The two spoke about […] Read more
Ontario residents say wind farm vibrations threaten groundwater
The rural community says they depend on the aquifer every day and wants the North Kent Wind One project halted
CHATHAM-KENT, Ont. — Vibrations from wind turbines, a phenomena known as seismic coupling, is being blamed for sedimentation in more than 20 water wells in this southwestern Ontario municipality. More than 460 rural residents have signed a petition, which was presented to the municipal council Aug. 22, asking for a moratorium on further development. Thousands […] Read more
Ontario vegetable marketing board under microscope
Ontario’s agriculture minister has halted proposed changes, saying an economic analysis and more consultation are needed
KENT BRIDGE, Ont. — The final offer arbitration system used by Ontario’s processing vegetable industry will end if proposed amendments by the province’s Farm Products Marketing Commission (FPMC) move forward. The changes would create an “industry advisory committee” and growers would need to find another means to set prices and contract terms other than through […] Read more
Ontario gets rain, but damage done
DRESDEN, Ont. — Southern Ontario’s drought broke in mid-August with widespread rain, but it was too late for the corn crop. “It looks like an average or below average crop for most of the guys. Now we’re seeing disease and pest issues with things like the western bean cutworm and corn smut,” said Moe Agostino, […] Read more
Indoor vertical vegetable growing system touted
DRESDEN, Ont. — Remote and northern communities hungry for leafy greens and other vegetables should consider high volume, indoor production under artificial lighting, says David Martin of Indoor Farms of America. His business, based in Las Vegas, Nevada, is beginning to commercialize its technology after more than two years of research and development. It’s now […] Read more
Ontario growers failing to prevent herbicide drift
RIDGETOWN, Ont. — Herbicide drift can be managed, but the risk may be too great even when the best protocols are in place. “If there are sensitive crops around you, you can make the decision not to apply a chemical,” said Adam Pfeffer, a development representative with Monsanto. “If a plant is sensitive to a […] Read more
Sweet tooths find satisfaction
GODERICH, Ont. — Not even a natural disaster was enough to snuff out the historic bakery oven that’s been part of this southern Ontario community for the past 135 years. An F3 tornado, the strongest to strike Ontario in many years, tore in from Lake Huron on Aug. 21, 2011, a Sunday afternoon when the […] Read more
Drought, disease take toll in Ont. corn, wheat
ESSEX County, Ont. — There’s an old adage among Ontario farmers when they talk about corn: knee high by the fourth of July. That’s the case for Terry Byrne and his brothers, a 20-minute drive from the Ambassador Bridge connecting Windsor and Detroit, but their corn isn’t healthy deep green-blue hue. Instead, the bottom leaves […] Read more
Cool Ont. spring slows planting
GRAND BEND, Ont. — The second half of May delivered what Ontario farmers had been hoping for: warmer temperatures. “Many areas of southern Ontario had the coolest April for 20 years,” said Geoff Coulson, a meteorologist with Environment Canada. “May had also been running notably cooler than normal, up to 3 C cooler, which is […] Read more
