GUELPH, Ont. — Sustainable corporate strategies may not only be good for the environment and a means to address social issues. They sell. The director of sustainability and shared value with Maple Leaf Foods made the point at the annual conference of the Ontario Institute of Agrologists March 31. Some type of responsible consumption is […] Read more
Stories by Jeffrey Carter
Contract changes for Ont.vegetable sector proposed
DRESDEN, Ont. — The Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission is looking to change the way contracts are set for processing vegetables in the province. Commission chair Geri Kamenz said the idea is to develop a more robust and competitive industry. “We’re looking at what else we can do structurally so that people can maximize their […] Read more
Expert advice valuable in legal dispute
GUELPH, Ont. — It’s good to have qualified professionals on your side when trouble comes knocking. Naomi Leowith, a lawyer with the litigation finance company Bentham IMF Ltd. of Toronto, made the point while talking about court cases with members of the Ontario Institute of Agrol-ogists at their annual meeting in Guelph March 31. One […] Read more
Ont. electricity distributor addresses stray current issue
THAMESVILLE, Ont. — There are now two proposed solutions to on-farm, stray current concerns in Ontario. In February, the Ontario legislature passed second reading of a private member’s bill. It would set deadlines for electricity distributors in the province to investigate and resolve issues. And then on March 22, Hydro One announced plans to create […] Read more
Switchgrass in the garden?
DRESDEN, Ont. — It’s been eight years since Charles Forman became interested in switchgrass. He and his partner at SwitchGreen now think they have a winner with Veggy Mulch. Test marketing of the pelleted product is set to begin this spring. It’s likely too expensive for a commercial farming operation, but Forman sees a niche […] Read more
The push and pull of greenhouse pest control
The idea is to breed crops that are more attractive to pests, grow them in a specific area and spray mostly there
LONDON, Ont. — An Agriculture Canada researcher is taking what might be described as a “sucker punch” approach to greenhouse pest control. First draw target insect pests to desired areas within your greenhouse, and then knock them down. The research involves developing transgenic crop plants, including tomatoes, which can either be more attractive to insect […] Read moreScientist aims to unravel secrets of soil biology
Understanding soil bacteria can help develop biological alternatives to chemicals for nutrients and pest control, says researcher
LONDON, Ont. — A microbiologist at Agriculture Canada’s re-search centre in London looks to better harness the power of soil biology. Ze-Chun Yuan and his team are screening 3,000 soil bacterial isolates and have found a dozen bacterial species with potential. At least one of them, Paenibacillus plymyxa CR, has multiple positive functions. It is […] Read moreGreenhouse sector targets southern U.S.
DRESDEN, Ont. — Ontario’s greenhouse vegetable growers plan to go head-to-head with field-grown production in the southern United States. They’ll have close to $350,000 to work with, half of which is a grant through the Growing Forward II program. Ontario agriculture Jeff Leal and federal agriculture minister Lawrence McAulay announced the deal March 11 in […] Read more
Profitable potato production in Ontario challenging
DRESDEN, Ont. — Fresh potato production is unprofitable east of the Manitoba border. The reduced Canadian supply hasn’t helped the situation, but neither has the decline in Ontario acres. “On the fresh side, if they’re not losing money in Ontario they’re struggling,” said Glen Squirrell, chair of the Ontario Potato Board. “Our productivity is going […] Read more
Ontario seed corn production still in hands of small growers
BLENHEIM, Ont. — Global seed corn interests may have consolidated, but the seed corn production industry in Ontario remains diversified. Jeff Wilson, chair of Seed Corn Growers of Ontario, pointed to family-owned operations in the province as a positive indicator. “Maizex Seeds celebrated 30 years in business last year, and C&L Seed Production contracted their […] Read more
