SARNIA, Ont. — Ontario farmers will need to quadruple the province’s sugar beet acreage if plans for a new processing plant at Sarnia move forward. The chair of the Ontario Sugarbeet Growers’ Association said the newly formed Ontario Sugarbeet Processors’ Cooperative will require new growers as well as expansion from existing growers. “We’re looking to […] Read more
Tag Archives Ontario — page 2
Rural Ontario: the place for food and drink
BLYTH, Ont. — Expect red tape. Access expertise. Take the time to research and plan. Tell your story. Love what you do. These were among the comments from five Ontario business owners who are part of the province’s burgeoning food and drink industry. They spoke at the Rural Talks to Rural Conference held earlier this […] Read more
Ontario’s regulatory body still in hot seat
There are fears that the Farm Products Marketing Commission wants to replace final offer arbitration when growers negotiate with processors
DRESDEN, Ont. — The Farm Products Marketing Commission in Ontario continues to come under fire for its unilateral attempt to remove marketing powers from Ontario Processing Vegetable Growers. According to agricultural economist Larry Martin, the drama that unfolded over the past four months adds substance to concern among Canadian farmers that their political influence is […] Read more
Soybean, corn yields high in Ontario, despite drought
Southern Ontario suffered through weeks of blazing heat and no rain this summer, causing many farmers to fret about crop yields. They shouldn’t have worried because soybean and corn yields are just fine. “If you’re basically west of Toronto, (soybean) yields turned out phenomenally. The high 50s (bushels per acre) and low 60s are quite […] Read more
Nitrogen inhibitors save money, improve yields: researcher
HARROW, Ont. — Farmers have an opportunity to boost yields and reduce input costs with nitrogen inhibitors according to a research scientist at the Harrow Research and Development Centre. “The return on investment is there. Depending on the year, I see a three-to-one to five-to-one return,” Craig Druy said at a recent open house. “The […] Read more
Cover crop shown to deliver nitrogen, yields
HARROW, Ont. — As Ontario farmers start to explore the potential of cover crops, an Agriculture Canada researcher is putting numbers to the potential benefits. Xueming Yang spoke at an open house at the Harrow Research and Development Centre Sept. 10. “We started this because we were looking at an alternative to manure for organic […] 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
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
Drought threatens Ontario soybeans
A prolonged dry spell is threatening the soybean crop in parts of Ontario and rain is needed soon to salvage the growing season. The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs reported this morning that crops around Simcoe, south of Brantford, have been hardest hit by the drought. “Only about 20 percent of soybean […] Read more
Canola acres on the rise in Ontario
Canola acres finally rebounded in Ontario this spring after several years of Swede midge struggles. Provincial acres will probably be less than 40,000, but growers are feeling more optimistic about the crop, said Meghan Moran, a canola and edible bean specialist with the Ontario agriculture ministry. Last year, Ontario farmers seeded about 30,000 acres. “They […] Read more
