Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

So I think its official – I’m a real farmer. Now there was no certificate or degree from Guelph. No big ceremony or letter stating I was now accepted to the farming profession. I’ve decided I’m a real farmer because of one innocent thought. People told me I would have these thoughts, they warned me to expect them. I always shrugged those naysayers off saying I would not be like other farmers. But then it happened, just like it was suppose to. We were baling hay late yesterday afternoon. The third cut crop had been sitting in the field for about a week trying to dry through showers and rain storms. We finally got a 3 day string of sun and took advantage of it. The big square baler quickly going up and down the rows followed shortly by my grandfather and I picking those bales up to take to the barn. One load turned into two; two to three; three to six; and we kept taking them off. Then it happened. I thought it was too bad we had such a good hay crop because it was proving difficult to get it all into the barn.

Why do we do that? Turn something that we hope and pray for into a negative? Jokes have been made about these thoughts, the ones where nothing can ever prove good enough for a farmer. Dennis Hull talks about the guy who complains that a good grain crop is tough on his machinery. I joke about the farmer I golfed with who got a hole in one and complained because he could have used the putting practice. It really is a funny phenomenon when you think about it, but I continue to be intrigued about it. I’m hoping we can have some fun with this. What positive thing have you turned to a 'too bad...?' Don't be shy, post a comment and let me know.

Views: 53

Comment

You need to be a member of Ontario Agriculture to add comments!

Join Ontario Agriculture

Comment by Wayne Black on August 28, 2009 at 5:02am
Not everyone does it. I think it is all in your outlook on life. On the flip side we always try to see the good in a bad situation. Like the fella who was in a tractor accident. While in surgery they found a tumour that was never found before.
I have a theory that people who listen to country music generally are negative. (I have a tear in my beer...). While pop music is generally upbeat and positive (tonight is going to be a good night - Black Eyed Peas).
Comment by Andrew Campbell on August 27, 2009 at 4:32am
I think a lot of Canadians are like that - I just think farmers are better at it. Partly because of all the elements that are out of their control.

Agriculture Headlines from Farms.com Canada East News - click on title for full story

War in Middle East causes further stress on U.S. farmers

Corn farmers in the U.S. are bracing for even higher fertilizer prices as conflict in the Middle East impacts the globally traded commodity, according to leaders with the National Corn Growers Association. Corn farmers are approaching a fourth year of negative yields, due to low corn prices and high input costs, including fertilizers. The growers association renewed its call on Congress to legalize year-round, nationwide E-15, a higher blend of ethanol fuel, and for the removal of duties on fertilizers from Morocco. Lesly McNitt, vice president of public policy for National Corn Growers Association, said there is not enough domestically produced fertilizer to meet demand, which means imported fertilizer is vital to farmers. McNitt, speaking during a press conference Wednesday, said duties on phosphate from Morocco and Russia that were put in place in 2020, have “kept phosphate prices high” and caused “availability issues and lack of competitive options for farmers.” A study from th

EMILI and BASF Agricultural Solutions Canada collaborate to advance digital crop optimization solutions

EMILI and BASF Agricultural Solutions Canada (BASF) have announced a strategic collaboration to advance the development and adoption of digital farming solutions that increase on-farm productivity and sustainability.  Collaborating with BASF increases EMILI’s ability to advance innovation and foster engagement in agtech solutions and production practices that enable farmer-centric, sustainable technologies and techniques, a focal point at EMILI’s Innovation Farms powered by AgExpert and its annual Agriculture Enlightened conference.  During the 2026 growing season, EMILI will demonstrate and gather feedback on BASF’s xarvio® FIELD MANAGER to showcase its ability to provide precise, field-specific crop management advice on a full-scale Manitoba farm. Insights from these demonstrations will be shared with growers, researchers, and ag-tech stakeholders during field tours and events on EMILI’s Innovation Farms. xarvio® FIELD MANAGER is a digital software platform that combines growth st

EPA Emergency Waiver Clears Path for Nationwide E15 Sales Ahead of Summer

A new EPA emergency fuel waiver will allow nationwide E15 sales this summer, expanding fuel choices, supporting corn growers, and helping stabilize gasoline prices.

Canada's Outstanding Young Farmers New Program Manager begins April 1, 2026

The Board of Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers Program is pleased to announce that Katrina Finke will be joining the organization as Program Manager effective April 1, 2026. Katrina is a strategic operations executive with more than 20 years of experience and a strong track record of driving excellence and governance across local, provincial, and national organizations. She brings extensive expertise in operational leadership, financial stewardship, and organizational alignment. Katrina’s focus is simple: ensuring organizational accountability, unifying brand identity, and delivering high-stakes results through expert financial and operational management. The Board is confident that Katrina’s experience and leadership will support the continued strength and growth of the Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers Program and help us build on the strong foundation established over many years. Katrina’s interest in expanding national sponsorship is a key priority moving forward. Katrina join

Smart Sensors Drive PEI Farm Productivity

PEI farmers will use AgIntel to collect and analyse farm data, improve sustainability, reduce emissions, and increase profitability through advanced digital tools and sensors.

© 2026   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service