FARMERS ARE ALWAYS on the lookout for ways to maximize profits, but it’s not just about farming more acres — it’s about farming smart. This offers a transformative approach: identify low-yielding, high-cost areas of fields and consider turning them into non-crop zones to save money and promote sustainability. Not all land is created equal. Some areas of a field may consistently yield less, which often results in wasted resources — money spent on seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides that don’t produce adequate returns. “Farmers already know which parts of their fields are unprofitable, but they’re often in a gray area about marginal sections that may only turn a profit some years,” says Paul Galpern, director of the Agriculture, Biodiversity and Conservation Lab at the University of Calgary. “If we can help them pinpoint the parts of their fields that are consistently costing them money, it opens up opportunities to use those areas in ways that could provide other benefits.” By taking
Understanding seasonal tendencies is crucial for making informed marketing decisions. Markets ebb and flow with the seasons, and these patterns can significantly aid farm marketers. Read on for some thoughts on this topic, using canola as an example. In Canada, the fall tends to see prices of many crops under pressure due to abundant supply. Conversely, spring often brings a price surge, especially in response to weather-related issues during planting. Successful marketers use these seasonal odds to time their sales, sometimes following a calendar of tendencies to anticipate price movements. For example, a new wheat contract high in late December may signal further gains in January. Meanwhile, the broader markets often rally in January if there is any perception of a crop threat in South America. (Farmers are certainly hoping this tendency holds this year!) Seasonal patterns vary with market conditions. In years of heavy crop production, patterns differ from years with short crops. F
Research out of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada indicates wheat midge eggs may not have hatched on a specific variety of winter wheat. Wheat midge (Sitodiplosis mosellana) is the top insect pest threatening spring wheat. While it can cause significant yield loss and reduce grain quality, the wheat midge tolerant gene (Sm1) has armed farmers with a powerful defense mechanism for over a decade. But researchers aren’t settling for single gene resistance. Entomologists and wheat breeders can see a future where farmers have additional control options and are working together to try and make that happen. “Most of the current research is at the level of the plant, meaning we’re working to find new traits that will stop the wheat midge in its tracks or at least reduce wheat midge damage,” says Tyler Wist, research scientist in field crop entomology at Agriculture and Agri- Food Canada (AAFC) in Saskatoon. Egg Antibiosis Could Ramp Up Sm1 One study was inspired by past AAFC research in Win
Market Overview The week ending December 27, 2024, showed strength in the Ontario and U.S. hog markets despite seasonal fluctuations. Ontario’s base formula price closed at $221.16/cwt, a steady climb compared to the previous weeks, and significantly higher than the $156.72/cwt recorded during the same period last year. Meanwhile, U.S. federally inspected slaughter numbers dipped to 2,051,000 head, representing 92% of the previous year’s levels. Ontario Market Highlights Base Formula Price: $221.16/cwt, continuing an upward trend. Average Dressed Weight: 107.17 kg, holding steady with minimal fluctuation over recent weeks. Weaned Pig Value: $57.50, reflecting a small but consistent increase. Feeder Pig Value: $91.23, up from $89.99 the prior week. U.S. Market Highlights Early Weaned Pig Prices: Cash-based prices averaged $76.72, showing strong growth week-over-week. Feeder Pig Prices: Cash-based average was $88.19, holding steady. USDA Pork Carcass Cutout Value: Closed at $95.13/cwt
Tamworth, Ontario, located in Eastern Ontario between Toronto and Ottawa, has become home to an exciting new development in the swine industry. Slack Farms, led by John Slack and his father Mark, has unveiled a 625-sow multiplier barn designed to supply high-quality breeding stock to Ontario hog farmers. This barn marks a significant milestone for the Slack family and the broader swine industry in the region. The barn, built under a new multiplication contract with DanBred, will focus on supplying breeding stock, including boar studs featuring Duroc genetics—one of the first introductions of Danish Durocs to North America. This development positions Slack Farms as a key player in advancing the genetic quality and efficiency of Ontario’s hog operations. A Vision Revived The Slack family has a storied history in swine production. After facing challenges in their previous operation, including struggles post-COVID, Mark and John Slack have joined forces to revitalize their farm with a ne
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