Ontario Agriculture

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Wet Weather in Holland Marsh

Well, usually I am a very up-beat, optimistic person. Today, not so much! This year has been really challenging. Worrying about white rot in the wet onion fields, sclerotinia in the carrots, Onion harvest should be winding down right now, and it has barely begun. The onions didn't mature properly this year, some are still standing for heaven sake, not even dug yet! We have crop insurance on the onions, as do many Farmers, but that's not exactly a light at the end of the tunnel! I'm sure they'll find some way to weasel out of having to pay the Farmers for their losses, one way or another. Any onions that have been harvested may or may not dry properly. Farmers who have dryers are using them, but that adds additional costs to the production of this product, on top of the higher than normal input costs already incurrred to keep the onions healthy during the damp summer we've had. The buyers of onions are only willing to pay $5.50 /50# right now. We need at least $6.00, just to break even. When is our government going to realize that the trade they insist on having does not come with fair playing rules. We cannot compete with our trading partners in the global market. There are too many unequal variables, and they're not in our favour!

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Permalink Reply by Wayne Black on October 9, 2009 at 2:36pm
I hear ya'. Some white bean fields in Huron County are getting into that "questionable" stage. Farmers are starting to get edgy about the soybeans. Some corn fields, locally, are starting to lodge due to the wet weather. I checked the corn a few days ago - no where near ready. This past week some farmers have done corn silage (thanks for the cattle to eat that up!) when they have been doing it early September (month late!). If we did not have the cattle to eat corn silage there would be a lot of wasted crop this fall.
Wonder if the cattle would like a top dressing of onions and carrots on their silage?
Permalink Reply by Avia Eek on October 9, 2009 at 5:12pm
There's going to be lots of cull onions, but I don't think cattle or pigs would even want to eat them. As a result of the cold damp Spring, smut became a problem, and since the entire growing season has been damp, that has encouraged white rot in some varieties of onions (some can resist). I guess, even though we're in different sectors, we have very similar problems. Oh, the joys of being a Farmer!

Wayne Black said:
I hear ya'. Some white bean fields in Huron County are getting into that "questionable" stage. Farmers are starting to get edgy about the soybeans. Some corn fields, locally, are starting to lodge due to the wet weather. I checked the corn a few days ago - no where near ready. This past week some farmers have done corn silage (thanks for the cattle to eat that up!) when they have been doing it early September (month late!). If we did not have the cattle to eat corn silage there would be a lot of wasted crop this fall.
Wonder if the cattle would like a top dressing of onions and carrots on their silage?
Permalink Reply by Joe Dales on October 10, 2009 at 12:28pm
Sorry to hear about the tough weather Avia...I image the strong Canadian dollar is another punch to the gut when you are fighting it out with imported veg...

Have a happy thanksgiving and take care,

Joe
Permalink Reply by Avia Eek on October 10, 2009 at 3:39pm
Yes it is. When the dollar is high, exporting our produce gets a little trickier. Gone are the days when the Farmer bought the seed, planted, harvested, and sold--all very simple! In this day and age not only is the Farmer the Steward of the Land, but a futures forecaster, health and safety inspector, mechanic, financial wizard, human resources manager, biology major, scientist, botanist,...did I miss anything?

Enough ranting for one day! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family as well!!!!

Joe Dales said:
Sorry to hear about the tough weather Avia...I image the strong Canadian dollar is another punch to the gut when you are fighting it out with imported veg...
Have a happy thanksgiving and take care,
Joe

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