Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

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!

Views: 224

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Wayne Black on October 9, 2009 at 7:36am
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 10:12am
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 5:28am
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 8:39am
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

▶ Reply to Discussion

RSS

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

Future ag producers develop skill through 4-H Livestock Quiz Bowl

The Lincoln County 4-H Livestock Quiz Bowl team may be young, but these kids know a thing or two about animal husbandry. All four team members are 10 years old or younger and involved on their families’ farms or ranches in the North Platte area. Team members include Caleb Allison, Kasen Cole, Cole Steffes and Westyn Wasserburger. Being part of the 4-H Livestock Quiz Bowl team is reinforcing real-life lessons to strengthen their understanding of livestock production to become advocates for the industry. “Livestock Quiz Bowl encourages youth to actually learn about agriculture. They are learning the ‘why’ behind what they are doing for animal management,” said Caitlyn Jacobson, 4-H youth development extension educator for Lincoln, Logan and McPherson Counties. The event is making a comeback in Lincoln County after many years without a team. Jacobson participated on the Lincoln County 4-H Livestock Quiz Bowl team when she was a 4-H member in Lincoln County, but interest ceased sometim

Markets Connect Dots Toward US China Trade Deal

During the week of August 18 to 22, farm markets reacted to crop tour data, US China trade deal signals, drought stress, and mixed yield forecasts

Canadian Farmers Embracing Solar and Wind

Canadian farmers are adopting renewable energy, led by solar and wind. FCC and Statistics Canada highlight cost savings, incentives, and farm opportunities to use or sell power.

Effective enrichment promotes performance

Abby Tillotson – It is well known that environmental enrichment provides several benefits to intensively raised pigs, such as reducing tail biting, increasing play, and improving disease resiliency.

Factors driving high hog prices

Hog prices were strong this summer. The average market hog price for June-August will come in roughly 18% above the same months last year. There are a number of factors contributing to this price improvement. Production is down. Through July 2025 hog slaughter was down 1.7% and pork production was down 1.5%. Not only was hog slaughter down from a year ago, it was down relative to summer expectations. U.S. hog slaughter over the last 12 weeks (since the beginning of June) was down 3.0% year-over-year. The heavy weight market hog inventory in the June Hogs and Pigs report implied slaughter during this period would be unchanged from a year ago. The difference is larger than usual. The June Hogs and Pigs Report implies fall slaughter will be up a bit less than 1%. Weather also may be having an impact on slaughter levels. The hot summer slowed rates of gain and thus pulled down slaughter weights. The reduced rates of gain also delayed slaughter. The amount of pork in cold storage at the

© 2025   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service