Stewart Skinner's Page

New Sollio Agriculture sign erected at the Talbotville grain elevator

A new Sollio Agriculture sign has just been erected at the Talbotville grain elevator, located at 39109 Talbot Line, St. Thomas, Ontario. This change marks the final step in Sollio Agriculture’s acquisition of Cargill’s crop inputs and grain handling facilities in Ontario, which was announced in March 2018. The sale included 13 crop inputs and grain handling facilities as well as Cargill’s 50 percent stake in South West Ag Partners, a joint venture that operates grain and crop inputs facilities in Ontario and the Talbotville grain elevator.

Soybean Management

The spring of 2019 was unprecedented in Ontario. Cool temperatures and constant rainfall delayed planting of much of the crop. Most soybeans were planted in June and for some growers it was July. There are often pockets of the province that can’t plant due to wet soil conditions, but we have not experienced such a wide geography struggling to plant before. How will this late planting impact soybeans? The good news is that soybeans are amazingly resilient and can adapt to the growing season due to the photoperiod effect. When days begin to shorten in the fall soybean plants will naturally speed up maturity, so they can finish normally before a killing frost. Typically, a one-month delay in planting results in only a 10-day delay at harvest. However, this ability to compensate comes at a price. Soybeans planted during the first week of May typically spend about 60 days in the reproductive phase of development (R1-R6). This is when the majority of yield is made. Beans planted during the f

Pest Watch – Potato Leafhoppers, Thrips and Spider Mites

What a year! Goes from too wet to too dry. With young crops and little canopy yet, a few pests could become a problem quickly. Especially if hot dry conditions continue to stress the crop further. Scout fields frequently for these three pests; Potato leafhoppers, thrips and spider mites.

Mt. Forest Agribusiness Breakfast Meeting – July 2nd, 2019

As always, if changes or clarifications to these minutes are required please contact Ian McDonald. This meeting concludes the spring series for Mt. Forest Ag Breakfasts. Thanks to all who participated in the various discussion and to those who read and commented on the meeting minutes. The group discussed possibly meeting in early August to get a handle on how the rest of the season will roll out and additionally will plan to meet in early December as a season wrap up.

Excellence in Agriculture Celebrated in Guelph

Local Honourable Mention Recipient Recognized Ontario is recognizing the work of local innovators whose ideas and passion are helping grow and strengthen the province's agri-food sector. Ernie Hardeman, Ontario's Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, recognized Ontario Farmland Trust as an Excellence in Agriculture, Honourable Mention Award recipient, for developing a trust agreement that places non-agricultural development restrictions on certain pieces of land, permanently protecting farmland.