Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

Andrew Campbell's Blog (11)

Future of Dairy Farming = Efficiency

Dairy farmers can sometimes get a bad reputation. Because of supply management, I'd agree that some farms can hang on longer than they would if they were open to the free market. The free market can be very good and eliminating the least efficient very quickly. Unfortunately - it can also eliminate some good farmers who just get mixed up in a market they can't control (just ask a hog farmer).



However - I think those least efficient dairy farmers are going to have to make…

Continue

Added by Andrew Campbell on May 20, 2010 at 7:00am — 1 Comment

When Bigger Isn't Better

When I think of farming, I think of a few things. Feeding cows, planting and harvesting corn, baling hay. They, and most of the jobs I do around the farm, all relate to production. Most of you will agree that is one of the big reasons we farm -- we like being around animals, we like being on the land, we don't like numbers.



But I was lucky enough to get the chance to realize that even if we don't like the numbers, we all like making more money.



The Ontario Dairy Youth…

Continue

Added by Andrew Campbell on May 12, 2010 at 8:32am — 1 Comment

Fireflies = Lower Nitrogen Costs

Researchers have created a new and cheaper test that producers can use to see how much nitrogen they should… Continue

Added by Andrew Campbell on April 12, 2010 at 6:04am — 1 Comment

A View of FCC Spending

Found this very interesting post on the Canadian Agri-Food blog, managed by the Agri-Food Unit at the Ivey School of Business.



Written by Brandon Schaufele - with the article available at - http://www.canadianagrifood.ca/?p=374



" Today’s edition of the London Free…

Continue

Added by Andrew Campbell on March 5, 2010 at 2:00am — No Comments

Lessons In Farming

I'm a young farmer. I can say that now - especially since just a couple of weeks ago we moved out to one of our family farms. This is a house my great-grandfather built in the early 1900's, and is the farm where the dry cows and heifers are kept. My mom and dad are a few kilometres away at the farm I grew up in - where the milking cows are.



As I get settled on the farm, I thought I'd share some of my experiences. Along the way I'd invite any and all pieces of advice I can get - as I… Continue

Added by Andrew Campbell on December 17, 2009 at 7:24am — 6 Comments

The Future of Pork

We all know about the struggles facing the pork industry -- the big question though is how do we fix it.



Here are a couple of videos with some involved in the sector discussing how to move forward. Take a look a add your thoughts below.…



Continue

Added by Andrew Campbell on December 16, 2009 at 4:30am — No Comments

A Lesson From Best Buy

This was written by Matt Hardecke from the Young Producers' Council, which is part of the US based National Cattlemen's Beef Association. It's an interesting perspective...



As the future leaders of American agriculture and the beef industry, we need to not only know the facts but understand the thought process of our consumers. I am looking to buy a new flat screen TV. Over the weekend I went to Best Buy to gaze at the selections of options for my view pleasure. For an hour I stood… Continue

Added by Andrew Campbell on November 3, 2009 at 3:48am — 1 Comment

People Watching

Over the last several years I've been fortunate to be part of the Western Fair - the big fall fair in London. Each year I'm in the barns doing some livestock show announcing and new this year kids pedal tractor pulls. In between events barn staff tend to find each other for a visit and some people watching. You really do get people from all walks of life coming to the fair in the city and the one thing I've learned from all of them, is that people really don't know anything about agriculture.… Continue

Added by Andrew Campbell on September 14, 2009 at 1:30am — 1 Comment

It Isn't Always Our Fault

Covering agriculture has meant I've been to a pile of meetings. Meetings on getting more profit on your farm, meetings on government regulations, meetings on just about anything you can think of in order to help you be a better farmer. One of the topics that comes up a lot for livestock producers is developing a consistent product. While this usually is directed towards beef producers today, at one time it applied to everyone. Processors and retailers say if you want a better price - they need… Continue

Added by Andrew Campbell on September 7, 2009 at 12:44am — 1 Comment

It's Official - I'm Now a Farmer.

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… Continue

Added by Andrew Campbell on August 26, 2009 at 2:48am — 2 Comments

Which is Better-Livestock or Deadstock?

If you are going to have livestock, you are going to have deadstock.



I don’t know who coined that term, but every farmer knows it’s the truth. But that doesn’t mean you leave anything sick to die.



That would appear to be what some folks rather we do. As noted in an article in TIME Magazine and the New York Times, the world seems to have something against antibiotics.



I’m going to use our small dairy farm as an example. It’s been a tough couple of weeks. After… Continue

Added by Andrew Campbell on August 24, 2009 at 6:35am — No Comments

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

Canola Industry Encouraged by Outcomes from Energy and Mines Ministers' Conference

Canada’s canola industry welcomes the outcomes of last month’s Energy and Mines Ministers' Conference, particularly the Ministers' commitment to strengthening Canada's energy security and expanding domestic biofuel production. With nearly 1 in 3 acres of canola grown in Canada destined for biofuel markets in Canada, the United States and the European Union, it is encouraging to see the Ministers building on future energy security by supporting the production and use of low-carbon fuels from feedstocks we already grow. The Ministers' reference to increasing Canada's domestic biofuel production toward 60 percent of consumption by 2030, signals the important role that Canadian agriculture will continue to play in meeting the country's energy and climate goals. By the end of 2026, Canada is expected to have the capacity to process approximately 15 million tonnes of canola annually, driven by more than $2 billion in investments in new and expanded crushing facilities across the Prairies.

Rooted in Community: Nature's Path Organic Foods Announces 2026 Gardens for Good Grant Winners

North America's largest independent organic breakfast and snack food brand, today announced the grant recipients for its 16th annual Gardens for Good: Plant It Forward™ Program. Now in its 16th year, the program supports organic community gardens and urban farming initiatives working to increase access to fresh organic food, strengthen local food systems and empower communities across North America. Through the 2026 program, Nature's Path will award a total of $45,000 to 15 grassroots organizations, with each garden receiving a $3,000 grant. This year's recipients include 10 non-profit organizations in the United States and 5 in Canada, all selected for their commitment to organic agriculture, community-led leadership, food access and education. Since launching the initiative in 2010, Nature's Path has awarded more than $1 million to nearly 150 organic community gardens across North America. The program reflects the company's long-standing commitment to nourishing people and the plan

CPKC ends 2025-2026 crop year setting annual Canadian grain record

Canadian Pacific Kansas City (TSX: CP) (NYSE: CP) (CPKC) said today it has broken its all-time volume record for transporting Canadian grain and grain products by moving 30.66 million metric tonnes (MMT) during the 2025-2026 crop year. This new record annual volume exceeded the previous record set in the 2020–2021 crop year by approximately 72,500 metric tonnes. "Our team of exceptional railroaders reliably delivered the largest Canadian grain crop in history with consistency throughout the crop year," said John Brooks, CPKC Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. "Our dedication to service excellence, paired with solid execution by our customers and terminal operators, led to a crop year that saw more Canadian grain and grain products move on our network than ever before. This performance illustrates our long-standing commitment to the safe and efficient transportation of Canadian grain." The total volume transported in the 2025-2026 crop year was 11 percent higher t

Don’t Give Up Anything. A Forage Driven Rye with Flexibility and a Real Grain Up-Side.

SU Baresi is an exciting new hybrid rye built for forage production, delivering exceptional biomass, aggressive early growth, and high-quality feed for livestock operations. Designed with cattle producers and mixed farms in mind, it offers outstanding fall and spring vigour, excellent winter hardiness, and strong standability for dependable performance across diverse growing conditions. What sets SU Baresi apart is its flexibility. While it’s purpose-built for forage, it also delivers impressive grain yield potential, giving growers the confidence to take it to grain if conditions or market opportunities change, without sacrificing performance. A combination, often rare among true forage-type ryes. There really isn’t another true forage-type rye out there with this kind of grain upside. A strong fit for cattle producers and mixed farming operations, particularly in Alberta where early, high-quality forage and tonnage are key priorities, SU Baresi fills an important gap in our portf

U.S. Farmland Values Hit New Record High but Gains Slow

U.S. agricultural land values reached another record in 2026, although the pace of appreciation continued to ease, according to the latest annual Land Values Summary and cash rent estimates from the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Released Friday, the report showed the average value of U.S. farm real estate, including land and buildings, increased by $150, or 3.4%, to $4,500 per acre. It marked the sixth consecutive annual increase but the slowest gain since the current upswing began in 2021. Annual growth has steadily moderated from 11.7% in 2022 to 6.7% in 2023, 5% in 2024 and 4.3% in 2025. Despite the slowdown, average farm real estate values are nearly 44% higher than in 2020, according to an American Farm Bureau Federation market intel article on Tuesday. Cropland values rose 3.3%, or $190, to a record $6,020 per acre. Pasture values increased 4.2% to $2,000 per acre. Since 2020, cropland values have climbed 48%, while pasture values are nearly 43% higher.

© 2026   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service