Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

1, 2, 3rd Week of April Already!

Wow, does time fly when your busy.  The mild and dry spring has given me plenty of opportunity to take care of a lot of field maintenance issues.  New culverts, fixed tiles, disc/level plowed ground.  I have made use of every minute of sunlight and good use of tractor lights as well.  

The ground has dried out well, allowing field work on what is usually the last to be fit, that plowed ground.  Even spreading urea on the wheat, not a mark in the field.  The moisture is there, just buried under a foot of soil, but although I like seeing the ground fit, it is too cold to plant and I am beginning to wonder if this is a sign of a dry year to come.

I can change a lot of things, the weather is not one of them, so I gladly accept it for what it is and make the best of it.

When things are so dry soil compaction is not a big concern, but that is what I have been working on.  A few new culverts on the home farm will allow me to haul grain out at five points instead of 3, this cuts the number of feet wagons are hauled in the field in more than half.  Now to accomplish this I will be farming the property at 90 degrees to the last 30+ years, and across the tiles.  Not sure if a more east-west orientation will have much impact on the yield, I have heard support for every direction, but I do know using the road more will mean driving on the farm less - and thats less soil compaction.  So if the weather does turn to wet, I am ready for it - or more likely ready to wait until it is fit as I should.   

So if the forecast holds true, I will likely burn a few vacation days next week to get the corn in the ground.  Its an exciting time of year.  This is the moment to get everything started off right, or to make troubles for the rest of the season.  My Grandfather often told me "take your time, get it just the way you want it before you plant".  That was good advice.  If the field isn't level for some reason that bump will line up perfectly with the wheels of the tractor when you spray, and will be completely invisible until the combine header is half full of dirt.  Not this year, its going to be TOTALY right before the seeds go in the ground.  

On the down side, I fully admit my farm is too big for part time.  The full time job seems to always be in the way of getting things done.  And when you go three straight weeks without taking any time off, it wears a man down.  And the real work hasn't even begun.  

For those who caught my last post, when leaving 5 feet extra space between sprayer passes you get a 2 foot wide green strip.  Which means i will leave at least 3 feet extra space between the edge of the sprayer and a non compatible crop.  Good to know when some crop is round-up ready and some is not.  It also means I didn't bother to go back and spray those strips of volunteer wheat.  Hope it doesn't cause plugging in the cultivator!  

Views: 143

Comment

You need to be a member of Ontario Agriculture to add comments!

Join Ontario Agriculture

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

Scrap to Steiger: Teen’s Metal Tractor Turns Heads at County Fair

At this year’s Dodge County Fair, one youth exhibit is sparking curiosity and admiration: a hand-built metal tractor crafted from 120 recycled parts by Columbus FFA member Jack Yelk.

Sustainability and productivity the focus of Manitoba 4R Day

Implementing 4R practices improves agricultural productivity and minimizes impact on the environment, helping farmers grow food in a sustainable way. EMILI hosted nearly 100 people at Innovation Farms on August 6 for Manitoba 4R Day, where attendees learned first-hand from industry experts about how to put the 4Rs – Right Source, Right Rate, Right Time, Right Place – into action. The morning began with a panel discussion between Bryce Geisel from Koch Fertilizer, Lyle Cowell from Nutrien and Marla Riekman from Manitoba Agriculture, moderated by Wendy McDonald from Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers, on real-world examples of 4R stewardship practices, common barriers to 4R adoption and use cases of enhanced efficiency fertilizers on farms in western Canada. The audience then rotated between three stations in the field. At the Managing 4R Stewardship with Innovative Technologies station, the audience dove into innovative technologies being tested, validated and demonstrated at EMILI’s

Young Innovators: USask researchers giving canola producers never-before-seen insight into their crops

To get a bigger picture of canola’s growth cycle, University of Saskatchewan (USask) graduate student Hansanee Fernando is turning her attention towards the sky, past the whips of cotton clouds, and into space, where she is harnessing satellite imagery to help canola producers monitor and grow healthy crops. “My PhD work aims to support farmers by identifying key growth stages and estimating yields, or how much the crop will produce, early on,” said Fernando. “I’m hoping to empower farmers to make informed decisions and optimize their management practices while potentially reducing costs, within the growing season.” To achieve this, Fernando is collecting images from open-source satellites and using these to map large scales sections of farmland across Western Canada. While optical satellite imaging is a commonly used technique that captures clear, crisp pictures of the Earth below—like you’d see on an online map—there are certain limitations that prevent researchers from collecting

Shokupan: Baking an Icon

Shokupan bread is just one example of how strong trade relationships can cross oceans, bridge knowledge gaps, and help maintain equitable market access for years to come. Also known as Hokkaido milk bread or Japanese milk bread, Shokupan is a staple food in Japan. Found in convenience stores and bakeries across the country, the iconic, pillowy-soft white bread reflects the fast-paced Japanese lifestyle—where quality and convenience intersect. Shokupan has a complex baking process which is the result of careful refinement of traditional processes and recipes. To achieve the signature fluffy texture and comforting flavour that Japanese customers expect, skilled bakers require ingredients that they can count on. The choice of many Japanese millers and bakers is Canada Western Red Spring wheat, known for its quality and functionality. “The exacting nature of Shokupan production, with its long fermentation process and minimal use of additives, requires wheat with a perfect balance of str

Growing and diversifying ag research

Alberta’s agriculture sector has a well-earned reputation for making the world’s best agri-food products, from high-quality honey to top-shelf triticale. That reputation is owed in part to innovative research the province’s two crop diversification centres (CDC) have been conducting for decades, that directly benefits farmers. With that in mind, Budget 2025 earmarked a total of $5.2 million for repairs, upgrades, replacements and operational support at both CDC North in northeast Edmonton and CDC South, southeast of Brooks. “Alberta’s farmers are the best in the world, driven by a tradition of constant innovation. Investing in our crop diversification centres ensures world-class research continues to deliver practical solutions that help our producers stay competitive.” Danielle Smith, Premier of Alberta The funding supports upgrades and replacements to greenhouses, labs and administrative buildings at both sites. It also funds essentials that have increased in cost, like fertilizer

© 2025   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service