Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

The CFFO Commentary: Hay East Initiative Demonstrates Farmers Willingness to Help Each Other

By Nathan Stevens
September 14, 2012 
 
Tough times can bring out the best and worst in people. The drought that has impacted some areas of the province is an instance where the best is coming out in Canadian Farmers. The efforts being made to put together a “Hay East” campaign demonstrates that farmers separated by thousands of kilometers can pull together in times of need.
Back in 2002, Eastern Canadian farmers provided over 110,000 tonnes of hay to Western Canadian farmers through the “Hay West” campaign when they suffered the worst drought since the dustbowl years. Fundraising concerts were held, people donated financially and relief was brought across the country for farmers and their livestock that stood in need.

Today, a group of Saskatchewan farmers are hoping to return the favour as Eastern Ontario is suffering from severe drought and hay shortages. Mennonite Disaster Services and farm organizations are pulling together a plan for “Hay East.” A fundraising concert (http://www.farmaidottawa.com/) will be taking place this weekend in Ottawa in an effort to gather support for Eastern Ontario farmers.

The Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario (CFFO) is working with industry partners to source forages for livestock producers with limited hay supply for the winter months. Many of the details are still being developed, but now is the time for farmers in need to let their farm organizations know.

If your farm requires hay this year, visit the CFFO Website (www.christianfarmers.org) for further information on how to add your name to the province wide database. Once program details and hay sources are confirmed, farmers on the list will be invited to apply for a share of the available supply. In the meantime, to access available Ontario hay, try the Ontario Hay Listings Service at www.ontariohaylistings.ca

Tough times are bringing out the best in Canadian Farmers. The effort to pull together a “Hay East” campaign demonstrates that farmers have a community spirit of sharing the load.


 

Nathan Stevens is the Interim Manager and Director of Policy Development for the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario. The CFFO Commentary represents the opinions of the writer and does not necessarily represent CFFO policy. The CFFO Commentary is heard weekly on CFCO Chatham, CKNX Wingham, and UCB Canada radio stations in Chatham, Belleville, Bancroft, Brockville and Kingston and in Brantford and Woodstock. It is also found on the CFFO website:www.christianfarmers.org. CFFO is supported by 4,200 family farmers across Ontario.

Views: 89

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

Ag ministers wrap up FPT meetings in Winnipeg

Announced programs let farmers know the government has their backs, the federal minister said

Fall Frost in Soybeans – Assessing the Risk

It is not unusual in southern Manitoba, as we move from summer to fall, for the first significant dip in overnight temperatures to occur in late August to early September. Sometimes it is of no consequence to our soybean crop. The overnight lows forecast for the next few days suggest that we need to be on our toes this time around. Here are some points to consider: Severity of Frost Every frost event in every field happens within its own unique microclimate and the amount of damage to the soybean crop depends on the interaction of several factors. It is not simply a matter of how cold it ultimately got overnight unless temperatures drop dramatically. This is not usually the case with the first frost event of the fall. Further, temperatures reported at weather stations are usually done at around chest height. At this time of year, the air temperature at ground level versus four or more feet above ground level can be very different in either a way that helps or hurts us. Ultimately y

Pulse & Soybean Crop Update

Soybeans range from R6 (full seed) to late R7 (mid-maturity) with most crops at R6.5 to R7. Very early varieties, most often being grown for seed production have achieved R8 (95% brown pod) and are drying down with a few fields of such material already harvested. Soybean Maturity Guide ? Last week saw temperatures across the province approach or go below 0oC on multiple occasions. While widespread frost damage to soybeans did not occur, there were areas where extensive plant freezing did occur. With most crops in later R6 to R7 growth stages, overall yield and quality losses are expected to be small but some later maturing fields in early R6 (or even very late R5) were negatively affected. Late-season stem diseases like pod and stem blight or anthracnose are being noticed at low levels in some fields. With these diseases setting in at this late stage and occurring at low severities, they are not expected to impact yield or quality. White mould has been found in more fields this year.

Inconsistent weather, tariffs loom over Manitoba’s harvest

After a few days’ break due to rain, Korey Peters is back harvesting his crops. “Two-thirds done wheat,” he told Global News Thursday, adding that amounts to roughly 25 per cent of the total harvest at Herbsigwil Farms in Randolph, Man. “You never really know until you start harvesting,” Peters said. “We thought our wheat was going to be maybe a little above average, and it just wasn’t. So once we started harvesting, we realized it wasn’t as good as we were hoping, sometimes there’s really not much you can do in the end. “It’s Mother Nature’s decision.” Mother Nature has been particularly inconsistent this year, according to Keystone Agricultural Producers Vice-President Jake Ayre. “Quite a mixed bag this season. We’ve had varying amounts of precipitation across the province,” he said. “Yields ranging from very good to excellent to poor. That’s, again, varying on moisture.” Earlier this year, the RM of West Interlake declared an agricultural emergency due to drought. The province

Flooded fields after heavy rains slow start of harvest in south-central Manitoba

On the edge of a wheat field east of Poplar Point, Man., water had pooled more than 30 centimetres deep this week, swallowing rows of crops. Producer Carl Stewart says his 2,300-hectare (5,800-acre) wheat, canola and soybean farm has been hit with more rain in the past two weeks than the rest of the summer combined. Some storms brought almost 80 millimetres of water, flooding fields and making it tough to get equipment in for harvest. Stewart's farm is about 30 kilometres east of Portage la Prairie, an area that normally gets 73 millimetres of rain in August. After being hit with 100 millimetres of rain overnight on Aug. 20-21, it's now had 115 millimetres this month — 157 per cent of the normal monthly total. That will hit his bottom line this year, said Stewart. "We're going to have to leave some acres behind, and unfortunately those acres are the ones that go to the bank, not to our creditors," he said. A section of wheat on the farm has been flattened by the rain, slowing down

© 2025   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service