Ontario Agriculture

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Its a common misconception that a grain farmer gets the winter off.  Granted the daily chores are not so urgent as planting or harvest, but they need to get done eventually.  Unlike farms with livestock, who probably never get a day off, this is a slower time of year.  

The late fall resulted in a lot of delays in equipment maintenance.  Its now the time to make those repairs and modifications to equipment, without the pressure of having to get it done now.  My 5 furrow plow is ready for new points, shin plates..etc but it won't be needed until after wheat harvest.  The header on my combine needs just about everything and i have taken it half apart so far.  Its far more enjoyable to take time to fix/rebuild it properly than to rush to a "good enough" state and suffer break downs in the rush of harvest.  

But its not just a time for maintenance, its time to plan next years crops.  Early purchases of seed can save a bit of money, and ensure supply for what you want.  My farm divides up well into 5 fields of 50 to 55 acres each.  The wet fall prevented me from getting one completely planted in winter wheat, so i only have about 40 acres currently planted, and the rains so far have been taking there toll.  I can't be sure i will harvest anything.  So i must have the plan of what to do if i must work down the wheat in the spring.  Sadly, this weeks rain and subsequent floods from undersized pumps in the local drainage scheme places half my crop under water.

It would be simple to just grow the crop with the best income per acre.  Prices today would point to corn.  A good yield will give the best returns, but corn is expensive to grow.  The fertilizer costs are significant.  And it may take too long to get everything planted.  Furthermore, you shouldn't grow corn year after year in the same field.  Crop rotations are needed to reduce disease, pests and for weed control. My goal, one field into corn.  That works well with my available bin space, but those few extra acres that didn't make it into wheat might see corn.  I need to consider what will be planted the following year before finalizing that decision. 

Next money maker is soybeans.  You can't grow soy every year and maintain the high yields.  If you grow IP beans or non-GMO.  Then weed control can be much more work, with cultivating and hoeing the field.  This can provide for a premium though.  But last years crop may prevent getting an IP contract.  It can't be planted on GMO soy from the previous year.  I will try my hand with one field of IP.

So why did i even plant any wheat.  For crop rotation.  Wheat doesn't bring in the big money, but when the straw is plowed under it adds all that organic mater and makes for great soil conditions for the following crop.  Corn loves wheat ground.  Just for the yield benefits in the following years crop gives wheat a permanent home in my rotation plans.

After bouncing all these competing priorities, i still need to pick which varieties to grow.  There is no shortage of research available to see what traits to have, seed treatments, how many heat units for maturity, genetically modified or not, bin run seed or new.  Its a time for reading and learning.  I still need to determine what herbicides i should use for weed control.  Its starting to get overwhelming just typing about it.  The good news is, starting now, time is on my side, at least for a few more weeks.  So between wrenches on the equipment and eyes in the books, I almost won't have time to help my wife clean the chicken coop.  I am sure she will help me find the time though!

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Soybean Fungicide Decisions

As soybean crops move into flowering, questions are sure to be raised about whether fungicide applications are needed. In anticipation, let’s take a closer look at the potential disease threats and what Manitoba On-Farm Network research has told us. What Should We Be Concerned About? Foliar diseases infecting soybeans in Manitoba typically occur at low severity levels and are not expected to impact yield most years. These usually include bacterial blight, downy mildew and Septoria brown spot. Stem diseases generally have a greater impact on yield. White mould: infections begin at nodes along the main stem. Wilted plants may be spotted from afar, within a humid canopy may find white mycelial growth and black sclerotia bodies later in the season. This disease is the main target of fungicide applications. Cool, wet conditions throughout July and August favour white mould. For every 10% increase in the percent of plants infected with white mould, 2-5 bu/ac of yield are lost in soybeans.

Fungicide Decision Tool for Managing Mycosphaerella Blight in Field Peas

When your peas have reached V10 (10th node stage), it is an ideal time to start scouting each field to evaluate if a fungicide application to manage Mycosphaerella blight is warranted. Continue scouting for symptoms from V10 (10th true node) to R2 (beginning bloom), during mid-June to late July. Mycosphaerella (Ascochyta) blight is the most widespread and economically damaging foliar disease of Manitoba field peas. Peas are the single host crop of Mycosphaerella but it can be managed by foliar fungicide. This pathogen can be stubble-, air-, soil- and seed-borne. Spores can travel long distances by air, meaning there is a disease risk even in fields where peas have not been grown previously. The impact of disease severity on yield will depend on how early the disease sets in and how quickly it progresses into the upper crop canopy. Early infections during the bloom to early/mid-pod stages cause the most damage if left untreated. Use this fungicide decision worksheet when scouting to

Manitoba pork, canola producers hold steady amid heavy tariffs

A slab of back bacon from Natural Raised Pork comes with a waitlist. Ian Smith points to tariffs. Since the United States placed levies on imports from Canada, Manitobans have increasingly been calling Smith about his farm near Argyle, some 40 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg. “There’s more people wanting to support local and I’m one of few people that do what I’m doing,” said Smith, 62. He estimates 90 per cent of his pork products are bought by Manitoba households; the latter goes to a packing plant. Last year, it was a 50-50 split. Smith works alone, hustling to meet the four-to-six week waitlist that’s accumulated. He keeps hundreds of feeder pigs and a couple dozen sows; it’s a relatively small operation, he noted. “If there’s any mistakes to be made, there’s only one person to blame and that’s me,” he said with a laugh. Smith doesn’t export to China — so he’s shielded from that nation’s levies still hanging over the Canadian industry.

KAP Welcomes Appointment of New U.S. Trade Representative

Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) welcomes the appointment of Richard Madan as Manitoba’s new trade representative to the United States. “We commend Premier Kinew and Minister Moses for making Manitoba’s voice a priority in Washington, D.C.,” said KAP President Jill Verwey. “We look forward to working with Mr. Madan to advance the interests of Manitoba farmers and the agricultural industry, ensuring these interests are at the forefront of his work as he forges stronger relationships with American policymakers and trade officials.” Agriculture is an important part of Manitoba’s economy, with $4.29 billion in agri-food exports to the U.S. alone in 2024, and KAP sees the new presence in Washington as instrumental in fostering strategic relationships with key states that are important to our trade interests. “The U.S. is Manitoba’s largest agri-food export destination and is one of Manitoba’s key trading partners on the international stage,” added KAP General Manager Colin Hornby. “

2025 Annual General Meeting

On Wednesday, June 18th, the Ontario Farmland Trust hosted its Annual General Meeting. The meeting was held hybrid again this year, with members and friends joining both virtually and in person.

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