John Beardsley's Page

Government of Canada to invest in national initiatives for automation and digital technologies in the agriculture and agri-food sector

The Government of Canada continues to spur innovation by investing in the agriculture and agri-food industry, creating good middle-class jobs and ensuring the sector punches above its weight in a competitive global market.

Soybean Seasonal Summary 2018

The saying in cropping “rain makes grain” was certainly true for soybeans in 2018. Above average rainfall in late July and August resulted in the highest provincial yields on record. What makes this achievement especially impressive is that much of May, June, and even the first half of July were very dry. At the end of the day Ontario soybeans out-yielded all provinces in Canada and will out-yield the US average. With 51% of insured growers having reported to date, the provincial average for 2018 presently sits at 54 bu/ac. The 10-year average for those reported acres is 46 bu/ac. The final 2018 average will likely drop as more acres are reported but regardless, it’s an amazing outcome considering the challenges faced this year. The highest provincial average prior to this year was in 2012 when soybeans yielded 48.3 bu/ac. Research trials reached over 95 bu/ac showing the incredible potential of soybean genetics under favorable growing conditions in Ontario. It was also one of the larg

New Soil Fertility Handbook Released!

It’s called the Soil Fertility Handbook and was first published in 1998. The book covers topics such as soil testing, soil pH and lime and fertilizer application. There’s a chapter on organic nutrient sources, like manure, biosolids and cover crops, as well as tips for identifying nutrient deficiencies in the field. It’s comprehensive and written in plain language. The Soil Fertility Handbook is often included as reading in university courses, but it can just as easily be used as a handy, everyday guide.

Five start-ups will show off their achievements on Demo Day and try to convince investors that they have what it takes to reinvent dairy

Agropur Cooperative is holding its first Demo Day in Montreal. The event is the culmination of Agropur's Inno Accel business accelerator program, the first of its kind in the North American dairy industry. The five start-ups in the first Inno Accel cohort will present their businesses and achievements to an audience drawn from the North American entrepreneurial ecosystem and try to convince a select group of invited potential investors to back their businesses and help them grow.

Ontario Announced New Accountability Measures on Government Spending

After 15 years of the previous government's fiscal mismanagement, Ontario's Government continues to keep its promise of achieving value for every taxpayer dollar spent. On Tuesday, Treasury Board President Peter Bethlenfalvy announced the launch of the new Audit and Accountability Committee.