Lyndsey Smith is a field editor for RealAgriculture. A self-proclaimed agnerd, Lyndsey is passionate about all things farming but is especially thrilled by agronomy and livestock production.
Positioning of the right crop protection products in the right region for the right timeframe is an annual logistics challenge. For the 2022 season, anticipated delivery snags and supply chain pinch points were managed as well as could be expected, but extreme conditions in Western Canada, and persistent manufacturer issues have suppliers and retailers working… Read More
There’s no denying the precision placement that a planter delivers, and there can be other advantages, too, including lower seed costs. But there are challenges to planting vs. seeding. Planters can limit fertility applications in one pass and require slower driving speeds. Plus, if you’ve got a well-equipped seeder, switching to or adding a new… Read More
What’s that saying about land? They’re not making any more of it. The latest Census of Agriculture suggests that farmers are the more scarce resource, however, as the total number of farmers dipped 3.5 per cent from 2016 to 2021. The trend to older farmers, especially compared against the Canadian population as a whole, continued with… Read More
If the very idea of hiring a new employee stresses you out, the HR Toolkit offered by the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC) might help. What’s more, your general farm organization membership may get you the toolkit free-of-charge. CAHRC is a national, non-profit organization focused on addressing human resource issues specific to farming and… Read More
Perhaps the only area of Canada really rolling full steam ahead on seeding or planting is southern Alberta, and that’s not because conditions are great — it’s just extremely dry. In Ontario, a slow start to the spring warm up and some wetter conditions have kept farmers from really getting going until just this weekend… Read More
It’s not totally uncommon for crop to go missing out of remote bins, especially when crop prices climb. Fuel thefts aren’t rare, either, and cattle rustling is still a thing. But lately, GPS units and pickup trucks seem to be the theft of choice for n’er-do-wells. Between a shortage of parts, high crop prices, high… Read More
It’s rare that cropping plans become a choice of winners. For many, including certain crops or level of acres in any given year is more about rotation benefits, weed control plans, or contractual obligations. But this year is different. This year, many if not all cropping options could prove profitable, if Mother Nature abides and… Read More
Ontario’s Feather Board Command Centre (FBCC) has released new information on confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) cases and the corresponding 10 km buffered biosecurity advisory area. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has confirmed the presence of HPAI, subtype H5N1 on 12 premises total. Since April 6, five new sites have been confirmed. They are: April… Read More
The federal government rolled out its 2022 budget this week, and in it are several programs for agriculture, including funding for research, adaptation, carbon sequestration and more. One of those programs, the On-Farm Climate Action Fund, received a major cash boost, from just under $200 million to $469.5 million over six years, starting in 2022-23. Announced last… Read More
If there’s one thing clear in Canada’s Emissions Reduction Plan, it’s that very few things are completely clear. Take for example what agriculture is expected to deliver in emissions reductions. It’s either a reduction of one percent, as listed on page 90, or an increase of one per cent as listed on page 219. Or… Read More
Put aside for a moment your opinion on the current federal government’s commitment to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. (Though, if you’re curious, you can read about what is proposed, here) There are two timeframes to think about in regards to carbon emissions — there’s the 2030 line in the sand, by which… Read More
The federal government has published its plan detailing expectations of carbon emissions reductions by 2030, by sector. This first of many Emissions Reduction Plans (ERP) sets out what each industry will be required to achieve under the climate plan to get Canada to net zero emissions by 2050. In a lengthy technical briefing Tuesday afternoon,… Read More
In what feels like just a short time and also a lifetime ago, two months has passed since we asked the question of what you’re most worried about accessing for the year ahead. Our last poll on the topic included labour and feed, but we are focusing this latest poll on crop production (don’t worry… Read More
After a few years’ pause, the Bank of Canada increased the overnight rate March 2, 2022. Analysts suggests it’s the first of at leasts two or more increases for this calendar year alone, to try and cool inflation (that is sitting just below 6 per cent at last report). For lines of credit, variable rate… Read More
For Albertans, selling carbon credits isn’t a new thing — there’s been a carbon credit exchange in place for years. But for most of the rest of Canadian farmers, selling carbon credits is a new thing, but is potentially about to become very common. Right now, there is a voluntary market for carbon credits, but… Read More
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