April 2011
The Big Picture: The "food experience"
By: Claire Cowan
A TRIP TO the grocery store used to be a necessary errand that didn’t exactly bring much pleasure. But, over the years, grocery stores have evolved and many have made an effort to make the experience of food shopping more enjoyable. Not many stores have gone quite as far as Sobeys to create a “food experience” for their customers. At a newly opened store in Waterloo, Sobeys has created a one-of-a-kind concept store that takes the “food experience” to an entirely new level. “We’re
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April 2011
In the news
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2011 AG CENSUS on the wayCensus of Agriculture questionnaires will be mailed to all farmers in Canada over the first two weeks of May. Alternatively to filling out the paper survey, farmers can use the new internet application which automatically adds totals and skips through the parts of the questionnaire that are not applicable.The census captures a data “snapshot” to help create an up-to-date picture of agriculture in Canada. The profile of Canada’s farmers and the agriculture industry
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April 2011
Future of Grain
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NEW WEED CONTROL System - EnlistTMIn March, Dow AgroSciences announced the Enlist Weed Control System. This new herbicide tolerant trait offers tolerance to a 2,4-D product and glyphosate. According to Dow AgroSciences, the system will partner with and improve upon the glyphosate-tolerant cropping system. It will enable broad-spectrum control against weeds and a large window for application that aligns with glyphosate timelines. The Enlist Weed Control System is scheduled for
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April 2011
Research Roundup
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ONTARIO CORN RE-PLANT decision calculator on the wayJohnny RobertsLarger farms and the strong association between higher yields and early planting have contributed to decisions to plant corn earlier than ever before. That means current re-plant recommendations need updating.In 2010, Dr. David Hooker, at the University of Guelph’s Ridgetown Campus, worked alongside Greg Stewart (OMAFRA), Scott Jay (UofG Ridgetown), and Byron Good (UofG), to plant a predetermined mix of
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April 2011
Cropside: N rates and lodging to help determine N rates
By: Peter Johnson, Cereal Specialist, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
IN MEETINGS THROUGHOUT the winter we have been discussing higher nitrogen rates for cereals. Our research definitely suggests that higher N rates combined with fungicides can result in higher yields and more profit for soft winter wheat growers. But, there are some key factors to consider before you start changing N rates on your own farm. Too much N can cause lodging and totally negate any added yield benefits. Consider these three points to predict the lodging potential in
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April 2011
The challenge is on! Is your field ready?
By: Claire Cowan
THE SEED IS selected and the planters prepared, all that’s left is the right soil moisture reading and the 2011 season will be off to the races. Every farmer is hoping for a good year with high yields and good quality across the whole farm. But, every farm has its sweet spot: the back field that’s high in organic matter or the field behind the barn that gets manure every year. The challenges have been announced and GFO is anxious to see who will step up to the plate and put that sweet spot
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April 2011
Fertilizer for soybeans - does it pay?
By: Horst Bohner, Soybean Specialist, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
TRADITIONALLY, SOYBEANS DO not received much, if any, fertilizer. Soybeans are efficient in providing their own nitrogen through biological nitrogen fixation and typically, there has been enough residual phosphorus and potassium left behind by previous crops to provide essential nutrients.Good prices for corn and soybeans have many Ontario growers moving to shorter rotations between soybean crops and high fertilizer prices have resulted in lower application rates in corn and wheat. With more
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April 2011
Comparing herbicide programs in IP soybeans
By: Mike Cowbrough, Weed Specialist, OMAFRA; Drs. François Tardif, Clarence Swanton and Peter Sikkema, University of Guelph
MANAGING WEEDS IN Identity Preserved, non-GMO soybeans is a constant challenge for growers. With a magnitude of options and various species to control, accurate, non-bias data is important. Field studies at Elora and Woodstock have evaluated herbicide treatments based on their weed control efficacy and the yield protection they provided. Important differences were found among those treatments (Table 1). This research also examined tough-to-control weeds and herbicide application
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April 2011
Celebrating a leader in research
By: Rebecca Hannam
THE ONTARIO SOYBEAN industry has grown by leaps and bounds over the past few decades. There is no doubt that the sector has benefited from a number of influential leaders. Ontario soybean growers can attribute much of their success to researchers, for instance, who help them make sound production decisions, provide timely agronomic information and offer ongoing support.With that in mind, celebrating the evolution of soybeans in Ontario was less about bushels and more about people at the GFO
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April 2011
Hiring it out or doing yourself?
By: Treena Hein
DUE TO ECONOMIC benefits, convenience and other reasons, more and more Ontario farmers are choosing to hire custom spraying services instead of doing it themselves. It’s an efficient way of operating a farm business, says Larry Batte, an associate with Collins Barrow accounting firm in Stratford, Ontario. For example, “it allows a dairy or hog farmer who also grows crops to spend more time managing livestock,” he notes. This is true for Millspring Farms, a 1,400 acre cash crop and dairy farm
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