November 2010
The Big Picture: The good food gap
By: Claire Cowan
AS TALK OF a national food policy becomes more common place, there are an increasing number of players weighing into the debate of what such a policy might look like. Politicians, researchers, experts, farmers and non-farmers alike all have an opinion on whether or not we need a policy and what should it should include.One recent report released by the Metcalf Foundation, which funds research in the areas of the environment, the performing arts and low-income communities, outlines a serious
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November 2010
Cropside: When corn looks dead
By: Greg Stewart, Corn Specialist and Albert Tenuta, Field Crop Pathologist, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
IDENTIFYING THE CULPRIT behind dead-looking corn can be challenging. Use the following information and photos to help remove the mystery surrounding physiological and disease causing reasons for dead-looking corn.Not all top die back is disease related. However, in some cases leaf diseases place an extra stress on the plant’s ability to fill the ear and this hastens senescence. Under these conditions the plant tends to cannibalize itself as it moves carbohydrates from the leaves and
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November 2010
In the news
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SOY-BASED SEALANT TESTEDGREY County Department of Transportation is trying a new soy-based asphalt sealant on a one kilometre stretch of road near Owen Sound. The sealant, which was featured in the December 2009 issue of this magazine, is a soy-based pavement preservation agent that could extend the average life span on asphalt-paved surfaces from 15 to 20 years. This new sealant replaces the petroleum-based ingredients typically used with soybean oils. Currently, the product is made
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November 2010
Research Roundup
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HIGH OIL SOYBEANS in the worksJoey SabljicIn the search for greener, alternative fuels, soybeans are among Ontario’s most available, renewable and cheapest sources of oil for biodiesel production. However, the main drawback is that most domestically grown soybean varieties only contain about 20 percent oil, compared to other oils such as canola (44 percent) or sunflower (50 to 55 percent). A research team from the University of Guelph, led by Dr. Istvan Rajcan from Plant
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November 2010
Future of Grain
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DEKALB LAUNCHES MOBILE appA new Plant Population Calculator Application is now available for use on Blackberry devices. The application provides corn and soybean growers with recommended planting populations for their crops. Users of the application are prompted to fill in information such as crop, soil type, row width and additional crop specific variables as part of the steps required to generate a recommendation, says the company.“From both ease of use and agronomic perspectives,
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November 2010
New young leader chosen
By: Meghan Burke, Grain Farmers of Ontario
GRAIN FARMERS OF ontario has selected Jessica Schouten as the Canadian representative for the 2011 American Soybean Association (ASA) and Dupont Young Leader Program. The program offers an excellent opportunity to help train Ontario’s future farm leaders. Participants benefit from lessons in public speaking and exposure to successful farm leaders. The greater farm industry benefits from the future potential of well trained leaders.After reviewing several applications, Jessica was
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November 2010
Rent, own or lease?
By: Treena Hein
THE CHOICE TO rent or buy farm equipment is still a bit of a novelty among Ontario producers. “Up until about a decade ago, your only option was to buy or maybe borrow from a neighbour,” observes Jeff Snowe, a crop farmer in Arthur and the manager of Total Equipment Rental, which has branches in Elmira, Listowel and Acton.There also used to be resistance to the idea of renting among farmers, but Snowe notes that has changed as well. “There was the attitude that ‘My dad bought and I am going
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November 2010
Growing the right grain
By: Jeanine Moyer
HEALTHY AND WHOLE wheat are two terms often used interchangeably with consumers these days. The trend to eat whole grains because it’s healthier is popular, but consumers are resisting whole wheat products and processers want to know why. To answer that question, processors and end users of Ontario wheat have teamed up with researchers and breeders. This unique collaboration will determine how to make whole wheat products more acceptable to consumers while making sure Ontario wheat farmers
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November 2010
Maximizing plant populations
By: Tony Balkwill, Crop Specialist
AT THE WRAP up of another great year there are likely many growers looking to upgrade equipment. Modern equipment has many high tech features and sometimes it seems you need the help of experienced professionals just to make sense of them all. Sorting through the options list when ordering new equipment can be a few pages long and every “tick” in the box has a dollar figure attached to it. When taking a look at a new planter, consider one of the most discussed bells and whistles of the
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November 2010
Pesticide residue report misleading
By: Lilian Schaer, AGCare
THE USE OF crop protection materials in our food production is a source of ongoing debate – and much of it gives little credence to solid, scientific evidence. Earlier this summer, a US activist group released its yearly list of fruits and vegetables – the so-called “Dirty Dozen List” – they say consumers should avoid eating because they contain the highest levels of pesticide residues.The list, which included consumer favourites like peaches, strawberries, blueberries, apples and cherries,
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