Ontario Grain Farmer Magazine is the flagship publication of Grain Farmers of Ontario and a source of information for our province’s grain farmers.

Grain Farmers of Ontario

Author: Matt McIntosh

Putting farm robotics to the test

Event highlights challenges, potential, and networking opportunities

November 2026 - The AIVA network is testing farm technologies in real-world conditions to help farmers make informed investments. A growing community of farmers, researchers, facilitators, and innovators are partnering to validate new agricultural technologies on farms across…
Closures and mergers pose a risk for ag-tech

What farmers should weigh before investing in ag-tech equipment and services

November 2026 - When ag-tech companies fail or change hands, farmers can be left with unsupported equipment, disrupted services, and costly decisions about what comes next. Chuck Baresich liked his fully electric, autonomous tractor. Now, with the parent…
Beyond simple soil chemistry

Looking below the surface could change how growers assess fertility decisions

October 2026 - A better understanding of soil complexity could help farmers improve yields, reduce input dependence, and keep more value on the farm. Soil is complex. Agronomists and farmers say it often, but do production decisions always…
Putting crop disease ratings to the test

Corn and soybean trials use local disease pressure to measure variety tolerance and management tools

October 2026 - Research plots in West Elgin help turn crop disease challenges into practical information for Ontario growers, seed companies, and breeders. Although dark skies were building over much of southwestern Ontario on the afternoon of September…
Robots, research help farmers rethink nitrogen management

Early on-farm trial results suggest some growers may be able to reduce nitrogen applications while maintaining yields and improving returns

September 2026 - Researchers and farmers shared lessons from nitrogen-reduction trials, including promising profit results and challenges with new technology. Farmers and agronomists gathered near Walkerton in June to learn how local producer Gerard Grubb is trying to…
Where crop protection products are put to the test

Syngenta’s Honeywood research station helps develop and troubleshoot seed treatments and sprays for Eastern Canadian farms

September 2026 - Testing is a critical step in bringing crop protection products from the lab to the field. A lot of research and troubleshooting goes into the development of new crop protection product sprays and seed coatings.…
Drones can increase cover cropping options

Drone operators discuss the successes and challenges of applying cover crops and fertilizer by drone

September 2026 - Drone operators say success still depends on planning around herbicide carryover, residue management, weather, calibration, and active monitoring, but the technology offers another tool for building soil health and expanding cover crop options. As Canada’s…
Saving farmland needs allies, planning expertise

Highlights from the 2026 Ontario Farmland Forum

August 2026 - Farmers can play a larger role in protecting Ontario farmland by building broad coalitions, understanding the planning process, and engaging decision-makers before development proposals reach the approval stage. Build coalitions, get involved, and know how…
Getting more for less

Leveraging the interconnectivity of soil chemistry, biology, and structure for healthier soils and better crops

June 2026 - Soil scientist and farmer Jill Clapperton provides insights on practical soil management strategies tailored to individual farm conditions rather than one-size-fits-all prescriptions. “Everything is connected. Everything we do starts with soil health.” Jill Clapperton, a…
Are drains also habitat?

Water management professionals support rethinking incentives for improved agricultural drains

April 2026 - Two-stage designs, Species at Risk pressures, and questions about cost-sharing are prompting fresh debate about how municipal drains serve farmers, communities, and ecosystems. Southern Ontario’s drainage network is characterized largely by straight, trapezoid-shaped drains. The…