DANIEL CHIAPPETTA CURRENTLY SERVES AS A GRAIN FARMERS OF ONTARIO DELEGATE IN DISTRICT 10 (GREY, BRUCE, WELLINGTON). PHOTO COURTESY OF DANIEL CHIAPPETTA. ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER 27 DECEMBER 2022 / JANUARY 2023 Chiappetta's interest in agriculture has grown beyond the farm — he also wants to serve as an industry leader. it doesn't work unless you try." He has been experimenting with cover crops, planting dates, and no-till. On his heavy clay soybean fields, he has found the longer he leaves the ground alone, the better off he is. The first two years he tried no-till he did not see a net benefit, but since then, he has found a higher return and a heartier crop. "The no-till soybean fields look rough in May and June because they can take longer to germinate. But once we get into the hot, dry summer, the no-till fields look a lot better than those heavily worked," he noted. Chiappetta has also learned to track the markets to decide which soybeans to grow and keeps an eye on trade issues. This global view of the soybean industry, and the farmer's place within it, is encouraged within the Young Leaders program. "Soybeans are the plant of the future," said Chiappetta. "With global trade, there is a high demand for this oilseed. It is a profitable crop to grow, and soybeans are the one crop that usually evens out when it comes to harvest time, even in a rough year." Grain Farmers of Ontario is an affiliate member of the American Soybean Association. Each year one representative from Ontario joins the representatives of the ASA's 26 state affiliates in the Young Leader program. Rachel Telford is the manager of memberrelations at Grain Farmers of Ontario. l
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