Northern Ontario farmers using research to enhance operations

Aug 29, 2016

Data collected at the Thunder Bay Agricultural Research Station

By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content
Farms.com

Some farmers in northern Ontario are using available data to make better use of their lands.

Mark Bolt turned part of his dairy farm into a commercial cash crop by planting 166 acres of winter rye, which will be transported to Canada Malt Company and Richardson Elevator.

Part of his reasoning for doing so is the research results from Tarlok Singh Sahota, the director of research, at the Thunder Bay Agricultural Research Station.

His research included experimenting with different crops that perform well in Thunder Bay’s short and unique growing season.

Tarlok Singh Sahota
Photo: Chronicle Journal

According to The Chronicle Journal, Sahota found that winter wheat, canola, alfalfa, winter rye and flax can handle Ontario’s north.

One dairy farmer planted corn and saw great results.

The Chronicle Journal reports that after feeding the cows corn for 10 days, the farmer noticed a three litre milk increase per cow, per day, as well as improved butter fat content from 3.9 per cent to 4.4 per cent.

Sahota said there are three distinct elements that affect crops: genetics, management and weather.

“You need a high quality of seed that is planted at the optimum time with the proper balance of fertilizers,” he told The Chronicle Journal. “Optimum plant population, or the right amount of seed will produce a healthy stand.”

Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.