Winter Webinar: Balancing Farmland Protection & Housing Supply

Sep 27, 2023

The increasing demand for housing supply and affordability in Ontario is leading to pressure on municipalities to develop their shrinking agricultural land base. At the same time, the need to preserve these food-producing landscapes is becoming increasingly critical in the face of climate change. This session explores the challenges and opportunities faced in balancing the need for housing with farmland protection while contributing to climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies for municipalities.

Webinar attendees will learn about the current policies and practices in Ontario and other jurisdictions that have been successful in protecting farmland. By the end of the session, participants will have a deeper understanding of the complex issues at play, leaving with practical and innovative strategies for balancing these competing demands and ways to get involved in locally.

This webinar series will run from October to April.

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Video: Winter Canola Trial in Mississippi | Can It Work for Double Cropping? | Pioneer Agronomy

Can winter canola open new opportunities for growers in the Mid-South? In this agronomy update from Noxubee County, Mississippi, Pioneer agronomist Gus Eifling shares an early look at a first-year winter canola trial and what farmers are learning from the field.

Planted in late October on 30-inch rows, the crop is now entering the bloom stage and progressing quickly. In this video, we walk through current field conditions, fertility management, and how timing could make this crop a valuable option for double-cropping soybeans or cotton.

If harvest timing lines up with early May, growers may be able to transition directly into another crop during ideal planting windows. Ongoing field trials will help determine whether canola could become a viable rotational option for the region.

Watch for:

How winter canola is performing in its first season in this Mississippi field

Why growers chose 30-inch rows for this trial

What the crop looks like as it moves from bolting into bloom

Fertility strategy, including nitrogen and sulfur applications

How canola harvest timing could enable double-cropping with soybeans or cotton

Upcoming trials comparing soybeans after canola vs. traditional planting

As more growers look for ways to maximize acres and diversify rotations, experiments like this help determine what new crops might fit into existing systems.