News from our rich agriculture history

The Farms.com farm and rural history website is dedicated to celebrating and digitizing the last 150 years of success in the Canadian agriculture and food industry. The agriculture and food industries in Canada have a rich heritage of innovation, and have laid a foundation of excellence upon which we continue to grow. We celebrate Canada’s food and agriculture innovations on these pages.

Deepening Farms with Dynamite

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED | AUGUST 29, 1912 | THE FARMER'S ADVOCATE

The use of low-grade dynamite containing about twenty percent of nitroglycerine for removing stumps and boulders impeding cultivation on the farm has been proven an unqualified success at many local demonstrations, as well as in the hands of numerous farmers employing it in ordinary use. The Farmer’s Advocate of May 16th 1912, described the results of a public demonstration at Weldwood,

This cartoon appeared in the February 1955 edition of Better Farming magazine. It was drawn by the cartoonist Walt Wetterberg who made a career using humour and cartoons

This milker was designed by the Mehring Company. William Mehring’s major innovation was the inclusion of a foot treadle to power the milker. This type of design was

Submit Article Idea

THE FARM TRACTOR

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED | JULY 8, 1922 | THE CANADIAN COUNTRYMAN

The relative merits of the tractor and the horse for doing farm work is a question which could be argued until Doomsday without arriving at a conclusion that would be satisfactory to all concerned. The tractor enthusiasts can quote figures to show that the tractor performs work more cheaply than horses, and those who back the horse can produce figures equally convincing to prove that for real

George A. Attridge

FEBRUARY 14, 1875 - JUNE 30, 1963

George Attridge was a farmer and community leader of Kent County. He was born on a farm in Orford on February 14, 1875. Throughout his life he liberally dedicated his time and energy for the advancements of agriculture and the needs of farmers in his township. He was right at the forefront of nearly every agricultural movement in Kent, involving himself with several notable organizations. More than this, he also held a deep passion for livestock, being highly involved in fairs and show-rings.

He was instrumental in organizing the Western Ontario Consignment Sales Company, whose

John G. Rayner

OCTOBER 1, 1890 – JUNE 30, 1952

John George Rayner was an agriculturist in Saskatchewan who was involved in various notable organizations. However, it was his work in rural education for which Rayner will always be best remembered. He was born on October 1, 1890, in London, England. His family emigrated to Canada when he was only two years old, settling in the farming community of Virden, Manitoba and adopting the life of Canadian farmers. He graduated from the Virden high school before attending the Manitoba College of Agriculture, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in 1913.

A year after graduating Rayner

This website uses tracking tools, including cookies. We use these technologies for a variety of reasons, including to recognize new and past website users, to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests.
You agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Access by clicking I agree.

News from our rich agriculture history

Deepening Farms with Dynamite

Ada the Ayrshire

Mehring Milker

THE FARM TRACTOR

lives lived

George A. Attridge

John G. Rayner