Gary Sliworsky – Agricultural Report
Under normal circumstances, plants take up nitrogen in the form of nitrate; it is converted to ammonia, which is incorporated into plant protein. Cattle convert the nitrate from plants to nitrite, which, in turn, is converted to ammonia and used by microbes in the rumen to make protein. However, with […]
Under normal circumstances, plants take up nitrogen in the form of nitrate; it is converted to ammonia, which is incorporated into plant protein. Cattle convert the nitrate from plants to nitrite, which, in turn, is converted to ammonia and used by microbes in the rumen to make protein. However, with […]
Grain augers are a significant cause of farm injuries, with many caused by workers being drawn into the auger. Several farming-related critical and fatal injuries have been reported to the Ontario Ministry of Labour. On farms, the hazards associated with the use of augers can be minimized by the use […]
It’s a farmer’s nightmare: finding a case of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) or bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in their herd. Beef farmers today still recall how long it took for the sector to recover when BSE hit in 2003—and how difficult it was to make decisions during the evolving and complex […]
By Gary Sliworsky Ag and rural rep, Emo During the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) crisis of 2003, farmers embraced swath grazing—and it likely saved some of them from bankruptcy because it dramatically reduced winter feeding costs. Today, about 22 percent of Prairie cattle producers use swath grazing for winter feeding. […]
There are many things you need to think about when starting a farm. Some of these things are: what do you want to produce, where are you going to produce it, how are you going to gain the skills to do so, and how are you going to finance this […]
Nitrate is the form of nitrogen that plant roots take up from the soil. It is transported to the leaves, where it eventually is converted into protein. When plants are stressed or injured, this process is interrupted and excess nitrates accumulate. Drought, hot dry winds, hail, or frost can result […]
By Gary Sliworsky Ag and rural rep The following is the first of a two-part article on lowering predation losses by Barry Potter, OMAFRA: Livestock predation costs. Predation costs the farmer time, money, and emotional stress when production animals are destroyed. Predation also costs the government time, money, and emotional […]
The following is the first of a two-part article on lowering predation losses by Barry Potter, OMAFRA: Livestock predation costs. Predation costs the farmer time, money, and emotional stress when production animals are destroyed. Predation also costs the government time, money, and emotional stress as public servants and municipal evaluators […]
By Gary Sliworsky Ag and rural rep The Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association, in partnership with Environment and Climate Change Canada, is pleased to announce the availability of the new Grassland Stewardship Program—the first program offered in Ontario under the Species at Risk Partnerships on Agricultural Lands initiative. This […]
Soil organic matter (SOM) is the single-most important soil property you have influence over through your management. Higher soil organic matter levels translate into better water-holding capacity. It also results in higher and more consistent yields in the long run. Many of the key management practices that help build SOM […]
