by Mikala Parr, Research Assistant The Algoma Soil and Crop Improvement Association conducted an on-farm assessment of several varieties of feed barley. One location near Thessalon on River Road was comparing CDC Austenson and AC Encore. This field was underseeded with alfalfa, clover, and timothy. Both varieties were sprayed with Cobutox 625 and MCPA 500, and given 8-32-16 fertilizer. Across …
Sorghum-sudangrass is a hybrid of forage sorghum and sudangrass that does well in Ontario’s climate. It is often used as emergency forage because it is sown in early summer. As a warm season grass, sorghum-sudangrass grows rapidly under hot conditions when most of Ontario’s other forages slow down. OMAFRA’s factsheet on sorghum-sudangrass suggests applying 100-125 kg/ha (90-110 lbs/ac) of nitrogen …
by Mikala Parr, Research Assistant The pasture improvement demonstration and assessment was put into place to demonstrate the effects that Spanish River Carbonatite has on pasture. Spanish River Carbonatite (SRC) is a natural mineral fertilizer and soil conditioner used by organic and conventional farmers. It contains a wide variety of minerals that are mined from an ancient deposit in Sudbury. …
by Mikala Parr, Research Assistant In 2014 RAIN’s Keyline Plowing Project was initiated to determine whether keyline pattern subsoiling would help with water distribution. The aim was to determine if the keyline technique had an impact on grass yield and the water content of soil throughout the field. Soil Nutrients In order to determine if the soil nutrients have been …
RAIN was invited to Thunder Bay to the Thunder Bay Agriculture Research Association’s AGM by Dr. Tarlok Singh Sahota and Andrew Brekveld to talk about the new micro-grant program SNAPP, as well as the Cross-seeding Forages Project that RAIN and TBARS are collaborating on. December 4th – Upon arrival in Thunder Bay, Dr. Sahota gave a guided tour of the …
Plants need sulphur to form amino acids, develop enzymes and vitamins, produce seeds, and make chlorophyll. Legumes also need sulphur for nitrogen fixation. Sulphur is most plant available as sulphate: SO4. Since the 1850s, air pollution provided enough sulphur for crop production in Ontario, except in the northwest. Recent initiatives to reduce air pollution have succeeded in addressing acid rain, …
Bruce Mines Community Hall, Bruce Mines, ON Friday Feb 24 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. / Saturday Feb 25 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. February 24th and 25th in partnership with the Agri-food Management Institute, the Rural Agri-Innovation Network/SSM Innovation Centre will host the Transition Smart: Producer to Processor workshop as part of the Next Generation North Program. An introduction …
24 November 2016 09:00 – 12:00 Laird Township Hall In attendance: David Thompson (RAIN Project Coordinator), Christine O’Reilly (RAIN Research Technician), Melissa Watson (RAIN Infrastructure Coordinator), Mikala Parr (RAIN Research Assistant), Jessica Laidley (RAIN CAFFE Project Coordinator), Edith Orr (Johnson Farmer’s Market/Market Gardener, Research Steering Committee), Gayle Broad (NORDIK Institute/RAIN Co-Chair), Arik Theijsmeijer (FedNor), Shawn Heard (East Algoma CDFC), Dave …
The Algoma Soil and Crop Improvement Association conducted an on-farm assessment of establishment methods for a cover crop to follow barley. Located near Desbarats, the field was split into different treatments. Both areas were seeded with a forage mixture: 70% timothy, 25% double cut red clover and 5% Alsike clover. The front of the field was broadcasted into the growing …
RAIN Launches New Program for Increased Success of Farm and Food Businesses Starting this Fall, the Rural Agri-Innovation Network (RAIN) has initiated a one-year program for farm and food businesses that are undergoing succession from one generation to the next or are starting a new farm or food venture. This program aims to increase the financial and planning abilities of …
