Food Skills and Education Assessment

Author: Latasha Isaacs The purpose of this report was to gather information from various stakeholders on policies and initiatives that can be developed and implemented into the Algoma Food and Farming Strategy being led by the Algoma Food Network. About the Strategy The Algoma Food Strategy is being proposed as a community based approach to developing a healthy and sustainable …

Algoma Hops Production Opportunities

A small group of farmers in Algoma have approached RAIN for support investigating whether hops production could be viable in Algoma District. RAIN surveyed breweries based in northern Ontario to determine if there would be a market for local hops, and if growers could supply the growing micro- and craft beer industry. This survey was presented to craft and microbreweries …

Join the Crop Caravan!

The North Eastern Soil and Crop Improvement Association has set up tour dates across the north east to introduce new OMAFRA Crop Specialists to the north. Algoma’s date is July 19. Instead of a single big event the Algoma Soil & Crop Improvement Association (ASCIA) has opted for a series of different tours to allow producers to choose sessions that …

2015 Pasture Improvement Results: Grazing Management

Method Two farms were set up with five paddocks each: one paddock per farm was continuously grazed; the other four were managed under rotational grazing. Forage samples were taken for nutrient analysis from the cattle farm on June 18 and the mixed livestock farm on October 5. Yield measurements at the cattle farm were done on June 18 and August …

What Pollinators are Buzzing around the North?

The Rural Agri-Innovation Network (RAIN) helps the University of Guelph with a pollinator monitoring research project Photo credit: Susie Sun Sault Ste. Marie (June 23, 2016): Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre’s Rural Agri-Innovation Network (RAIN) is assisting the University of Guelph with a pollinator monitoring research project looking at pollinators across Ontario. This project has created an opportunity to expand …

2015 Pasture Improvement Results: Spanish River Carbonatite

Boreal Agrominerals Inc. owns the Spanish River Carbonatite (SRC) deposit. SRC is marketed as a soil amendment. It contains 50% calcium carbonite, 25% biotite, 12% apatite, and 13% trace minerals. It is also used as a liming agent. SRC contains following amounts of trace elements: Manganese (Mn) 1 200 ppm Zinc (Zn) 60 ppm Copper (Cu) 10 ppm Cobalt (Co) …

2015 Results from the Keyline Plowing Trial

Method Keyline plowing was developed in Australia in the 1940s and ’50s. The technique uses a chisel subsoiler plow to break up soil compaction with minimal surface disturbance. “Keyline” describes the drive pattern, which is mapped out to work with the topography of a field to help redistribute water more effectively. This project is examining the impact of keyline pattern …

Wildlife Damage to Crops

The Ontario Federation of Agriculture is conducting a survey of wildlife damage to crops. The data collected will be presented to government to address this issue. The wildlife damage survey is available here and on www.farmnorth.com. The survey can be submitted online, via email to nofia.on@gmail.com or by regular mail to: Northern Ontario Farm Innovation Alliance (NOFIA) P.O. Box 2976, …

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RAIN Research Steering Committee Meeting Minutes

Monday, May 30, 2016 at 2:00pm Laird Township Board Room In attendance: Christine O’Reilly, Pedro Antunes, Edith Orr, Errol Caldwell, David Thompson, Alf Roberts, Kristen Taylor Regrets: Jason Koivisto CO’R opened the meeting with an overview of the steps involved to develop new research projects and the role of the Research Steering Committee. See the Research Project Process Flow Chart …

Measuring pasture yield is key to grazing management

by Christine O’Reilly, RAIN Research Technician   If you’re rotationally grazing but you’re not measuring your pasture, you aren’t managing your grazing: you’re just moving livestock around. Think of measuring your pasture like keeping an inventory of the feed available on your farm: it is a real-time assessment of your pasture’s ability to feed your stock. Most animals eat a …