CROP CAMERA

BREAKING NEWS: The crop camera has finally been set-up (YAY!!) inconjuction with the weather station. Please see the link on the right side of the page to check it out. Enjoy:)



By the way, press the "refresh" icon on your internet browser to refresh the image.



Information Regarding the Field Where the Crop Cam is Located:



- Kain Wheat planted

- Planted April 23, 2010

- 6246 Alpine Fertilizer used and 100 pounds of Uria; spread at 5 gallons per acre

- On May 27, 2010 the field was top dressed with another 100 pounds of Uria

- Sprayed May 28, 2010 using Refine Extra and MCPA







Thursday, February 18, 2010

OPA-- microFIT program

There has been a lot of talk about using a variety of different renewable energy sources. I am sure many of you are aware of the new '80 cent a kilowatt' that is being offered for powering into the Ontario's grid from the use of solar energy. For more details and how to set yourself with OPA, please check out the link below. Keep in mind there are other options as well, such as using manure, and wind turbines. Though, the other options are by far more expensive to set-up, they have the potential to offer a better economic turn over rate.
http://microfit.powerauthority.on.ca/

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Food Freedom Day-- country-guide.ca

First and foremost, thanks Terry Philips for finding this article. Enjoy:)

"Food Freedom Day" same time this year
Staff


General farm groups across Canada have marked Feb. 12 as "Food Freedom Day" for the second year in a row.

The occasion, marked by groups including the Canadian Federation of Agriculture and Ontario Federation of Agriculture, denotes the date on which the "average Canadian" has grossed enough income to pay his or her individual grocery bill for an entire year.

Food Freedom Day has turned up "slightly later" than in previous years, such as Feb. 3 in 2008, "due to the effects of the recession on disposable income and an increase in the price of food," the CFA said in a release.

The calculation is a "simple comparison of Canadians' disposable income and the amount they spend on food," the group said. Setting the date involved reviewing food prices over the past 30 years at both the farm gate and retail levels.

"This research highlighted the hard work farmers do in ensuring Canadian's receive great value for their food dollar," the CFA said.

However, CFA president and Quebec farmer Laurent Pellerin said in the same release, "while the prices Canadian consumers pay for food has been steadily increasing over the past 30 years, the amount that returns to the farm gate is relatively small."

OFA president Bette Jean Crews, in a separate release, said her province's farmers "remain proud of their role in providing food under the highest food safety and environmental standards, yet still Canadian consumers enjoy one of the most affordable food supplies in the world.

"Ontario consumers can be confident that from farm gate to the table, the safety, quality and value of Ontario-grown food is second to none," Crews said Friday.

"Taking a loss"

But a representative of the National Farmers Union wondered aloud why the occasion should be considered a point of pride.

"The point is, should we be celebrating the fact that farm families are underpaid?" Alberta farmer and NFU regional co-ordinator Margo Staniforth wrote in a separate op-ed piece Friday. "It's such an accepted part of our culture that we mistakenly think of it as normal."

Furthermore, she wrote, "given the level of inequality in Canadian society and the growing number of food banks across the country, I wonder whether the average Canadian consumer is really that well off."

Food Freedom Day, she wrote, "illustrates how much farm families in Canada subsidize food production through unpaid labour, off-farm jobs and high debt loads. Farm families are taking a loss while retailers, processors and other big corporations in the food system are making profits."

Some ag groups are looking to restore "market power" to farmers, she added. "It's not that we are looking to increase the price of groceries -- we're simply trying to ensure that the farmers keep their fair share of the consumer's food dollar."

Friday, February 12, 2010

Breaking Ground-- IPM addition

Hello all!

I have noticed that the Breaking Ground--IPM addition (Fall 2009), was a very popular issue. So popular that we no longer have any issues left. I have reposted the link for the issue on the side bar.
The IPM addition features photos from the IPM, articles and so forth so CHECK IT OUT!

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Growers Pesticide Courses

Once again the Growers Pesticide Safety Courses will be offered in the regions. The dates and location of the courses are;
March 11th for the district of Temiskaming (french course) in New Liskeard
March 12th for the distict of Cochrane (english course) in Porquis Jct.
March 13th for the district of Temiskaming (english course) in New Liskeard

The courses are from 8:45 am - 3:00pm. The cost is $105 and the certificate is valid for 5 years. For more information and to register please call 1-800-652-8573 or visit the web site at; http://www.opep.ca/GrowerTraining/courses.cfm