PED in Oxford County

Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus has broken out at a farrow-to-finish farm in Oxford County.

Profit guarantee entices corn growers to experiment

 

Farmers for Climate Solutions is enticing corn farmers to try split nitrogen applications, starting with only 30 pounds per acre at planting time and then whatever soil sampling reveals what’s best for the second application early in the growing season.

It was tried on a 12-acre plot in Lambton County last year where Mathew Wagenaar found it works. His iintention was to apply 130 pounds per acre at planting with a second application later.

The guarantee is that the plot following the Farmers for Climate Solutions program will not be less profitable than fields managed as the farmer traditionally does.

The idea is to improve fertilizer efficiency and reduce business risk.

Wagenaar said he worried that if the spring turned out wet he would be unable to apply the second side dressing on time.

Those who sign up this year get up to $500 in agronomist services for project support, including nutrient management recommendations, full reimbursement for the required nitrate test and a $1,000 honorarium for their time.

“Our goal is to assess if a profit warranty can be a helpful new tool to optimize nitrogen use,” said James Cober, strategic initiatives manager for the program 

“What enticed me is the fact that I get to try this without the fear of lost income,” Wagenaar said, adding he was already actively learning about new approaches to split-nitrogen application.

Spoelstras win award

Drew and Heather Spoelstra have been chosen winners of the Ontario Outstanding Young Farmer award.

Drew has been president of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture since 2923.

They own Roy–Lea Farms Ltd., in Binbrook Ont. Where they breed purebred Clydesdale horses.They farm 2,000 acres of cash crop and dairy and beef cattle.

Royal Zaatar on recall

Alarjawi brand Royal Zaataris on recall due to salmonella food poisoning.

Royal Zaatar is a premium Middle Eastern herb blend, often featuring wild thyme, toasted sesame seeds, sumac, and salt, sometimes enhanced with pistachio.

It is a versatile seasoning used for dipping oil, seasoning meats, or in savory pastries.

CFIA suspends another Laval business licence

 

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has suspended the licence held by Dan Gifts Inc.

It said the company failed to identify and analyze hazards, was short of compliance on addressing complaints, recall and traceability procedures.

The company is out of business until it establishes compliance.

Two other Laval establishments had their licences suspended in March.

Ten cheeses on Sobeys recall

 

Sobeys and its sister supermarkets, such as Thrifty’s in British Columbia, are recalling 10 cheeses that the company believes may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes food-poisoning bacteria.

The products were distributed in every province but Quebec.

AgTalk helps farmers

AgTalk, an on-line forum for farmers feeling stressed, is proving effective in addressing mental health crises, according to executive director Merle Massie of the parent operation DoMoreAg.

Farmers can access AgTalk without revealing their identity, and Massie said that has resulted in more frank revelations of how farmers are feeling.

The 2025 annual report showed that 73 per cent of people who joined AgTalk are not engaged in formal mental health support, meaning AgTalk is their only outside support.

“Thirty-eight per cent of them report past thoughts of suicide or self-harm. These people are not feeling well,” she said.

“Eighty per cent reported their mental health as poor or very poor, and 42 per cent said that they shared something on Togetherall that they’ve never shared with anyone else.”

The statistics show people of all ages have joined.

DoMoreAg has additional on-line sites, including one on divorce.

Massis made her comments during a presentation at Canada’s Farm Show in Regina.