The federal government says it is helping grain farmers continue to grow their businesses with the help of sustainable, innovative, and modern systems and solutions.
Wellington-Halton Hills MP Michael Chong recently announced over $850,000 in funding for the Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO) that will help producers increase yields of corn, soybean and wheat through improved soil health, better pest management and enhanced disease resistance.
“Our government’s top priority remains jobs and economic growth, and investments in research play an important role in keeping the economy strong and creating new opportunities for producers,” said Chong, who made the announcement on behalf of on behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz.
“Canada’s tens of thousands of successful grain farmers play a pivotal role in driving economic growth, and that is why we are continuously investing to help them be more competitive and reap the benefits of the open market.”
The funding will help GFO lead seven projects that focus on helping grain producers find new pest management solutions and take advantage of proven soil management practices that could increase yields and make crops more sustainable.
The investment will also help producers develop new seed varieties with improved disease resistance and higher protein content.
“Grain Farmers of Ontario’s members receive direct benefit from the Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program (CAAP) funding,” said Henry Van Ankum, chair of GFO. “The projects funded provide the industry with key information for long-term success and address real on-farm issues.”
One of the projects will specifically study the soil system of a farm in Dunnville, where a farmer has developed a cropping system that is yielding an average of over 275 bushels of corn per acre – more than double the average for the rest of that region.
The study will attempt to find out what makes this field so productive by comparing this farmer’s management practices to the conventional production in neighbouring fields where the same varieties are grown.
The intent is to determine the physical, chemical and microbial properties of this specific cropland so that others can replicate it and achieve similar results.
“Another project explores the relationship between insect damage and fungal toxin accumulation in grain corn,” said Crosby Devitt, manager, research and market development for GFO.
The funding is provided through CAAP, a five-year (2009 to 2014), $163-million initiative.
In Ontario, the regional component of CAAP is delivered by the Agricultural Adaptation Council (AAC).
