Building the Foundation
The 2014 Dairy and Veal Healthy Calf Conference is set for Tuesday, December 2, 2014 at The Arden Park Hotel, Stratford, with remote conference to Northern Ontario Locations. Potential locations include: New Liskeard, Thunder Bay, Rainy River, Manitoulin Island and Verner. Attend this conference to learn new strategies for raising healthy calves and hear some of the leading experts in the dairy calf business discuss key steps in building a stronger foundation for healthy calves. Note: Once registration is complete, Northern Ontario delegates will be contacted with location details. Updates are available online at www.calfcare.ca for further information; please call the OVA office at 519-824-2942 or by email info@livestockalliance.ca
Soybeans and frost
Horst Bohner, OMAFRA soybean specialist, has a take home message in regards to the effect of a killing frost on beans-Temperature of -2°C for four hours will kill the soybeans, at R6 can expect a yield loss of 30 percent, at R7 can expect a yield loss of 5-10 percent, growers have to assess the maturity of their fields. (A lot of variation depending on seeding dates and varieties.) Please contact me for a copy of the growth stage chart for soybeans.
Renting land
Leasing and renting land are common practices in rural Ontario. The high capital cost of land makes leasing an attractive alternative to ownership. Any form of business agreement requires a good deal of mutual respect and trust. Leasing land is no different. To be successful, the lease arrangement must satisfy both the landlord and the tenant. Before entering into a lease, the landlord and the tenant should consider more than just price. The compatibility of the landlord and the tenant and the fairness of the lease are important aspects to consider. Checklist of a successful lease:
Compatibility – Can you get along and discuss differences?
Honesty – Do you trust the person you are dealing with, have you had business dealings together before?
Clarity – Are the obligations of each party clearly defined in the written lease?
Equitable Terms – do both parties agree to the terms of the lease?
Flexibility – can you adjust the lease if changes occur?
Suitability – Does the lease fit the crop and encourage good agricultural practices?
OMAFRA has a factsheet that explores all aspects of renting and leasing land. The factsheet can be found at: www.omafra.gov.on.ca/en
