| July 29, 2010 Volume 51 Edition No. 30 |
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| What’s Growing ON? | |||
| by News Canada |
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 (NC)—There are over 20,000 soybean farmers in Ontario and about 2 million acres of soybeans grown in the province every year. With that much land devoted to this crop, it’s likely you’ve driven by a field without even knowing it.Soybean plants grow thick and bushy with wide round leaves and colourful flowers that produce their seeds in pods, just like other beans. The flowers on a soybean plant are small and are nearly impossible to see from the road. The plants grow to be 2 and 3 ½ feet tall when mature, and depending how far apart they are planted, soybean fields will have visible rows or just look like a sea of green leaves. Just before harvest, soybean plants dry out, turn yellow, and the leaves fall off, leaving the bean pods exposed on the plant and ready to be harvested by the combine. After the fall harvest soybeans are sold to food companies that soak the beans whole to make soy beverages and tofu, or crush them to separate the oil from the high protein meal. The oil can be used for cooking or powering cars and the meal is used as a high protein food for animals. You may have eaten edamame, typically at sushi restaurants. Edamame is young soybeans, harvested while still green, then boiled and salted. With 2.3 million tonnes of soybeans grown in Ontario every year (note Essex County statistics below), you will almost certainly drive by a few fields this summer. Go to whatsgrowingon.ca to learn more. Essex County Federation of Agriculture The Essex County Federation of Agriculture reports that Essex County is comprised of 333,640 acres of which 94% is in crops. The crop breakdown is as follows: 64% oilseeds & grain (incluidng soybeans) 13% greenhouse, nursery, floriculture 7% vegetables 6% fruit Farm size: 66% under 130 acres 23% from 130-399 acres 12% 400 acres or more The average farm size in Essex County is 187 acres. There are 1,456 farms (ECFA registered) in Essex County and 76 of those are located in Tecumseh. Support local food produciton. Visit the Esex County Federation of Agriculture website: www.ecfa.ca and dowload your Essex County map that shows locations to purchase local fruits, vegetables, meats, grains and other commodities. The ECFA is also hosting it’s annual Farm Hiker Tour on September 19, 2010. The self-guided driving tour allows participants to pick and shoose which farms on the farm tour map that they’d like to visit. The tour provides new things to se and learn for families and friends of all ages. Mark you callendar. Places to purchase the farm hiker tour map will be announced in the coming month. 
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