For two scorching-hot days in July, farmers and crop consultants attending the University of Guelph’s Diagnostic Days event at Ridgetown College heard about the birds and bees – of herbicide resistant weeds. A session hosted by Dave Bilyea, research technician at the Ridgetown campus, reviewed the state of herbicide resistance in Ontario and across North […] Read more
How weeds outsmart you
Herbicide resistant weeds proliferate in unexpected ways, making scouting more important than ever
Nestle, Hershey at odds with farmers over U.S. GMO labeling
New York | Reuters –– The world’s top food companies and farmers of crops such as beet sugar are pitted against each other as they lobby the U.S. government over plans to label genetically engineered ingredients. At the heart of the issue is transparency over ingredients used in food. Packaged foods makers are facing flagging […] Read more
Trade uncertainty hitting canary seed markets
CNS Canada — July is usually when Canadian canary seed prices weaken as producers dump unsold product onto the market — but this year that might not happen as trade uncertainty around the world affects the markets. “We tend to see weakness in July and then strength in the fall, but I don’t know if […] Read more
OPINION: As Parliament closes for summer break, uncertainty dominates
It’s been a long haul. MPs wrapped up their last midnight sittings and headed home to their ridings for the summer. The last official sitting day was June 22. Bill C-45 is at the heart of the government’s promise to legalize cannabis, while Bill C-46 deals with impaired driving. Both bills passed just before the […] Read more
U.S. approves marijuana-derived drug for epilepsy
Reuters — The U.S. health regulator approved GW Pharmaceuticals’ epilepsy treatment on Monday, making it the first cannabis-based drug to win approval in the country and opening floodgates for more research into the medicinal properties of cannabis. The drug’s approval permits its use in patients aged two years and older with Dravet Syndrome (DS) and […] Read more
Fire shutters Dalhousie ag campus’ main building
The Cox Institute, the main building on Dalhousie University’s agricultural campus, has been closed down by a Wednesday night fire believed to have caused substantial damage. No one was reported to be injured in the fire, the Nova Scotia university said via Twitter. According to local media the fire broke out Wednesday evening in the […] Read more
U.S. pork, fruit producers brace for second wave of Chinese tariffs
Beijing/Chicago | Reuters — U.S. producers of pork, already saddled with duties enacted in an earlier round of the escalating trade dispute with China, are bracing for further pain after Beijing hit the products with additional tariffs due to come into effect next month. China implemented a 25 per cent duty on most U.S. pork […] Read more
A+W to launch pulseburger next month
Canada’s second-biggest burger chain plans to roll out a new non-meat burger in the Canadian market starting in July. A+W Food Services of Canada on Thursday announced a July 9 release date for what it’s dubbed the Beyond Meat Burger at all its restaurants across the country, in what CEO Susan Senecal called “the fastest […] Read more
Senate approves recreational use of marijuana
Toronto | Reuters — Canada’s upper house of Parliament on Tuesday approved a revised bill to legalize recreational marijuana, setting the stage for the country to become the first Group of Seven nation to legalize cannabis. The Senate voted 52-29 in favour of the revised bill from the House of Commons, paving the way for […] Read more
Italy won’t ratify EU trade deal with Canada, farm minister says
Milan | Reuters — Italy will not ratify the European Union’s free trade agreement with Canada, its new agriculture minister said on Thursday, ratcheting up an international trade spat and potentially scuppering the EU’s biggest accord in years. The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) is the first major trade deal the European Union has […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
