Surveys have shown many Canadians don’t understand AI, and how it can provide a leg up for industries such as agriculture, said John Weigelt, national technology officer for Microsoft Canada.

Agriculture warned of artificial intelligence challenges

Technology leader says agriculture industry has been slow to adopt AI tools but also faces a crisis in public confidence

Glacier FarmMedia – An expert told a conference of agricultural leaders that Canada must deal with a crisis in public confidence in artificial intelligence, likening it to the monster under the bed. Surveys have shown many Canadians don’t understand AI, and how it can provide a leg up for industries such as agriculture, said John […] Read more

The beef industry is determining how surveillance for foot-and-mouth disease will work in community pastures that are shared by cattle from several producers.

Veterinarian shortage complicates FMD plans

Producers worry about how country’s shortage of veterinarians will affect surveillance against foot-and-mouth disease

Glacier FarmMedia – The shortage of veterinarians is a problem Canadian beef industry and government officials must tackle as they develop a contingency plan in case of a foot-and-mouth outbreak, said an expert. “We know that’s the reality, so we have to work with that reality,” said senior director Bob Burden of Serecon, a consulting […] Read more


The North American cattle industry is concerned with what they feel is Brazil’s non-compliance with the BSE standards developed by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) with respect to atypical cases of the disease.

North American beef leaders urge disease vigilance

President of American industry group sounds alarm over what he says is Brazil’s non-compliance with BSE standards

Glacier FarmMedia – The United States, Canada and Mexico must do more to protect the North American cattle herd from illnesses such as foot-and-mouth disease and BSE that threaten the continent’s multibillion-dollar beef sector, said an American industry leader. Brazil is non-compliant with the BSE standards developed by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) […] Read more

Researchers say dairy cows given a probiotic developed at the University of Alberta increased their milk yield by four to six litres per day during the first 50 days after calving.

Probiotic developed for dairy cattle

University of Alberta researcher says using probiotics to prevent infection could reduce disease and lower antibiotic use

Glacier FarmMedia – A breakthrough probiotic has been shown to boost milk production and the reproductive health of dairy cows. The use of probiotics to prevent infections could lower the incidence of diseases, potentially reducing the need for treatment with antibiotics, said Burim Ametaj, a professor of physiology and nutritional immunology at the University of […] Read more

The problem might extend beyond cattle to other types of livestock.

Enzyme can switch off livestock drugs

An antimicrobial gene in bacteria creates an enzyme that can deactivate certain medications used to treat livestock

Glacier FarmMedia – Scientists have found that an antimicrobial resistance gene in bacteria collected at a western Canadian feedlot creates an enzyme that can deactivate drugs used to treat diseases in cattle and other livestock. The EstT enzyme can affect macrolides antibiotic drugs such as tylosin, also sold as Tylan, which is a common additive […] Read more


The virtual tour of a dairy barn created at the University of Calgary is seen as an opportunity to address misconceptions while answering questions and show the public why livestock producers are crucial for food production.

Visit to a dairy barn goes virtual

The University of Calgary uses virtual reality technology to create a simulation of a dairy farm for convenient public access

Glacier Farmmedia – People who’ve never set foot on a dairy farm can now explore a simulation using virtual reality headsets as part of a project launched by the University of Calgary. “It was really neat to see in a whole different way how the dairy farm can be portrayed to the consumers and the […] Read more

The pork industry is told it must focus on the “characteristics of better eating attributes,” including marbling, colour, higher water-holding capacity and tenderness.

Improved flavour called key to pork’s revival

U.S. pork consumption declined to 51.7 pounds per capita in 2020 from 59.1 lb. in 1960; Canada expected to be similar

Glacier FarmMedia – Pig producers need to improve the taste of the pork they raise if they want to combat long-term declines in consumption and market share, said an expert. “If we’re going to drive demand, we’ve got to deliver a better eating experience to our customers,” said Jim Long, president and chief executive officer […] Read more

A University of Guelph computer scientist said transparency about how data is being gathered and analyzed, which includes consent by producers, is needed.

Trust is a vital part of the digital era

University of Guelph computer scientist urges farmers to take cybersecurity more seriously

Glacier FarmMedia – Cyberattacks and unethical use of data are problems that everyone must take seriously, says a researcher. That includes farmers, governments and agricultural technology providers. “My background is artificial intelligence. I support use of data. I’m not against that,” said Rozita Dara, an associate professor at the School of Computer Science at the […] Read more


A professor from the University of Alberta says virtual fences should not replace physical perimeter fencing but may be useful in rotational grazing and keeping cattle out of certain parts of a pasture.

Could rotational grazing go virtual?

Wireless fencing technology that keeps dogs near home could also work for cattle

Glacier FarmMedia – A University of Alberta researcher wants to determine if virtual fences can work when moving cattle within a pasture. She says beef producers are only limited by their imaginations when it comes to the potential benefits of technology that uses virtual rather than physical fences. Why it matters: Virtual fencing could help […] Read more

A shortage of large animal veterinarians has meant some sheep producers have to go without pregnancy checking or testing for number of projected lambs.

Pregnancy testing technology for sheep producers being examined

The ability to get results without veterinarians or specialized equipment coming to farms near no one

Glacier FarmMedia – Researchers are working to place some of the complex technology found in veterinary laboratories into handheld devices that will allow producers to more easily diagnose pregnancies in sheep. The project aims to create a device about the size of a facial tissue box that will take blood samples and test them to […] Read more