Glacier FarmMedia – A “durable” net zero farming system may be unattainable without a broad re-think of the sector, and that will require broad social buy-in, says an Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada researcher. “This is a much bigger question than simply developing practices and encouraging adoption,” says Henry Janzen. “This involves the rest of us.” […] Read more
Net-zero farming requires wide social buy-in
A systemic re-think of farming is needed to reach net zero emissions by 2050, but impetus and support must come from inside and outside the sector
Continuous tie-stall housing to be phased out in new dairy code of practice
Producer, animal welfare groups praise new code; some drawbacks were noted
New guidelines for dairy cattle care will improve animal welfare while also potentially increasing farm productivity, Dairy Farmers of Canada says. “I think that we’ve come to a very solid revised code,” David Wiens, DFC’s vice-president, said in an interview. The National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) on Thursday released its revised Code of Practice […] Read more
The way we talk about digital agriculture obscures interests behind it, says author
Facebook users pay for use with data. Farmers pay with data and for using it
Glacier FarmMedia – Treating farm data as though it’s a natural resource or comes ‘from on high’ makes it harder to see the forces that shape and profit from it, contends a new book. “In agriculture, just like in other contexts… there are really powerful interests behind the collection of data and the use and […] Read more
Dairy’s gap on the map to net-zero
The sector's net-zero plan banks on technology not yet available
Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) has a goal to reach net zero on carbon emissions but admits the plan to get there doesn’t exist. Not yet, at least. “It kind of reminds me of JFK saying, ‘by 1969, we’ll have a man on the moon’ and they hadn’t invented rockets yet,” said DFC director Korb […] Read more
North American pork producers face tight labour market
U.S. packers struggling to staff up, sending hams to Mexico for processing, producers heard
Glacier FarmMedia – Labour issues for pork producers and processors in Iowa and Minnesota are just as dire as in Canada, pork producers heard during Manitoba Pork Council’s annual meeting April 6. “Currently labour is our No. 1 issue on the farm as well as in the plants,” said Kevin Rasmussen, president of the Iowa […] Read more
More research on variable landscapes required
While land varies widely across most farms, most research is done on uniform, relatively un-degraded plots
Glacier FarmMedia – The variation of farmland and the practices needed to restore it mean more research needs to be done on the landscape, not just in uniform plots, says one soil scientist. “Almost all of the scientific information on which we base our understanding has been generated on near-level, non-eroded landscapes,” said David Lobb. […] Read more
What about wheat?
Cereals Canada website resource talks up the fine points of Canadian wheat and wheat research
Glacier FarmMedia – Wheat has taken its turn as a food ‘villain.’ For instance, in the early 2010s, the book Wheat Belly by cardiologist Dr. William Davis told consumers that wheat, and in fact most grains, was a cause of the flab around their belly, joint pain, eczema, and even depression and anxiety. The book […] Read more
Quebec group seeks to sue beef packers over pricing
Group's class-action application alleges price-fixing dating back to 2015
A Quebec consumer protection group intends to launch a class action lawsuit against four major beef processors in Canada and the U.S., alleging a “meat pricing conspiracy.” “At a time of high inflation, it is unacceptable to make the price of beef even more expensive than it already is,” Sylvie De Bellefeuille, a lawyer for […] Read more
In PED biosecurity, barns are ‘vacuum cleaners’: vet
The goal is to reduce the contaminated dirt that barns pull in
Glacier FarmMedia – Hog barns’ loadout docks are key entry points for PED-carrying dust, and they require close attention, says a Manitoba veterinarian. “All of our hog barns are essentially gigantic vacuum cleaners, and the warmer the conditions outside, of course, the greater the suction of our vacuum cleaners,” said Dr. Tony Nikkel, director of […] Read more
Dairy farmers well positioned for regenerative agriculture, producers say
Increased grazing has seen decreases in butterfat but overall increases in cows’ health, reduced input costs
Glacier FarmMedia – Canadian dairy farmers may be among the best positioned to take up regenerative farming practices, said producers during a panel discussion at the recent 2021 Regenerative Ag Conference in Brandon, Man. Supply management means a steady income, which can give farmers more confidence to take risks, said Sean Smith, a dairy farmer […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
