Beef Farmers of Ontario (BFO) has recently launched a cost of production calculator to help Ontario beef farmers determine how much they spend to produce their cattle. Production practices on Ontario beef farms vary significantly, and that means nailing down cost of production has been difficult. Creating useful numbers has been challenging and historically have […] Read more
Beef Farmers of Ontario designs profitability calculator
Calculator will estimate cow-calf producer finances based on herd and production practices
Corn that finds its own nitrogen
Science Notes: Researchers have known about it since the 1980s but were only recently able to analyze it
Is it possible to grow cereal crops without having to rely on energy-using commercial fertilizers? In a new study publishing Aug. 7 in the open-access journal PLOS Biology researchers describe a newly identified corn variety that acquires nitrogen by feeding its sugars to beneficial bacteria, which can in turn take up nitrogen from the air […] Read more
Horticultural industry trying to rally support for seasonal worker program
The Ontario horticultural industry is trying to drum up support for a long-standing program that allows growers who face labour shortages to hire seasonal workers from Mexico and the Caribbean. The Fairness for Growers Campaign is designed to provide information about the benefits of the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (SAWP). The website also provides a place where […] Read more
Federal government to invest $8.3-million in organics
Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Lawrence MacAulay today announced a federal investment of up to $8.3 million to the Organic Federation of Canada, under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, AgriScience Clusters. The research investment, which includes an additional $4.4 million in contributions from industry, will help the organic sector enhance productivity through better soil health and […] Read more
Ferguson to run AALP, other ROI leadership programs
Gabrielle Ferguson has joined the Rural Ontario Institute (ROI) as the new Leadership Programs Director. In this new position, Ferguson will manage ROI’s long-running Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program, and continue to develop the organization’s other leadership program offerings. Ferguson will also be instrumental in maintaining and creating sponsor relationships for current and future programs. Ferguson […] Read more
Wild genetic adaptations can have many uses
Science Notes: A gene that helps rice grow taller in floods is a variant of rice genes used to rapidly increase yield
When floodwaters rise, some rice varieties rapidly grow taller to keep from drowning. A new study identifies the key gene responsible for the deep-water rice adaptation — SD1 (semidwarf 1). It’s a variant of the gene responsible for the increased grain yield that launched the rice Green Revolution. The ability of this gene to function […] Read more
Sow reproductive issues may be traced to unexpected causes
Poor feet and legs is one of the major causes not always observed as a reproductive problem
Vitamin inadequacies are being ignored in swine management because of misunderstandings in sow-culling reports, some nutritional experts think. “Producers check (off) what they see last,” said Iowa State University nutritional researcher Ken Stalder at the World Pork Expo. “The primary reason often doesn’t get recorded in their reporting systems.” Many North American sow herds have […] Read more
Fencing demos at Ag in Motion
Michael Hargrave, livestock co-ordinator for Ag in Motion, talks about what attendees can expect to see at the daily fencing demo (9:30 am) at the Ag in Motion show, July 17-19 north of Saskatoon.
La Coop fédérée and Maizex Seeds create partnership
La Coop fédérée has entered into a joint venture partnership with Maizex Seeds, a corn and soybean company based in Tilbury, ON. The partnership will have a broad, national presence, the organizations said in a release. Maizex Seeds produces and markets seed corn and seed soybeans, while La Coop fédérée produces and markets seed for […] Read more
Additive could be a methane game changer
A feed additive that can halve emissions while boosting feed efficiency is now undergoing a large-scale study
There’s pressure on the beef industry to be more sustainable, and some of that pressure falls on scientists like Karen Beauchemin. The Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada ruminant nutritionist and her team at the Lethbridge, Alta. research station are looking for ways to reduce enteric methane — gas produced when digesting feed — from beef cattle. […] Read more
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