Canadian canola farmers find themselves in a tough spot this spring as the snow disappears and they look across those vast empty fields, many of which, under normal circumstances, would […] Read more
Opinion: We can’t force the Chinese to buy our crops
We can, however, take steps to reduce the sector’s vulnerability to a big customer’s mood swings
Autonomous technology hamstrung by liability risks
Just about anyone can build a self-driving implement using open source software, but “your insurance company is going to puke”
For farmer and inventor Brian Tischler, the question isn’t whether autonomous tractors are cool, possible, or useful — it’s how to overcome the liability risk if something goes wrong. Tischler […] Read more
CAPI report focuses on quality of export growth
Exports are part of the agri-food sector’s journey — not the destination
There was heady excitement last year when the federal government’s Advisory Council on Economic Growth, led by Dominic Barton, identified agriculture as one of six sectors that could lead this […] Read more
Opinion: What’s for dinner? Re-imagining leftovers
Now we can all help the world’s second largest meat processor fight food waste
Sometimes deciding what to feed the family after a long, arduous day juggling daycare, jobs and traffic seems overwhelmingly complicated. If the May 31 news release from the U.S.-based Tyson […] Read more
Innovative egg-scanning technology moves closer to commercialization
Identifying the gender of eggs before they begin incubation saves costs, reduces waste and improves animal welfare
Commercialization of new technology that determines the gender of chicks before they are incubated is getting a $844,000 boost from Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program (CAAP), Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Minister […] Read more
Bacon doesn’t contain gluten, so why the gluten-free label?
Labelling can help consumers make choices but it can also be used to confuse them
It was enough to spoil my breakfast. As I opened a package of bacon to cook while camping on the holiday weekend, I learned from the label that it was […] Read more
Opinion: Farmers’ beef with A&W’s marketing practices should end
The hamburger chain is selling burgers to people who weren’t customers before
It’s time for farmers to stop hating A&W. For more than four years now, farmers have tweeted angry tweets. They’ve written nasty letters. They’ve called on all of us to […] Read more
Ontario farmland price increases outpace national gains
Good crops, good prices and a strong supply management sector is fuelling demand
The average value of Ontario farmland increased 9.4 per cent in 2017, slightly ahead of the national gain of 8.4 per cent the latest price report from Farm Credit Canada (FCC) […] Read more
OPINION: Why all the fuss about Canadian supply management?
Two reports shed a different light on the debate over Canada's dairy supports
Canada’s dairy system has figured prominently in the rhetorical dust storm surrounding ongoing NAFTA renegotiations. The Canadian government has so far remained steadfastly opposed to any significant change. Two documents […] Read more
Destroying weeds – at harvest
The Harrington Seed Destructor is showing some potential as a way to manage weeds without chemicals – but will it work on Ontario weeds?
Combines and harvest practices in general are great weed seed distribution systems. Think of all those weeds going in the front of the combine and then blowing out the back, […] Read more