China provides risk and reward for Canadian agriculture exporters. With rhetoric escalating around the world, the risk could become a greater challenge. With Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Houthis taking potshots at shipping vessels in the Red Sea, and China increasingly aggressive in the Indo-Pacific, war and near-kinetic levels of conflict have thrown several […] Read more
Gauging China’s market risk
What does history say about managing China’s market potential and politics?
Identifying the farmer factor with YEN network
Lessons from four years of farmer-generated data show that growers who closely monitor crops through each growth stage get better results
With another winter wheat season complete, participants in the Great Lakes Yield Enhancement Network (YEN) continue learning how the farmer factor — what a grower does, and when — can make or break top yields.
Entomologist says insects are cool. Here’s why we should care
AAFC entomologist Lauren Des Marteaux works on Living Labs project about insects and agriculture
Insects comprise the vast majority of animal life on earth. They are also a foundation of every terrestrial and freshwater ecosystem. But how much do we really know about Earth’s invertebrate world? A fair bit, according to Lauren Des Marteaux, entomologist with at Agriculture Agri-Food Canada’s Harrow Research Centre. Even then, our current understanding of […] Read more
Report highlights optimism, resignation in agriculture sector
Belief industry and government can remedy policy, extreme weather, and trade issues varies considerably
A troublesome policy and regulatory environment, extreme weather, and trade barriers are the issues keeping Canadian agriculture professionals awake at night. That’s according to a joint report from the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI) and the University of Saskatchewan’s Global Institute for Food Security on risk in Canada’s agrifood system.
Report highlights optimism, resignation in agriculture sector
Belief industry and government can remedy policy, extreme weather, and trade issues varies considerably
A troublesome policy and regulatory environment, extreme weather, and trade barriers are the issues keeping Canadian agriculture professionals awake at night. Why it matters: Many within Canada’s agriculture sector think the country lacks an industry-wide strategic approach for overcoming chronic and complex problems. That’s according to a joint report from the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute […] Read more
Opinion: Environmental regulation enforcement lacking in farm country
A lack of will or capacity allows polluters to go uninvestigated in rural areas
There is no shortage of environmental regulations in this province. Indeed, some people are concerned that regulatory burdens unnecessarily infringe on how farmers, other business owners and regional authorities conduct day-to-day business. From my perspective in southwestern Ontario, all the regulation in the world has failed to stop a range of serious, long-running pollution problems. […] Read more
May-June sees low pest pressure in Southern Ontario
Mild winter and wet spring make weeds and varroa mite a higher concern
A mild winter increased concerns about increased pest pressures for spring and early summer, but according to several agronomists, harmful insects have not been a widespread issue. Aphids and spider mites – maybe? In the southwest, pest pressure is minimal or at least not above what is normally expected. “The thing about a mild winter […] Read more
Agriculture policy when you’re one of the only farmers in the room
Three Nuffield scholars discuss what it’s like to attend UN agriculture policy forums
The international community regularly convenes to discuss the future of global food and agricultural policy. Whether at the World Food Forum, Committee on Food Security or some related event, agriculture-related policies are frequently made with little input from people directly involved in agriculture. Efforts to change this are ongoing. Why it matters: Agricultural policy set […] Read more
Burnout a problem in conservation sector
Like farmers, people in the environmental profession face many uphill battles that can affect their health
Mental health challenges are a regular topic of discussion in the agriculture sector, but farmers are not the only workers with high rates of anxiety, depression and other forms of mental illness. Why it matters: People in the environmental sector face many challenges to their work and purpose. For those working in the environmental sector, […] Read more
Precision nutrition an emerging food trend
Report highlights consumer interest in personalized, data-driven consumption
Would real-time information on gut health and other biometrics change the way you shop for food? Some people say yes, and also say companies working in food and beverage should tailor products, as well as the shopping experience, to what they perceive to be a growing trend. Why it matters: To stay competitive, marketers and […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
