Glacier FarmMedia – The findings of a University of Saskatchewan and York University study may affect the fate of insecticide seed treatments in Canada. The study, which was published Sept. 13 in the scientific journal Science, has concluded that imidacloprid is a threat to songbirds. White crowned sparrows that consumed seeds coated with the insecticide […] Read more
New neonic study points to songbird decline
The research, conducted in Ontario, says the insecticide suppresses appetite, disrupting migration
Study questions benefits of extended grazing
There are benefits to taking cattle off when weight gain starts to decline – not when the grass is gone
Glacier FarmMedia – For more than a decade, Canadian cattle ranchers and researchers have looked for ways to extend the grazing season. They’ve studied and implemented bale grazing, swath grazing, corn grazing, using crop residues, perennial pastures held in reserve and other techniques to keep cattle on the field in the fall and winter. Meanwhile, […] Read more
Canadian exporters have hopes for hemp
CBD, an oil prized for health impact, now drives hemp market
Canada’s hemp industry has changed. Not overnight, but close. For years, hemp farmers have grown the crop for grain and partly for hemp fibres. This summer the majority of Canadian farmers are growing hemp to produce CBD. “I think with the CBD acreage, I think we might exceed that 170,000 (acres) this year,” said Jeff […] Read more
‘Slow-growth’ chicken soon to be on the shelf
Canadian researchers are determining what breeds of chickens would be best for slower-growth market
Glacier FarmMedia – The fresh chicken section, at the grocery store is easy to navigate. There is chicken breast and chicken thighs. Sometimes the bone is included, sometimes not. That simplicity may soon end. Before long, chicken meat with a “slow growth” label could appear at major grocers, because retailers and restaurant chains, like Whole […] Read more
New sweet potato variety sees slow uptake
New, shorter season variety expected to displace imports over the long term, but this year’s launch was disappointing for its developer
Glacier FarmMedia – This year was scheduled to be the launch of a new sweet potato variety in Canada. The launch didn’t turn out quite as expected, as only a dozen acres were planted in 2019. The variety, called Radiance, is a short-season sweet potato that matures in 118 to 122 days, making it suitable […] Read more
Crop prices poised to stagnate: FAO
A new report says world oilseed demand isn’t expected to keep up with supply, which could result in lower prices
Glacier FarmMedia – For the last five years, or longer, plant-based protein has been the shining star of global agriculture. Global demand for plant-based protein has exploded, thanks to massive Chinese imports of soybeans and booming public consumption of veggie burgers and other forms of plant protein. However, protein’s star could fade over the next […] Read more
Neonic seed treatments seen as safe for bees
Health Canada ruling yet to come on safety for aquatic insects
For years, groups like the David Suzuki Foundation and the Ontario Beekeepers Association have argued that neonicotinoid seed treatments represent a systemic threat to bees. “Health Canada… will be cancelling some uses of these pesticides, and changing other conditions of use such as restricting the timing of application,” a department news release said. “Remaining uses […] Read more
Canadian neonic, metabolite research shows insecticide effect on insect navigation
Locusts in wind tunnels exposed to neonics lost their ability to move themselves where they wanted
Drunk drivers are more likely to get in an accident because the alcohol in their blood impairs vision and delays reaction time. University of Saskatchewan biologists have identified a comparable phenomenon in locusts, when the insects are exposed to a small dose of insecticide. Why it matters: Farmers require a wide range of pesticides to […] Read more
Canada imports pork from Poland, despite African swine fever
If the disease appears in Canada, countries could ban imports of Canadian pork and cause billions in economic damage
Canada continues to import pork from Poland, even though it has had hundreds of cases of ASF. For the first 11 months of 2018, Canada imported more than $25 million worth of pork from Poland, based on Agriculture Canada data. Infected meat is the primary vector of ASF, a viral disease that can cause fever, […] Read more
U.S. agriculture secretary agrees with Canada in tariff dispute
Sonny Perdue admits the U.S. President has a different opinion
Canada has a friend in Washington. Sonny Perdue, the United States agriculture secretary, believes the American government should drop tariffs on steel and aluminum from Canada and Mexico as soon as possible. “We recognize from our industry and our sector, it’s in all of our best interests to see that it happens,” said Perdue, who […] Read more
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