A new innovation cluster on a former research farm in Nepean, Ont., is expected to boost artificial intelligence (AI) and remote-sensing technology to Canada’s farmers. “I’m not even a farmer, and I’m really excited about it,” said Michael Tremblay, chief executive officer of Invest Ottawa. Why it matters: Having access to made-in-Canada offerings of data […] Read more
Ottawa research farm focuses on technology
Invest Ottawa aims to link agriculture with national capital tech sector
Major dairy breeds moving to composites for bull proofs
Use of genetic scores makes new model more responsive to changes in the dairy population
Lactanet Canada will move to composite indexes for major genetic traits as early as April, 2021 as it aims for a more responsive system for classifying dairy cattle. The change will affect breeders of Holstein, Ayrshire and Jersey cattle, while other dairy breeds will continue to be scored using the existing formula for combining descriptive […] Read more
Dairy trait feet and legs will be split in two
New traits foot and mobility to be added to dairy classification
Canadian dairy farmers will soon see a new, first in the world, change to the way cow feet and legs are classified. The feet and legs category, which has been in used since 1927, will become foot and mobility. Stakeholders in the dairy breeding sector were advised of the pending change in April and the […] Read more
VFO takes ‘next step’ by hiring compliance officer
Former police officer will target non-payment of veal checkoff fee
Former police officer will target non-payment of veal checkoff fee
Veal Farmers of Ontario (VFO) has hired a veteran of both municipal policing and border services for a newly-created position of inspection and compliance officer. The organization is acting on a recommendation to bring in expertise in auditing and compliance. Geoff Holwell will join the producer organization on a part-time basis, with his primary responsibilities […] Read more
Twenty-five farms host on-farm soil health research
The ONFARM initiative brings together diverse industry cooperators
A four-year federal-provincial agreement to fund a series of field-scale soil health research projects is underway across southern Ontario. In all, 25 co-operator farmers have taken on side-by-side plots at which a focus will be placed on either cover cropping, tillage, organic amendment application or some combination. At seven other locations, described by Ontario Soil […] Read more
Listowel event results in new online mental health resource
The initiative started with the local agricultural society
From a local food fundraiser to a professionally produced website and videos, a group of Listowel-area farmers have turned a small grant from RBC Royal Bank into a go-to resource for anyone in mid-western Ontario’s agricultural community struggling with mental illness. Why it matters: Much has occurred over the past five years to lessen the […] Read more
Ontario start-up launches grain-trading app
‘Industry-first’ potential to eliminate time-consuming paperwork
An Ontario company has launched a new app that provides instant information and creation of grain-trading contracts in what it is calling an industry first. The Grain Discovery app for iPhone, along with its companion online portal for all internet connections was launched on a trial basis at the Prince Edward County-based Lockie Farms Grain […] Read more
Kingston area loses well-known farm advocate
Peter Dowling dedicated his career to fair agri-food policy
A key participant in a number of high-profile advocacy campaigns of the National Farmers Union (NFU), Howe Island organic dairy farmer Peter Dowling, passed away unexpectedly on Sept. 6. Dowling, survived by his wife Dianne and children Patrick, Emily and Tim, had been living with Parkinson’s for a number of years but passed away from […] Read more
Trade-offs necessary in food-sector COVID recovery
Will Canadians accept higher prices, support for off-shore job creation?
Increased consumer interest in food systems could lead to new markets for farmers and food processors. Structural changes in the food sector have had significant impact on demand for agriculture goods, but the question is whether those changes will be long term or temporary. A series of conversations at Canada’s Digital Farm Show focused on […] Read more
Continually agitated manure system launches in North America
Irish-developed system installed in new Wellington County dairy barn
In an innovative new dairy barn near Moorefield, the centuries-old practice of composting solid manure is being combined with a new-to-North-America approach to continually agitating liquid manure. On May 12, Kristina and Simon Signer moved their 53 Brown Swiss from a tie-stall set-up in the Sigview Farms bank barn to a new composting bedded pack […] Read more
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