The University of Guelph-based Arrell Food Institute has joined forces with the University of the Fraser Valley to collaborate on sustainable agriculture research, training and ag-tech startup incubation. Why it matters: Canada has a poor track record of moving university research into the marketplace. The two institutions recently announced they have signed a Memorandum of […] Read more
Universities collaborate on agriculture research
University of Guelph’s Arrell Food Institute and University of the Fraser Valley’s Food and Agriculture Institute sign MOU
Ruth Butt was a soil health champion
Proceeds from farm sale donated to Soil Conservation Council of Canada
A recent donation by Woodstock’s Rev. Ruth Butt led to the creation of a Canada-wide committee dubbed “Soil Champions.” The Ontario agriculture community certainly lost a soil health “champion” with her passing on Dec. 15, 2023. She was 96. “It wasn’t necessarily planned out this way, but when you look back on her life, there […] Read more
Custom grazing offers benefits for livestock, farm owner
Write down the agreement because some areas will otherwise be forgotten or missed
Lands less than suitable for cropping may be ideal for custom grazing, according to two presenters at the recent 10th annual conference of the Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario. Ken Laing of Sparta and Ann Clark of Warkworth, both known for leading research in the province’s organic farming community, spoke to conference attendees about contract […] Read more
Long-term public land leases could enable young farmers
EFAO panel discusses small-scale opportunities near Ottawa, Toronto
Young farmers who operate businesses on publicly owned properties in Ottawa and the greater Toronto area say long-term leases of public land could be a future path for creative land use and small-scale farming. They related their experiences during a session at the recent conference of the Ecological Farmers’ Association of Ontario. Why it matters: […] Read more
Bright future for organic sector, says Canadian Organic Growers president
Guelph Organic Conference returns next month with keynote panel session
Allison Squires was one of the first farmers in Canada to be certified “regenerative organic” in 2021. As the Canadian Organic Growers president, she is one of the panelists scheduled for a keynote session entitled “Organics in a Changing Climate – Cross Country Perspectives,” planned Thursday, Jan. 25 as a kick-off to the annual Guelph […] Read more
MPP calls for expansion of Veterinary Incentive Program eligibility
Bobbi Ann Brady says Haldimand-Norfolk is an under-serviced area
Haldimand-Norfolk’s MPP, with farmer support, is calling on the province to expand the Veterinary Incentive Program’s recognition of “under-serviced areas.” “I’d like to see the government commit to providing an incentive program across all the areas of the province that are experiencing a shortage or an absence of large animal vet services,” Bobbi Ann Brady […] Read more
Lactanet to publish sexed semen fertility ratings
Farmers will now have access to information previously only sent to bull line-up owners
Canadian dairy farmers will soon have access to fertility ratings for sexed bull semen. Lactanet recently announced it plans to publicly release the ratings, previously provided to artificial insemination service providers only, in early 2024. Dr. Gerrit Kistemaker, the national organization’s manager of genetic evaluations, gave an update on the process during Lactanet’s Open Industry […] Read more
Steam power enthusiast won’t leave project unfinished
1910 Case engine will soon cross border to Michigan
A Wisconsin-made J.I. Case steam engine, first used in the early 1900s to open virgin farmland on the Canadian Prairies before settling in southern Ontario, is poised to return to the country of its origin thanks to the 80-year-old Amish man who has toiled over 20 years to restore it. John Stutzman, a resident of […] Read more
Amish community relocates after nearly 65 years
Skyrocketing land prices spur communal decision
A farming neighbourhood south of St. Marys saw slow but steady changes in the landscape during the past year as a long-established Amish community disbanded and dispersed. Change came in the form of powerlines extended to houses where previous residents went without electricity, fence lines bulldozed and huge maples downed on the edges of woodlots […] Read more
Taking the human out of dairy cow classification
Canadian start-up eyes artificial intelligence-based dairy cow evaluation
A Canadian start-up company says results from its artificial intelligence-based classification of dairy cows come within two per cent of human results. Animal science specialist Ghader Manafiazar, one of three co-founders of iClassifier, says through the analysis of approximately 30,000 images collected from Canadian dairy farms, an accuracy rate of 98 per cent was achieved […] Read more
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