A self-proclaimed recovering sugar addict made the winning pitch at the 2023 Ontario Agri Tech Pitch Competition, walking away with $10,000 in prize money for his precision fermentation start-up, Biofect Innovations. Why it matters: Governments around the world are changing how sugar is labelled and used in food products, so food and beverage manufacturers are […] Read more
News
Natural sugar substitute wins provincial agri-tech pitch competition
Annual competition highlights agricultural innovations
Opinion: Farmtario celebrates five years
Five years ago, my colleagues and I at Glacier FarmMedia set out to change the agriculture publishing landscape in Ontario. We didn’t know how it would go, and it was a major leap for the company, but on the occasion of this, our fifth anniversary print edition, I believe we’ve had an impact on the […] Read more
New soil sensor may improve efficiency of crop fertilization
Science Notes: Accurate nitrogen detection could help farmers achieve optimal fertilization levels
Measuring temperature and nitrogen levels in soil is important for agriculture systems but detecting them apart from one another is difficult. Huanyu “Larry” Cheng, an associate professor in engineering science and mechanics at Penn State, led researchers in the development of a multi-parameter sensor that can decouple temperature and nitrogen signals so that each can […] Read more
Three Oaks Cabin offers respite for farmer mental health
Southwestern Ontario family turns loss of son into an opportunity to help others
Dalles Bergsma was a born farmer. As a six-year-old, he used his savings to buy chickens and launch an egg business, and 12 years later, he owned his first farm, a 1,600-head hog finishing operation. “He tried to buy it the week before (he turned 18). We did all the paperwork with the real estate […] Read more
Increasing veterinary capacity in Ontario to receive $15 million in funding
To help address veterinary shortages in rural and northern communities, the Ontario government is investing more than $15 million to establish anew Collaborative Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program with the University of Guelph and Lakehead University. The government is also providing grants to new veterinary graduates as an incentive to work in underserviced areas in […] Read more
Understanding the Underused Housing Tax
Many farm partnerships and corporations are obligated to file this new return, even if they don’t owe
The government’s Canadian Underused Housing Tax (UHT) Act could impact 2022 farm taxes. “The intent is to impose an annual one per cent tax on vacant or underused housing in Canada that’s owned directly or indirectly by persons who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents,” said Kurt Oelschlagel, BDO partner and national agriculture tax […] Read more
Opinion: Keep political bitterness out of Canadian food
Examination of food price inflation offers opportunity for government to explain the components of food pricing
Glacier Farmmedia – Some things are more apparent than real. If the price of food jumps by 15 or 20 per cent due to rising global inflation, it is assumed the difference between today’s price and last year’s price is in someone’s pocket. But whose? Canadian politicians have an opportunity to explain the components of […] Read more
New sustainable soybean program launched
Voluntary program aims to drive new market opportunities for growers and value chain
A new national and voluntary sustainability program has been launched to ensure Canadian soybean growers, grain handlers and exporters have continued access to premium markets. The Sustainable Canadian Soy program was designed to meet the needs of soybean customers and drive new market opportunities, said Soy Canada executive director Brian Innes during the program’s official […] Read more
CFIA seeks feedback on traceability, animal ID amendments
Producers have until June 16 to comment on proposals
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is seeking comment on its proposed amendments to livestock identification and traceability regulations. The regulatory proposal would address what the agency calls “gaps” in the current system, including: CFIA is asking producers who own sheep, goats, pigs, cattle, bison or farmed cervids or are involved with livestock production or handling, […] Read more
Editorial: Budgets lacking for farmers
There is always a sense of trepidation when a government announces it will table its annual budget. Many industries, agriculture included, hold their collective breath in anticipation of seeing whether their lobby efforts come to fruition. The Ontario government released its 2023 budget on March 23. Overall, public spending will increase a little over two […] Read more
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