Cereal leaf beetle (CLB) populations have reached threshold in some spring cereal fields this week. CLB larvae and adults feed on the tissue between leaf veins, leaving long scratch marks that can make plants appear silver or frosted from a distance. Before boot stage, the threshold is an average of three larvae per tiller. One CLB […] Read more
News
Insect issues appear for Ontario growers
OMAFRA Field Crop Report for the week of June 20
Producers want recognition for climate efforts
MPs were told farmers should be part of solution, not penalized for emissions
Glacier FarmMedia – Canada’s grain farmers want to be acknowledged for their contributions to climate solutions rather than vilified for emissions, the standing committee on agriculture heard during recent testimony. Susie Miller, executive director of the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Crops, said more than 600 farmers with whom the organization consulted said they want recognition […] Read more
Network supports agricultural automation innovation
CAAIN funds ‘plant to pint’ traceability project
The first “plant to pint” commercial traceability system using blockchain technology was recently unveiled in Canada. Grain Discovery can capture every input, movement, process and touchpoint from multiple sources into a shared digital ledger that follows the barley plant from the field to its eventual appearance as beer in a pint glass. The innovative Ontario […] Read more
Weather forecaster uses many sources
New system gathers information from sensors, national forecasters and machine learning to localize forecasts
Glacier FarmMedia – California-based Benchmark Labs uses Internet of Things weather sensors, information from national forecasters and machine learning to improve local weather forecasts for farmers. Carlos Gaitan, chief executive officer of Benchmark Labs, said the new system was designed with growers of specialty crops in mind so they can adjust quickly to imminent weather […] Read more
PAWS regulations updated for dogs
New standards of care for outdoor dogs come into effect July 1
Owners of outdoor and Livestock Guardian Dogs (LGDs) have more to keep track of this summer. The Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act (PAWS) has updated standards of care for outdoor dogs and they come into effect July 1. They may require some producers to adjust their animals’ housing and care regime. Why it matters: The […] Read more
New CRISPR-Combo boosts genome editing power in plants
Science Notes: Ability to edit, change multiple genes at once explored
CRISPR-CAS9 technology made it possible for scientists to change the genetic code of living organisms. Although revolutionary, the tool has its limitations. Like the first cell phones that could only perform one function, the original CRISPR method can perform one function: removing or replacing genes in a genetic sequence. Later iterations of CRISPR were developed […] Read more
U.S. seeks to protect contract chicken growers
Biden administration proposes rule to improve treatment, transparency and price guarantees
Reuters – The United States government has proposed a rule requiring meatpackers to be more transparent in their dealings with contract farmers in efforts to enhance competition in the highly consolidated industry. Farmers and consumer groups have argued for decades that consolidation in the beef, pork and chicken sectors, where four companies control 55 to […] Read more
Health Canada clarifies rules for gene edited crops
Regulations for traditionally bred crop varieties apply
Crops developed via gene editing will not be subject to the additional regulation requirements imposed on genetically modified organisms, according to Health Canada. Gene editing, such as CRISPR technology, allows scientists to target or alter genes of interest in a plant’s genome to create plants with desired traits, such as disease resistance, enhanced growth or […] Read more
Soybean update for Ontario
OMAFRA Field Crop Report for the week of June 13
Soybeans range from VE (emergence) to the fourth trifoliate leaf stage. The majority of the crop was planted in May, although sporadic showers meant that some could not be planted until June. A few soybeans were planted in April. They are now at the fifth trifoliate leaf stage. Ideally, soybeans should have 6 trifoliates by […] Read more
Re-thinking the value of farm plates for pickup trucks
Changes to the Ontario vehicle fee system cause of confusion for farm businesses
Your pickup is licensed to farm, but are the benefits worth the price to plate? “We recommend that our members – and all farmers – really look at what they use their truck for,” said Ian Nokes, Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) transportation policy analyst. If the trucks are more for personal use than farm […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
