Countries around the world are considering the rights of consumers and farmers to repair everything from medical equipment to phones, but few legislative bills have made it into law, including in Canada. In farm circles, “right to repair” refers to the ability to fix machinery hardware as well as software. The concept has been hotly […] Read more
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‘Right to repair’ rules prove challenging
Creating legislation that enforces a right to repair has been popular around the world, but why has most legislation not passed?
Innovation competition spurs creative product development
Soy-based anti-chafing cream one of 2021’s Project SOY winners
A long-running student competition at the University of Guelph that promotes creative innovation for new product development marked its 25th anniversary at the end of March with its annual awards ceremony. The winners of Project SOY Plus 2021 included an anti-chafing cream made of soybeans, a vegan yogurt using chickpeas, and a dietary supplement infused […] Read more
Spring update for cereal crops and oilseeds
OMAFRA Field Crop Report for April 29
Winter wheat Winter wheat acreage is up by 8 per cent compared to the 2020 growing season (Statistics Canada). In general, the winter wheat crop looks very good throughout the province. Cold weather caused some temporary leaf necrosis (leaf tip burn) in a few fields. This leaf burn is sometimes made worse when a herbicide […] Read more
Study released on organic cost of production
There has been little information on cost of production for organic farmers
New cost of production analysis for organic crops and livestock should help farmers benchmark their operations against others in the sector. The Organic Council of Ontario (OCO) in late April published cost of production (COP) analyses for dairy, salad greens, field crops and pastured poultry, in a project funded through the federal/provincial Canadian Agricultural Partnership. […] Read more
New fungicide treats sugar beets
Nufarm, in partnership with Valent Canada, recently released Excalia, a new horticulture fungicide registered for the control of scab and powdery mildew in apples and suppression of rhizoctonia crown and root rot in sugar beets. Excalia delivers locally systemic and translaminar action for complete leaf tissue uptake and distribution across the entire leaf surface. It […] Read more
Solar-powered trap hunts what bugs crops
Insects pose for mugshots and get identified in a digital lineup before the scouting call gets made to the farmer
Glacier FarmMedia – Metos Canada offers remote monitoring of crop pests with a lineup of IOT (internet of things)-based devices, called iScout. Why it matters: Crop monitoring tools can help farmers protect fields and avoid yield-damaging pest incursions. The devices are built by Austrian technology firm Pessl Instruments, which sells a roster of wireless sensors […] Read more
Plant drought tolerance relates to pore openings
Science Notes: Molecule associated with relaxation controls the size of pores and water loss
A team of Australian and German researchers has discovered a novel pathway that plants can use to save water and improve their drought tolerance. The research published recently in Nature Communications shows that the molecule GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), most commonly associated with relaxation in animals, can control the size of the pores on plant leaves […] Read more
No solution yet to Line 5 shutdown
Oil pipeline ordered shut by Michigan governor could push Ontario agriculture into a crisis
What would happen if Ontario went dry? It’s a question many are asking as a May 12 shutdown deadline, issued by the governor of Michigan earlier this year, looms for Enbridge’s Line 5 pipeline. The Line connects Ontario to Wisconsin via Sarnia, bringing hundreds of thousands of gallons of fossil fuels into the province each […] Read more
China to crack down on use of leanness enhancers in livestock
China’s agriculture ministry has said it will crack down on the use of leanness-enhancing agents in farm animals to guarantee the quality and safety of livestock products. The three-month drive will focus on the use of the banned substance clenbuterol in cattle and sheep, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said in a statement, […] Read more
Canada, U.S. agree on plan if African swine fever infects wild pigs
Zoning would keep other parts of the North American hog market functioning
Glacier FarmMedia – Wild pigs are a worry in Canada and the United States for reasons beyond the damage they do to farms, pasture land and ecosystems. They could be an uncontrollable factor if ever infected with African swine fever. Why it matters: African swine fever has devastating effects on swine herds, as shown in […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
