Glacier FarmMedia – It might not seem like it, but Canada and China need each other. That could be an opening to re-engage with Canada’s second-largest agricultural export customer, says a new report from the Canada West Foundation. In many ways it’s an obvious match. Canada consistently produces a lot more food than it consumes […] Read more
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Canada, China have reasons to re-engage on trade
Canada has in the past gone its own way on trade with Asia, says a Canada West Foundation report
Poteck Power president apologetic about FOI stress
Intent behind Freedom of Information request was to gather a list of potential farm clients
Jeremy Poteck has revealed himself as the person behind the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) request for Farm Business Registrations in Ontario. The founder and president of Poteck Power said his intent was to generate a cohesive list of farm businesses across Ontario that might benefit from his company’s product. Why it matters: The spring […] Read more
Toning down plant vs. animal rhetoric
The benefit for the climate could be in linking systems closer to reduce waste
The true measure of livestock farming and sustainability is found somewhere between the big picture and the devil in the details. Sara Place, chief sustainability officer, Elanco Animal Health, boiled down the opportunities and challenges mired in societal perceptions, ecological impacts and the economic feasibility around sustainability at the recent Royal Agricultural Winter Fair’s Virtual […] Read more
The importance of being clear with employees when hiring
Discuss opportunities, but also realities of the job
The agri-food sector is experiencing a shift — economically, socially and technologically. Career opportunities are increasing and a change in skills demand is shaping the next generation. Employers must understand the expectations of new farm hires and how to address them in order to attract dependable workers. While agriculture and local food may intrigue today’s […] Read more
Density, not diversity key to northern forest carbon sequestration
Science Notes: Forests can play a crucial role in mitigating climate change
An international team led by the University of Geneva (UNIGE) has found that carbon sequestration is best in forests in cold and dry regions with an abundance of trees, not diversity of species. Inventory data from natural forests on five continents show that species diversity is optimal for equatorial and tropical rainforests, and that, conversely, […] Read more
Nitrogen fixing bacteria to be available in 2021
Envita, a nitrogen-fixing bacteria, will be available to Canadian farmers for its first full season in 2021. It works within plant cells to fix nitrogen from the air and was approved by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency earlier this year, following six years of research and farm trials in Canada and the United States. Azotic […] Read more
New online tool provides yield estimates
Tool allows farmers to make appropriate alterations to crop care and marketing
A new web application is designed to provide farmers with more accurate yield forecasts. Crop Metrics is an Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada app that allows farmers to get accurate data in one place for in-season crops. It is focused on 11 crops including corn, soybeans, canola, durum, spring and winter wheat. “(It) brings together numerous […] Read more
Grant to fast-track virus-free grapevine certification pleases wine industry
Grapevine Red Blotch Virus spread driving need for clean vines
The certification of virus-free grapevine plants is getting fast-tracked thanks to $6.2 million in funding from Genome Canada’s Genomic Applications Partnership Program (GAPP). “This funding will allow grape growers to rapidly improve the health of their vineyards and boost the domestic capacity in the supply of much needed virus-free grapevine plant material in Canada,” says […] Read more
Strategy created for 2021 planting worker protection
The government and industry collaborated on the detailed strategy for farm workers
The Ontario horticulture sector has been the hardest hit of agriculture sectors by COVID-19, but it has a plan in place to help reduce risk from the virus when foreign workers arrive for 2021 planting. OMAFRA and producer groups came together to create a 35-point plan that outlines areas of responsibility and direction to help […] Read more
Sher given Farm & Food Care champion award
The young filmmaker’s Before the Plate documentary helped explain modern farming
Dylan Sher, producer of the local food movie Before the Plate, has received the 2020 Farm & Food Care Ontario Champion Award. The award was presented by Farm & Food Care Ontario (FFCO) Chair Bonnie den Haan in front of a virtual audience of 300 attendees to the sold out Harvest Gala-in-a-Box event recently. The […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
