Two of Canada’s leading think tanks in agriculture and food policy are working together to try to understand the implications of and lessons from COVID-19’s effects on the Canadian food system. Why it matters: The COVID-19 crisis has shown some weaknesses in the Canadian agri-food system, although food has remained widely available. The Arrell Food […] Read more
News
Study looks at COVID-19 and food system
The hope is that the results will help strengthen food system emergency planning
Opinion: Business risk management reform remains possible
Among the long list of complaints to government from producers in recent months, their concern over business risk management programs has been the most consistent. Other grievances remain. The carbon tax is an irritant, but the now-futile campaign against it has lost steam throughout the pandemic. Lack of labour and access to foreign trade markets […] Read more
Cannabis carries farm growth in otherwise average year
Crop receipts declined 1.1 per cent without cannabis numbers included
Glacier FarmMedia – New data from Statistics Canada shows farm cash receipts continue to trend upward, increasing in 2019 by 5.7 per cent or $66.1 billion to mark the ninth consecutive year of increase and the largest single-year uptick since 2012. But that number is less impressive when cannabis is removed from the equation, which […] Read more
Resistant trees found to resist ash borer
Science Notes: Gene editing could place resistance genes into ash species currently affected by EAB
An international team of scientists have identified candidate resistance genes that could protect ash trees from the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), a deadly pest that is expected to kill billions of trees worldwide. In the new study, published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, researchers from Queen Mary University of London and the Royal Botanic Gardens, […] Read more
VIDEO: Armyworm a growing concern in wheat
Field Talk with Johanna Lindeboom: How to scout for this crop pest
Cool and wet April weather along with thunderstorms are ideal for armyworm, a hay and wheat pest, to migrate north to Ontario. There are minimal options for dealing with armyworm, so proper scouting is a must as this crop pest has been quickly appearing in Ontario fields. In this edition of Field Talk, Farmtario reporter […] Read more
Protester killed in accident near pork plant
A person was struck by a truck while attempted to feed a pig on board
Updated June 19 Halton Region Police are reporting that a pedestrian has been killed at Appleby Line and Harvester Road in Burlington, the site of the Fearman’s Pork plant. Reporters on the scene are saying that the person killed was a protester who attempted to feed a pig in a moving truck and was struck […] Read more
Turkey farmer donation helps young people
Kids Help Phone and 4-H Canada will be the beneficiaries
Glacier FarmMedia – COVID-19 has been a weird and stressful time for most Canadians. Social isolation and incessant news about the pandemic can affect people in different ways, particularly kids, who may not have someone to talk to. That’s why Turkey Farmers of Canada has donated an additional $80,000 to Kids Help Phone and 4-H […] Read more
Mobile genetic testing technology wins Guelph pitch competition
Harvest Genomics aims to provide on-location genetic testing of food
A Guelph-based start-up with plans to bring mobile genetic testing to agriculture was the winner of the second annual University of Guelph Gryphon’s LAAIR pitch competition, held online May 27. Harvest Genomics will use its $10,000 prize to develop and bring to market a portable DNA system that will make testing capabilities currently only available […] Read more
Campaign aims to share food system stories
The Canadian Centre for Food Integrity hopes the campaign will help build public trust
The Canadian Centre for Food Integrity (CCFI) is stepping into a new role with the launch of a media campaign that tells the story of Canada’s food system. The CCFI is funded by players throughout the food system from producers to retailers. It has, since its founding in 2016, focused on researching consumer attitudes toward […] Read more
Achieving a healthy soybean plant stand
OMAFRA Field Crop Report for June 18
Soybean plant stand establishment Establishing a uniform, healthy soybean plant stand which closes the canopy quickly is important to maximizing yield potential. Although a perfect plant stand is not as essential for soybeans as it is for corn; higher soybean yields are often associated with more uniform stands. Attaining a good plant stand is more […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
