Glacier FarmMedia – This year will be challenging for consumers as inflation is expected to push costs higher, according to food industry commentator Sylvain Charlebois, who spoke at Farming Smarter’s Global Crop Production virtual conference last month. The Dalhousie University Agri-food Analytics Lab director said the inflation rate is driving food prices higher while income […] Read more
Canada slips on food affordability ranking
Economist says rising grocery prices and stagnating incomes have combined to increase pressure on consumers
Forage management vital to achieve top-quality feed
Low-lignin alfalfa is a new tool that requires changes in harvest timing
Attendees at the recent 2021 Forage Focus webinars were reminded of knowledge gained from 1889 silage quality research and gained more contemporary insights from experts. Renato Schmidt discussed dry matter and quality losses during pre-ensiling and ensiling and Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs specialist Anita Heeg delivered a talk about understanding feed […] Read more
U of G launches free online business program for producers
Program is self-paced and taught by professors with significant agricultural industry experience
Farmers can get down to business with a new course offering from the University of Guelph, Foundations in Agricultural Management, a free eight-part online course. “Getting Ontario Agricultural College’s institutional knowledge into the hands of producers across Canada has always been a goal of ours,” said Rene Van Acker, dean, Ontario Agricultural College, University of […] Read more
White-tailed deer found to be huge reservoir of coronavirus infection
COVID-19: High number of variants suggests many human-deer interactions
New research from the U.S. has shown that white-tailed deer are being infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 in humans. Antibodies were found in 40 per cent of deer that were tested from January to March 2021 across Michigan, Pennsylvania, Illinois and New York state. A second unpublished study has detected the virus in 80 […] Read more
Dairy farmers can adapt to climate change
Science Notes: Warming climate worsens nutrient pollution but lengthens growing season
Dairy farmers in the northeastern region of North America are facing a warming climate that exacerbates nutrient pollution but lengthens the growing season. However, they can reduce the environmental impact of their operations and maximize revenues by double cropping and injecting manure into the soil, rather than broadcasting it. That’s the conclusion of a team […] Read more
Pre-weaning calf health and immunity carries impacts into lactation years
Strong colostrum management and intranasal vaccination could improve calf immunity
The first two months of a heifer’s life are critical for laying the foundation for her long-term health and productivity. Recent research on epigenetics and perinatal programming of young dairy calves has solidified a connection between early health and long-term milk production impacts, Elad Ben-Ezra, DVM-MBA and Zoetis veterinary service manager (cattle) told attendees at […] Read more
Does corn kernel weight matter more than quantity?
The number of kernels per plant in modern hybrids remains stable – yield gains come from kernel weight
More corn is good, but growing heavier kernels is better. Sort of. According to veteran corn research specialists, altering in-field management to balance both kernel numbers and individual kernel weight is the best way to realize the true potential of modern hybrids. Why it matters: Heavier kernels can significantly improve yields, sometimes more than higher […] Read more
Agronomy lessons learned in 2021
Production specialists discuss hail and frost, impact of a light winter, and other challenges
Last year brought many surprises, including a few agronomic ones. Agronomists and presenters Patrick O’Neill, Carrie Davenport and Hanna Petrovsky recently shared some of the challenges, wins and lessons observed during a year of extremes during the virtual Ontario Agricultural Conference. The 2021 growing season started early for O’Neill, his colleagues and farmers in the […] Read more
Sustainability Index can promote value-chain credentials
Proof of sustainability becoming critical to corner global market share
The development of Canada’s first Agri-Food Sustainability Index (AFSI) is gaining traction. David McInnes, AFSI coordinator, said the initiative would affirm Canada’s agri-food leadership, create opportunities to add value, mark progress on societal priorities, and shape policy discussions in a more demanding food world. “Our task is about coming up with the right metrics to […] Read more
Opinion: Autonomous choices grow for farm machinery
John Deere’s recent announcement that it will be selling autonomous 8R tractors for tillage this year elicited a not-surprising reaction from farmers. It was a mixed response, as is often the case for new technology, especially technology that might significantly change something they’ve been doing and, in many cases, liked doing, for generations. This isn’t […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
