Regulations on gene editing of animals are contributing to negative public perceptions of the technology and stifling innovation in the livestock sector, according to Alison Van Eenennaam of the University of California, Davis. A veteran science communicator and cooperative extension specialist in animal genomics and biotechnology, her professional and personal experience led her to believe […] Read more
Genetic editing in livestock faces strong headwinds
University of California, Davis professor says lack of acceptance of gene editing stifles potential gains in livestock sector
Ontario vet receives prestigious North American bovine practitioner award
Dr. Kelly Barratt is the first woman and the youngest to win the award
Dr. Kelly Barratt of Listowel is this year’s recipient of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners Bovine Practitioner of the Year award sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim. It is the top honour that a member of the AABP can obtain in their career. Although unable to attend in person, Barratt was recognized during the 54th AABP […] Read more
When the plant speaks, nutrients listen
Canadian researcher may have found a radically new way to fertilize crops
Glacier FarmMedia – It sounds like science fiction, but some day there may be a fertilizer that only activates once the plant tells it to. That’s an oversimplification, but it’s the premise behind a researcher’s prototype for a “smart” fertilizer that uses a unique chemical to “listen” to calls for nutrients from the plant roots. […] Read more
Reviving the forest — with agriculture as part of the mix
Silvopasture can provide forage for grazing animals, while managing and building woodlots
It’s best to ease your way into using woodlots to pasture livestock — by working to transform edge-of-field hedgerows or planting trees in marginal areas no longer used for cropping. For those working to create “silvopasture” the ultimate goal is a diversity of landscapes on the farm that more accurately mimics the natural world. Steve […] Read more
Comment: ‘Recipe shopping’ trend is trickling back through the value chain
When it comes to deciding what’s for dinner in this house, we often refer to recipe books collected over the years via family hand-me-downs, fundraisers or interest in our ethnic roots, health or ethics. It’s easy to spend an hour or more flipping through these collections, comparing notes and ingredients from one recipe or another. […] Read more
Long-term Ontario studies show value of cover crops
Boosting organic matter in soils proved to boost profit margins and reduce yield variation year to year
A series of long-term studies in southern Ontario are showing the value of cover crops and boosting soil organic matter. When combining data across experiments and research stations, University of Guelph soil scientist Laura Van Eerd said researchers consistently saw higher corn and soybean yields correlate to higher soil organic matter. Van Eerd spoke during […] Read more
Case IH upgrades planter control, widens dry applicator boom
Increased availability of ISOBUS makes it easier for farm implements to communicate
Glacier FarmMedia – The prevalence of ISOBUS implement control compatibility has grown significantly in the past decade. ISOBUS is a standardized digital format that allows tractors and implements of different brands to communicate with each other. Now most major brands have included at least some measure of that in their systems. This summer, Case IH […] Read more
Maple Leaf hits sow stall phase out ahead of schedule
Company expects to have stalls removed by end of 2021
Glacier FarmMedia – Gestation stalls will be gone from Maple Leaf Foods’ barns by the end of December. Maple Leaf, which produces about 40 per cent of the pigs it uses in its company-branded meat, says its pregnant sows will all live in open housing systems it has been incorporating since the mid-2010s. Why it […] Read more
Draft updated to dairy cattle Code of Practice
New draft released for public comment, closes Jan. 27
A draft update to the Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Dairy Cattle is now open for public comment. The public comment period allows all stakeholders to provide their input on the proposed updates to the 2009 Code. The draft Code and the online platform to submit comments are now accessible at […] Read more
Climate anxieties shape consumer demands
Agriculture and food sector faces “new reality,” according to food marketing firm Nourish
Failure to act on the climate and personal health anxieties of Canadians could be a “brand breaker” for businesses in the farm and food sector, according to the 2022 consumer trend report from Nourish Food Marketing. Its authors argue that the coming year will see competing generational perspectives and shifting preferences in a post-pandemic reality. […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
