The Ontario government has made changes to the Enhanced Agri-food Workplace Protection Program (EAWPP) that are expected to increase uptake by farmers. Eligible costs have expanded and the application deadline has been extended. “The health and wellbeing of the workforce in the agri-food sector is, and always has been, a priority for our government,” said […] Read more
Province expands eligibility under workplace protection program
Deadline extended to February 2022 to offset costs related to COVID-19
Wild boar sightings prompt swift action from province
‘Whole sounder removal’ goal of natural resources ministry after multiple sightings near Pickering
Multiple sightings of 14 Eurasian wild boar in rural areas north of Pickering have Ontario’s northern development, natural resources and forestry ministry working quickly to trap and remove them. “A sounder of wild pigs typically consists of one or several related females and their offspring,” said Erin Koen, a research scientist in the provincial Wildlife […] Read more
Comment: Rural connectivity gap widens
Council of Canadian Academies says the social and economic costs are significant
The release of yet another report highlighting the deepening disconnect between urban and rural Canada over internet connectivity made me think of telephones. Growing up in rural Manitoba, where our telephone “party line” was shared by six large families, connectivity was often a topic of discussion. Sometimes the line was in use when you wanted it. […] Read more
Producers need to be aware of UN Food Systems Summit outcomes
Conversations there will shape future regulations and national legislation
Glacier FarmMedia – The United Nations might seem distant from a Canadian farm but what happens there can foreshadow where the world is heading, said Robynne Anderson, president of Emerging Ag Inc. and a representative to the UN on farmers’ behalf. That’s why farmers should pay attention to what happened at the recent UN Food […] Read more
Safety doesn’t always come first on the farm
Study digs into why Canadian farmers don’t always put rules into practice
Most farmers believe they do their jobs safely and most also say they have unwritten rules on their farm to do the work without anyone getting hurt. But Canadian farmers also say an injury or a near miss hasn’t made them change their work behaviour, nor has it spurred them to put a safety plan […] Read more
Data collection in the barn can help farmers make better decisions
Well-managed animals can reduce GHG emissions by 30 per cent, says researcher
Better livestock health through more precise management represents a significant greenhouse gas reduction opportunity for livestock farmers, says a senior executive with an animal health multinational. Innovation is a major way to accomplish that goal, Jamie Brannan told participants at the recent European Animal AgTech Summit. Brannan is a Zoetis vice-president and cluster lead for […] Read more
Project creates one-stop cattle genetics database
Unified approach will make it easier for producers to access digital information
Glacier FarmMedia – A partnership led by the Canadian Beef Improvement Network plans to create a unified digital platform for the genetic data of cattle, allowing producers to more easily get information they need to improve their herds. “We know that other industries have done this and are doing it very well, and the beef […] Read more
Plant breeder focuses on nutritional value
Researcher wins grant to study improving nutritional quality of barley, wheat, peas, lentils, quinoa and buckwheat
Glacier FarmMedia – When plant breeders develop a new variety, the goal is a crop that is “the total package.” They want a high-yielding crop with superior disease resistance, tolerant of drought, with excellent end-use qualities and a long list of other traits. Kevin Murphy, a plant breeder at Washington State University, said breeders sometimes […] Read more
First-in-Canada One Health degree coming to University of Guelph
One Health studies connections among human, animal and environment health
The University of Guelph will introduce a first-of-its-kind Bachelor of One Health (BOH) degree program in fall 2022. “This is the first four-year undergraduate degree devoted to One Health in Canada,” said Dr. Brian Husband, associate dean, academic, in the College of Biological Science (CBS) and a professor in the Department of Integrative Biology. The COVID-19 pandemic and […] Read more
Blockchain basics
A Manitoba start-up aims to bring blockchain to the agriculture sector
Glacier FarmMedia – The word “blockchain” may more readily conjure the image of cryptocurrency than of oats and pulses, but experts say blockchain’s future in food transparency and other ag application is a given. “I think we’re going to see some form of blockchain or digital ledger underpin food systems in the future,” said Chris […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
