We cut down a lot of trees and drained a lot of wetlands to create Ontario’s agricultural landscape. With so few natural spaces left, and as economic pressures continue to push crop producers toward maximizing every available acre, I’m increasingly convinced legislation to protect nature from ourselves is a necessity. Aside from the environment, there […] Read more
Tag Archives Environment — page 2
Opinion: Time to be proactive with land-use restrictions
Can we diversify farm incomes by highlighting where we dropped the ball?
Consider nutritional value of meat when comparing carbon footprints
Science Notes: Study examines carbon footprint of lamb meat on a nutritional basis
The nutritional value of meat must be considered when comparing carbon footprints. That is the key message from a recent study undertaken by Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales, Bangor University, Queen’s University and the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute. Using data from the Welsh Lamb Meat Quality project, the study focused on different lamb […] Read more
New study is first step in predicting carbon emissions
Science Notes: Researchers develop process that is 10,000 times faster than current systems
Researchers at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have demonstrated it is possible to provide accurate, high-resolution predictions of carbon cycles in agroecosystems, which could help mitigate the impacts of climate change. The study by scholars was recently published in Nature Communications. Its findings are a critical first step in […] Read more
Opinion: ‘Wait and see’ is not a climate solution
It is more practical to act now based on what is already known, and adapt as we learn more
Fifty years ago, on a moonless night in the Fraser Canyon of British Columbia, I was trudging back to camp. As I crossed a railroad bridge, I heard the wail of a train whistle ricocheting through the canyons behind me. I couldn’t judge the distance between train and bridge, nor how far along the bridge […] Read more
Agriculture needs to build support for true green
Consumers care about the climate, but not enough to pay extra for it
Glacier FarmMedia – People say they care about climate change, but they aren’t willing to pay to address it. Canada’s food, agriculture and farming industries need to accept that failure as their own, says the head of Maple Leaf Foods. “They care, but they’re not motivated by it,” said Michael McCain, who pushed his company […] Read more
Opinion: Fertile ground needed in climate fight
Glacier FarmMedia – Canada is the latest nation to join a multinational group looking to advance efficient and novel fertilizers, known as the Efficient Fertilizer Consortium. It’s not a shocking development for a federal government that’s made climate policy one ofits signature initiatives. The stated goals of the group are downright ‘mom and apple pie’, […] Read more
First-of-its-kind cattle methane limiter approved for Canada
Bovaer feed additive already has stamp of approval in other countries
Glacier FarmMedia – A feed ingredient designed to reduce methane emissions in beef and dairy cattle can now be used in Canada. Bovaer neutralizes methane in the rumen. When microbes break down feed, hydrogen and carbon dioxide are released. These two gases are combined in the presence of an enyzme. Bovaer works by suppressing the […] Read more
Farmers demand incentives for environmental changes
A recent consultation hears that the federal government’s proposed Sustainable Agriculture Strategy must make economic sense
Glacier FarmMedia – A federal environmental strategy for the agriculture sector should be viewed through an economic lens, says a report from consultations on the proposed Sustainable Agriculture Strategy. It should reflect regional differences, recognize early adopters and improve data and measurement. Why it matters: The federal government wants the Sustainable Agriculture Strategy to be […] Read more
Opinion: Production, productivity and climate change
Glacier FarmMedia – A tantalizing report from Farm Credit Canada recently estimated the riches that would flow if the productivity growth of the decades leading into the 21st century were to return. “Assuming the Canadian agriculture industry returns productivity growth to the plateau we recorded two decades ago, this would add as much as $30 billion in […] Read more
A bustle in the hedgerow
Managing hedgerows in Devon, U.K. under pressure
Hedgerows have been a critical part of the landscape in Devon, England, for a very long time. They act as shelter for livestock, buffers against inclement weather, refuge and corridors for wildlife and a connection to the area’s historical human story. In some ways, however, modern production demands and government response to environmental problems have […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
