L to R: University of Guelph dean John Cranfield; Brett Shepard, Ridgetown Campus; Chris Gillard, researcher; Jamie Payton, OBG acting chair; Ryan Koeslag, Ontario Bean Growers executive director.

Weed research professorship receives funds

Ontario Bean Growers, anonymous donor contribute $2 million to ensure position continues

The Ontario Bean Growers are helping fund a Weed Management Professorship position based at the Ridgetown campus of the University of Guelph.  “With the retirement of Dr. Peter Sikkema in 2024, this funding will not only ensure weed research continues for dry beans but will also support the Huron Research Station for the next 10 […] Read more

“How (the) dairy (deal) was implemented here has really not set well,” says Ted McKinney, a former undersecretary at U.S. Department of Agriculture.

U.S. feels ‘betrayed’ over dairy deal

Former official says dairy dispute between U.S. and Canada about to erupt again

Glacier FarmMedia – A senior American agricultural policy leader cautions Canadian farmers to expect a resurgence of the dairy dispute. “Watch out on dairy. I think that’s real,” Ted McKinney, a former undersecretary at U.S. Department of Agriculture, a former Indiana minister of agriculture and currently chief executive officer of the National Association of State […] Read more

Photo: Michelle Erickson-Jones/iStock/Getty Images

Prairie forecast: Storm system heads for southern Prairies

Updates forecast issued Feb. 29, covering Feb. 29 to March 6, 2024

The weather models have come into fairly good agreement for the storm system forecasted to impact much of the southern prairies over the next 24 to 48 hours. An area of low pressure is developing over Wyoming with an inverted trough stretching northwestwards.


Prairie forecast update: Storms roll in

Prairie forecast update: Storms roll in

Updates forecast issued Feb. 21, 2024

The weather models are coming into agreement with up coming storm system. The low was forecasted to develop over southern Alberta on Sunday with widespread snow developing to the north and west of the low. This placed the Edmonton region in the main snow band with 10 or so centimetres forecasted to fall across this region. The snow should move out quickly on Monday as cold arctic air pours southwards behind the low dropping temperatures to below average, but only for a couple of day.


Cyberattacks are an increasing threat and artificial intelligence is allowing for more sophisticated scams.

Cybercrime is on the rise, and agriculture isn’t immune

Risk of data breaches and ransomware increases as agriculture becomes more technologically driven

Agriculture is vulnerable to the ever-evolving threat of cyberattacks and artificial intelligence advancement, farmers are warned. “We’ve got a lot of great innovation and technology here in Canada, particularly in agriculture,” Cathy Lennon, general manager of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, told attendees of a January cybersecurity webinar hosted by the farm organization. “People may […] Read more


“We do a great job in this country of coming up with amazing ideas.” But despite the fact taxpayers often fund the research which leads to those ideas, “we don’t do a good job of turning those ideas into patents.”

Universities collaborate on agriculture research

University of Guelph’s Arrell Food Institute and University of the Fraser Valley’s Food and Agriculture Institute sign MOU

The University of Guelph-based Arrell Food Institute has joined forces with the University of the Fraser Valley to collaborate on sustainable agriculture research, training and ag-tech startup incubation. Why it matters: Canada has a poor track record of moving university research into the marketplace. The two institutions recently announced they have signed a Memorandum of […] Read more


“I think the thing that worries me the most is the threat that lies within the United States,” Frum, a journalist, former White House speechwriter and conservative intellectual, told farmers at Manitoba Ag Days.

U.S. political instability called major global risk

David Frum says partisan fighting distracts superpower from its crucial role in the world

Glacier FarmMedia – Canadian farmers have front-row seats to the world’s biggest geopolitical risk, according to David Frum. “I think the thing that worries me the most is the threat that lies within the United States,” said Frum, a journalist, former White House speechwriter and conservative intellectual, during Manitoba Ag Days. “If Americans make the […] Read more

Farmers demand incentives for environmental changes

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