Louise and Percy Schmeiser. (Mary Lou Schechtel photo courtesy Mongrel Media)

Farmer and activist Percy Schmeiser, 89

Thorn in Monsanto's side also the subject of a new major film

Funeral services are to be held and livestreamed Saturday for Prairie farmer, businessman and activist Percy Schmeiser, best known for his ultimately unsuccessful court battles with the company behind Roundup […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Beef Breeds Council becomes arm of CCA

Cattle genetics body now a division of Canadian Cattlemen's Association

The market development group representing Canada’s beef cattle seedstock sector has formally merged into the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA). The association on Friday announced the Canadian Beef Breeds Council (CBBC) […] Read more

Canadian dairy cows have increased in stature by 2.5 centimetres over the past decade.

Separating stature from major Holstein traits

A new composite index should help maintain desirable traits, while de-emphasizing stature

Canada’s dairy breeding sector is attempting to slow a gradual increase in the average size of the nation’s Holstein. At Lactanet Canada’s recent Open Industry Session held in Guelph, geneticist […] Read more


It is important to know what key traits exist and the relationship between negative and positive traits when making changes to a cow herd.

Beef genomic selection finds its stride

Research is ongoing to find new traits and figure out genetic correlations to make the best breeding choice

Picking the best herd sire or selecting replacement heifers is getting easier for producers who use genomically enhanced expected progeny differences. The predictions of valuable traits like carcass merit, longevity […] Read more



The final stages of corn’s domestication appear to have happened more than once in more than one place.

Scientists overhaul corn domestication story with new analysis

Science Notes: Semi-wild proto-corn spread from Mexico to South America before becoming fully domesticated, offering new clues to its future

Smithsonian scientists and collaborators are revising the history of one of the world’s most important crops. Drawing on genetic and archaeological evidence, researchers have found that a predecessor of today’s […] Read more

Wheat has lagged in speed of development compared to other crops. That could change now that the genome has been sequenced.

Wheat’s bigger future

New genetic tools are emerging after the sequencing of the wheat genome

The sequencing of the wheat genome means researchers will finally have access to genetic tools to help with wheat development — an advantage other crops have had for years. It […] Read more