Participant surveys of the “In The Know” mental health literacy program pilot project held last fall across Ontario are now being analyzed. The program is part of an ongoing mental health project that University of Guelph has been working on for several years. Why it matters: Agriculture is a high-stress industry, yet few mental health […] Read more
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Mental health literacy program a step closer to reality
Fall 2019 pilot project results currently being analyzed to prepare final version
Editorial: Evaluating farm tech adoption
Is agriculture ahead or behind the rest of the economy on the technology curve? I’ve always said ahead, but those who monitor these sorts of things from outside the industry always rank agriculture as a “mature” or “legacy” sector that lags behind other sectors in technology adoption. The answer is likely somewhere in the middle […] Read more
New tractor tire improves on-road ride
New tire type is designed to improve tire life, handling and operator comfort through reduced vibration
“Bib” the Michelin Man has just introduced a new tire aimed at farmers who regularly drive their tractors on public roads, towing heavy loads. The Michelin RoadBib has a new tread design. Instead of a traditional lugged tire, it features 52 blocks with a wide footprint and shallow tread. The tire has a plain, central […] Read more
Harnessing sprayers to tame fire
An Alberta farm invention puts out fire using existing investments, making use of reliable off-road capacity
Self-propelled, high clearance sprayers are great for spraying and have become three-season rigs. As well, in an emergency these could control a serious fire, with the right gear. That’s what Arrowwood, Alta., custom applicator Clark Oberholtzer figured out. He had seen the damage that fires brought to his southern Alberta and Saskatchewan neighbours in the […] Read more
Autonomous platform moves from R&D to commercial sales
DOT and its team spent the winter further developing the platform in Arizona
Continuous field testing of prototype machinery can be a challenge for Canadian ag equipment manufacturers, because our long winters limit access to fields. A good option is to head to southern portions of the U.S. where milder climates make year-round testing possible. Only that way can engineers rack up the maximum number of hours on […] Read more
IBM expands artificial intelligence platform into agriculture
Growers, food companies and agribusiness can boost production with better availability of weather data
International computer systems company IBM is moving further into the agriculture industry. It recently announced the global expansion of Watson Decision Platform for Agriculture in May in an effort to make weather a more predictable business consideration. IBM is combining predictive technology from The Weather Company, which it acquired in 2016 and Internet of Things […] Read more
DNA barcoding technology wins Guelph innovation competition
Gryphon’s LAAIR program helps bring research ideas, many connected to agriculture, to market
A food fraud detector won the top prize at the inaugural Gryphon’s LAAIR innovation showcase and pitch competition at the University of Guelph. LifeScanner was selected by an industry judging panel as the winner of the $7,500 grand prize from six corporations in the competition, all with University of Guelph research roots. It was hosted […] Read more
Addressing food waste may mean more plastic
Better packaging to extend shelf life creates dilemma as non-biodegradable material ends up in landfills, oceans
The food business is caught in a Catch-22 situation. The public wants to control food waste and one way to do that is with better packaging to preserve freshness and prevent spoilage. On the downside, better packaging often means plastic but more people are concerned about the amount of plastic being thrown away, accumulating in […] Read more
Ottawa announces funds to attract youth in agriculture
Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Marie-Claude Bibeau recently announced a new investment of up to $3.75 million designed to help bring youth into the agriculture industry. The Youth Employment and Skills Program will provide funding to employers in agriculture to hire Canadian youth, ages 15 to 30. It aims to create opportunities for Canadian youth, […] Read more
Farm workers increasingly in short supply
Surveys found that 70 per cent of the agriculture sector is challenged to find staff it needs
Agriculture employers know hiring, training and retaining workers is an ongoing challenge. Jobless rates are going down and that increases the staffing problem. Surveys from AgCareers show more than 70 per cent of the sector struggles to find suitable staff. Why it matters: Farms need a flexible supply of workers in order to remain competitive […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
