There’s a sense of optimism and excitement in the Canadian agri-tech and innovation sector these days – and despite ongoing challenges, the future shines bright with opportunity. That’s according to panelists at the recent THRIVE Spotlight on Canadian Agri-Food Innovation, where the Silicon Valley-based global accelerator announced its first Canadian cohort of start-up companies. Why […] Read more
Tag Archives technology — page 12
Canada’s agriculture innovation sector has momentum, experts say
Capitalizing on interest and supporting entrepreneurs key to keep momentum going
Parlour versus robot financials prove systems are surprisingly similar
BDO’s national benchmarking data compares dairy farm profitability
Is it better to invest in a parlour or robots? It’s a question many dairy farmers are facing as they consider their next expansion and make future plans. The answer depends on labour availability and personal preference, according to a team of national accountants who have recently developed financial benchmarks for both milking systems. The […] Read more
Tracking animal performance with camera clicks
New technology to help farmers manage what they measure
Glacier FarmMedia – Imagine as a livestock producer, whether of beef, dairy or hogs, and being able to get a daily read on animal weights just by checking your cellphone or tablet. You could track whether animals are maintaining their body condition, the average daily gain of a pen of steers or how many pigs […] Read more
Pilot project assesses digital tool for monitoring traffic on poultry farms
Industry hopes to improve biosecurity and better communication among farmers
A new poultry pilot project is putting biosecurity and disease mitigation measures in Ontario to the test. Farm Health Guardian and the Feather Board Command Centre (FBCC) have partnered to conduct the project in the Niagara region. “We are trying to assess whether digital biosecurity software is a useful tool in disease management,” says Dr. […] Read more
Green-on-green spray technology puts weed control on near horizon
In-crop selective spraying technology is showing promise
Glacier FarmMedia – In 2021, both John Deere and AGCO announced they were developing selective spraying technologies. Deere introduced its See and Spray Select as an option on model year 2022 400 and 600 series sprayers. That system is capable of identifying weeds in fallow fields and selectively spraying them. It’s what the industry now […] Read more
Powerful sensors on planes can detect crop nitrogen
Hyperspectral imagery offers cost-effective, quick assessment
Synthetic nitrogen fertilizers transformed agriculture during the Green Revolution, catapulting crop yields and food security to new heights. But despite improvements in crop nitrogen use efficiency, fears of underperformance still spur fertilizer overapplication. Excess nitrogen then ends up in waterways, including groundwater, and in the atmosphere in the form of potent greenhouse gases. Why it […] Read more
Precision technology wins and losses
Farmers discuss if, and what, precision agriculture tools are worth the investment
Chuck Baresich has been utilizing precision agriculture tools on his family’s Bothwell area no-till cash crop operation since 1998. “We have been at the forefront of lots of technology whether it’s an auto-steer system, fleet management tools, precision application on the sprayers,” he said. “We’ve tried to be one of the first in trying new […] Read more
Invention improves blood collection in pigs
‘Backspacer Device’ allows blood samples to be drawn from pigs safely and without undue stress to animals
Veterinarian Jewel White and her colleagues are the winners of this year’s F. X. Aherne Prize for Innovative Pork Production for creating something they call the “Backspacer Device.” The invention is simple but significantly improves animal care and worker safety in pork barns during blood sampling. White is the herd veterinarian for Maple Leaf Agri-Farms […] Read more
Prizes put up to develop year-round berry production in Canada
Weston Foundation's new challenge backed with $33 million
A philanthropic foundation focused on improving public health now wants to improve diets by finding ways to juice up Canada’s home-grown fruit supplies. The Weston Family Foundation on Tuesday pledged $33 million over six years for what it calls the Homegrown Innovation Challenge, a prize challenge pitting ideas against ideas with the goal of extending […] Read more
Algae, plant-growth chambers and insects could fuel future astronauts
Canadian Space Agency announces Phase 1 winners of Deep Space Food Challenge
One of the many current limitations of long-distance space travel is how to keep the people on those missions fed. And although we’re nowhere near a Star Trek-style replicator that can create and serve up any dish or drink on command, Canadian companies are working on some innovative solutions that could also benefit those of […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
