Imagine a consumer who really likes a steak reaching back through the supply chain to give the farmer who raised that beef a tip. Or, being paid immediately for grain delivery. Those are a couple of the ideas behind Grain Discovery, a Prince Edward County agriculture start-up company planning to use blockchain technology to make […] Read more
Tag Archives University of Guelph — page 20
Farming blockchain
The ability to secure data and transactions through a chain of users could improve agriculture supply chain efficiency
Gene editing to eliminate boar taint being explored
A research alliance is attempting to develop male pigs that are naturally castrated
Global swine and poultry breeding technology supplier Hendrix Genetics recently added its support to a U.S.-based research effort aimed at delaying or even eliminating maturity in piglets as a way of tackling the troublesome phenomenon of boar taint. However, a well-respected University of Guelph boar taint researcher says “the jury’s still out” on whether or […] Read more
Ultrasound can detect lung problems in dairy calves earlier
Dairy calves that experience respiratory ailments produce less milk later on
Thanks to the use of new ultrasound technology, there’s now solid evidence out of the University of Guelph indicating the level of non-clinical lung infections among dairy calves is on par with what has already been seen in the beef sector. Why it matters: A member of the team involved in the dairy calf study, […] Read more
Waterjet use on planters eliminates coulter-soil contact
Aquatill concept remains in testing phase, but may offer options for no-till farmers
The use of pressurized water as a cutting tool has come full circle. It was used extensively to power away earth during the 1850s California Gold Rush. Now, after being adapted and refined to carry out high-tech, precision cutting of metals and other industrial materials indoors, the technology has turned back to the ground. Why […] Read more
Film delves into urban-rural perspectives on food production
University student Dylan Sher spent time researching the origins of an entree served up in a popular Toronto restaurant
“My opinion is that the farmers don’t actually know the fight they’re in. They just know they’re in a fight.” That’s how soon-to-graduate University of Guelph ag business student Dylan Sher describes his goal in spending the past year writing and helping create the feature-length documentary film “Before the Plate,” which celebrated its premiere screening […] Read more
Editorial: It all starts with the feet
Hoof health: For the sake of the animals and long-term health of our farms, we need to do better
I’ve heard for years that the foundation of livestock health is the foot. I haven’t needed studies to tell me that, as I’ve seen it many times myself. See an unhealthy cow or hog? There’s a good chance that its issues start with feet. It’s not surprising. Painful locomotion means less ability to get to […] Read more
Managing corn mycotoxins needs scouting, hybrid choice
Farmer can reduce risk of mycotoxins, including through insect and spore management
Generally dry conditions have reduced the threat of mycotoxins in corn this year, although rains during humid days could change that as corn moves to tasselling and silking. However, Dave Hooker, of the University of Guelph’s Ridgetown College, says that historical monitoring of mycotoxin levels by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs […] Read more
Farmers look to trucking industry to help soil compaction issues
Weight distribution across increasingly heavy equipment is critical
Truckers in North America and farmers in Europe know all about regulations related to weight of equipment — and innovative solutions to deal with those regulations. At a session during the recent FarmSmart Expo at the University of Guelph’s Elora Research Station, Ontario farmers heard they might need to learn those strategies one day. “The […] Read more
Cover crops can be tricky to kill
Cover crops can be important tools to improve soils, but there’s no single control solution
Cover crops can do a lot for the soil, but keeping them from becoming covering weeds requires the right herbicides applied at the right rate — to kill them at the right time. What cover crop is used, too, should be appropriate for the job the farmer wants to accomplish. Why it matters: Cover crops […] Read more
Looking for answers on sulphur
OMAFRA is looking for co-operators to further knowledge on sulphur needs in corn and soybeans
For years, Ontario agronomists have pointed to changes in air pollution from U.S. industries as the reason for the rise of sulphur deficiency in north-of-the-border crops. Why it matters: Back in 1990, southern Ontario was at the heart of a widespread “dark red” patch of high sulphur deposition, but by 2015, not just the dark […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
