The Prairies have turned out to be a great place to grow crops and raise livestock. The obstacles are massive, of course, and many of them have to do with our — let’s call them “challenging” — climatic conditions. Potential drought has always been a problem. Farming becomes a daunting task when the rain stops. […] Read more
Farmers thumb their noses at bad weather
B.C. 4-H member impressed at Canada-wide science fair
The Canadian Acoustical Association Award is awarded for an outstanding senior project related to acoustics, the science of sound. The award recognizes projects that help food security, sustainability or competitiveness in agriculture, fisheries or production. “For my science fair project, I wanted to test if white noise or classical music could reduce stress in newly […] Read more
Bird flu spread slows, but outbreak continues to take toll
Canadian Food Inspection Agency still working with affected farms, while producers cope with stress caused by outbreak
The spread of avian influenza in Canada continues to slow as the migration of transitory birds suspected of spreading the virus also settles down for the summer. But the stress continues on poultry producers and Canadian Food Inspection Agency officials as they deal with cases on nearly 100 poultry farms across Canada. So far, nearly […] Read more
Avian flu spreads to more provinces
The numbers of birds infected with avian influenza and the provinces and farms affected by it continues to grow as Canada faces the largest geographic spread of the disease since it was first detected in the country in 2004. British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Quebec are the latest provinces to report cases of the bird flu […] Read more
Poultry marketing receives federal funding
Canada’s chicken and turkey sectors are getting $3.5 million in federal funding in the first year of a 10-year program to step up marketing and drive domestic consumption. Francis Drouin, parliamentary secretary to agriculture minister Marie-Claude Bibeau, announced the new market development program late last month. Chicken Farmers of Canada will get $1 million, and […] Read more
U.S. poultry farmers tighten avian flu safety
Recent cases rattle U.S. producers, who remember a devastating outbreak in 2015 that killed nearly 50 million birds
CHICAGO, Ill. (Reuters) — American poultry producers are tightening safety measures for their flocks as disease experts warn that wild birds are likely spreading a highly lethal form of avian flu across the country. Indiana reported earlier this month that the highly pathogenic bird flu was found on a commercial turkey farm, leading China, South […] Read more
Small farms near cities boast sustainability, education
A 29-acre farm may seem small by many prairie standards, where farms seem to get bigger every year. But for Mike and Carolyn Reimer, who live within the city limits of Winnipeg, 29 acres are just enough. “Farms keep getting bought up and huge corporations are taking over, and if we can provide something that’s […] Read more
B.C. flood effects being tallied as recovery begins
Provincial and federal officials are looking at how to best get financial help to British Columbia producers hit by flooding that has damaged their property and killed hundreds of thousands of farm animals. “Our hearts continue to be with the folks that are struggling with the very difficult situations that are happening right now,” B.C. […] Read more
Low inputs, much labour but it works for small farm
STRATHCLAIR, Man. — Zack Koscielny knows his farming methods draw attention, not always in the most flattering manner. “We get lots of funny looks and questions, that’s for sure,” said Koscielny, who operates a mixed livestock operation with his family that includes direct marketing. The Koscielnys have five quarter-sections of land, a constriction on the […] Read more
B.C. flood effects being tallied as recovery begins
Provincial and federal officials are looking at how to best get financial help to British Columbia producers hit by flooding that has damaged their property and killed hundreds of thousands of farm animals. “Our hearts continue to be with the folks that are struggling with the very difficult situations that are happening right now,” B.C. […] Read more
