British Columbia’s blueberry growers are facing a United States trade investigation that could threaten their industry. The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) wants to see whether American farmers are being hurt by berry imports from B.C. growers, who produce about 86,000 tonnes of blueberries annually and export 70 percent of the crop, mostly to the […] Read more
Author Archives
Pork’s affordability may create opportunities
Industry told it can capitalize on COVID-19 austerity by providing consumers with cheaper meat and more convenience
Sylvain Charlebois sees opportunities for pork, and by extension hog producers, amid trends emerging from the pandemic. The Dalhousie University professor and researcher, who has become known as The Food Professor, told participants in the Jan. 5 online Banff Pork Seminar that the hog industry should find new ways to present pork to capitalize on […] Read more
B.C. beef plant gets to work
The beef plant that is a key part of plans to establish a branded British Columbia beef program has been processing about 15 head per week in recent weeks to assess operations and gear up for a full launch anticipated later this year, possibly as early as March. B.C. Beef Producers (BCBP), a producer-owned corporation, […] Read more
Research truck hits the highway in U.S. to test virus viability
Veterinarians set out to learn more about animal disease survival in common transportation situations and feed types
The truck carrying one-ton totes of soy-based pig feed is travelling a not-uncommon commercial route this month from Minneapolis to Des Moines, Denver, Albuquerque, New Orleans, Jacksonville, Washington D.C., Buffalo and Chicago. It will take 21 days to cover 9,660 kilometres across 14 states and its journey and purpose had to be approved by the […] Read more
Small pig farmer survey part of ASF initiative
Learning more about small-lot producers could make it easier to communicate with them about African swine fever
Whether pigs are kept as pets or for a personal pork supply, Canadians who keep a small number of pigs on their property are the target respondents for an online survey expected to be distributed later this month. The survey is part of a project to mitigate the risk of African swine fever in domestic […] Read more
Vet checks go virtual
Dr. Kelly Loree was busy visiting dairy farms earlier this year, providing veterinary care to various herds in the Ponoka, Alta., region. The pandemic hasn’t affected the need for livestock veterinary attention. But while on the job, Loree was exposed to the COVID-19 virus on three different farms, the result of farmers’ earlier participation at […] Read more
Federal soil researchers break into literary world
A Lethbridge research scientist in biogeochemistry and a biogeochemistry technician have won an international prize in children’s literature. Ben Ellert and Katelyn Lutes, who work for Agriculture Canada from the Lethbridge Research Centre, teamed up to write and illustrate a book that placed second in a contest organized by the United Nations Food and Agriculture […] Read more
Flexitarians on the rise since COVID-19 struck
Most consumers continue to eat meat, but more of them are doing it less often as they focus on plant-based diets
The number of flexitarians, those who eat less meat than they used to and emphasize plant-based foods, has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. In July, 16 percent of American consumers described themselves as flexitarian compared to 12 percent at the start of 2020. That’s an increase of 30 percent, as indicated in the Power of […] Read more
Fungicides, fertilizer did not aid hail recovery
Products applied in Alberta within three days of a simulated hail event had no consistent effect on wheat, peas or beans
Fungicides and nutrient blend applications did not improve the recovery of wheat, field pea or dry bean crops damaged by hail, according to one research study. Gurbir Dhillon, a researcher with the Farming Smarter applied research group, said various products applied within three days of a simulated hail event had no consistent effect on any […] Read more
Timing important when rolling barley fields
One year of research data in Alberta finds that it is best to roll fields when the crop is at the one- to three-leaf stage
There’s nothing like putting a rock through the combine or silage chopper to ruin a farmer’s day and delay harvest. Rolling the field earlier in the season to push down rocks and soil clods reduces the risk of that event but timing is important, said Trevor Deering, research associate with Farming Smarter. The benefit of […] Read more
