If approved, it will be the world’s first government scheme that taxes farmers on the amount of methane produced by their livestock
The New Zealand government has launched proposals to tax farmers on their cattle and sheep burps in a bid to tackle rising greenhouse gas levels. If adopted, New Zealand would be the first country in the world start a scheme that taxes farmers on the amount of methane produced by their livestock. The plans have […] Read moreStories by Freelance writer
Research reveals white mould vulnerabilities
White mould stem rot is a destructive crop disease that is widespread in Canada. It infects more than 600 plant species including crops such as potatoes, soybeans, sunflowers, peas, lentils, canola as well as other broadleaf crops. It can cause 50 percent yield loss in some cases. The disease is caused by a protein in […] Read more
Planting shade – photo essay
Photo Essay | Members of the Carmangay Lions Club in Carmangay, Alta. believed one of the reasons their campground was underused was lack of shade in the summer. With the help of the local horticulture society, the group is planting 32 ash and 135 lilac trees this year at the edge of the campground. | Mary MacArthur photos
Members of the Carmangay Lions Club in Carmangay, Alta. believed one of the reasons their campground was underused was lack of shade in the summer. With the help of the local horticulture society, the group is planting 32 ash and 135 lilac trees this year at the edge of the campground. | Mary MacArthur photos
Dramatic Kentucky Derby winner has Man. roots
Horse that shocked the racing world by coming from behind to win prestigious event was born to a mare from Manitoba
Rich Strike, the 80-1 longshot that staged a dramatic come-from-behind win at the recent Kentucky Derby, has roots in Canada. His mother, Gold Strike, was a Manitoba product. In fact, Gold Strike was not only bred, born, raised and started near Brunkild, Man., but she was raced at Assiniboia Downs near Winnipeg as a two-year […] Read more
Researchers breed varroa resistant honeybees
The bees were selectively bred to strengthen a trait in which they expell infested larvae from the hive, killing larvae and mite
Many beekeepers face a challenging spring as they cope with massive honeybee losses. Those range from 40 percent across the Prairies to 60 percent in Quebec. Some honey producers have lost as much as 90 percent of their bees due in large part to the parasitic mite varroa destructor mite. In addition, some farmers are […] Read more
Meadows need full legion of bees to stay healthy
Researchers find that the more plant species there are in a meadow, the more bee species are required for pollination
Think of bees and most people think of honeybees and bumblebees as the striped, fuzzy familiar insects that pollinate flowers and crops. However, Canada has some 800 native species of bees while the United States has more than 4,000 native bee species. Many live solitary lives rather than in hives and don’t make honey. But […] Read more
Irish farmer honours Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
People celebrate all things royal in different ways, in different places and Northern Ireland no exception
Raking grass into rows for the silage harvest is a skilled job but one Northern Ireland dairy farmer raised the bar when he paid tribute to the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Finding going around the field in circles a bit tedious, David Dunlop decided to row up the number 70 in the grass on the farm […] Read more
Farm size influences avian diversity, says researchers
A study shows that research is showing that bird populations are adjusting to larger farm sizes with fewer species
Large-scale farming can have detrimental effects on wild species. A recent study led by the University of British Columbia in collaboration with Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the University of Göttingen, and the University of California, Santa Barbara, looked at the environmental impact of farm size on bird species. The research showed that increased farm size results […] Read more
Sharing recipes creates bonds between friends
Asking for a friend’s recipe is a way to compliment them on their cooking and strengthen your relationship with them
Spring has finally come and a favourite sign of its return is the appearance of rhubarb in my garden. The first fruit ready to harvest, it offers something different for a visit with friends and family and I look forward to the day it’s grown big enough to use. Many recipes were given to me […] Read more
The day an adventurous pig got the travel bug
The mystery of the prodigal pig was just one of the many hog tales that were produced from a childhood spent on the farm
When I was about five years old, my mother undertook a project to make some spending money that involved a couple of Tamworth hogs for breeding purposes. We already had Barney, a grumpy old boar who rooted around in the manure pile when not lounging about the barn yard. I was always leery of him […] Read more
