Wheat is one of the oldest and most important cereals and is grown on more land area worldwide than any other food crop, supplying one fifth of the calories consumed by the global population. Yet wheat suffers major yield losses due to attacks by pests and pathogens. In 2010 the wheat genome was decoded, and […] Read more
Stories by Freelance writer
Scientists find gene that controls plants’ self-fertilization
Many crops rely on pollination to flourish, while many others are able to self-fertilize. For years, scientists have questioned what controls the ability of plants to avoid self-fertilization, also known as self-incompatibility (SI). Now, scientists at the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom have identified a gene that controls SI. They worked with the […] Read more
U.K. speeds crop gene editing approval
Move is intended to help producers boost food production while enhancing disease resistance and water efficiency
In a bid to produce more food, the United Kingdom government is fast tracking legislation that will allow the use of gene editing in crops. The move comes amid fears the war in Ukraine could lead to mass food shortages across the world, causing hunger in vulnerable nations. Ukraine is described as the breadbasket of […] Read more
Farmers embrace flexible transition
Past experience shows farm family that not all successful transitions are written down but also rely on good relationships
Farm transition plans are important, but they shouldn’t be set in stone, said Peter Smerychynski, who took over the farm from his parents and is welcoming his son, Konnor, into the family farm. “A real progression plan was not formal with us. It was an understanding. It turned out better than the formal stuff,” said […] Read more
Craft brewery a sudsy feature of west coast community
A year-round destination on the west coast of Vancouver Island, brimming with rugged beauty and its own craft brewery, is just one way to describe Ucluelet. This small town of about 2,000 is a 30-minute drive from the community of Tofino. The word Ucluelet is an anglicized version of the name of the local Yuułu?ił?ath […] Read more
Kitchen wood stove brings back warm farm memories
The effort that was required to keep the home fires burning contrast sharply with the sterile efficiency of a modern electric range
A small ski resort was located about three kilometres from where I grew up, and while I was able to scratch together 15 cents for the cost of a tow ticket, money for lunch was out of the question. When I went into the chalet to warm up around noon, the smell of hamburgers and […] Read more
Succession starts at the dinner table
Family hasn’t had formal meetings about an eventual transition to the next generation, but the discussions have begun
The journey to farm transition is long and bumpy with plenty of blind corners and dead ends, but Lowell Nelson and his family have started down the road without a map and are not sure where it will take them. “We’re not exactly sure when or what is going to happen. We have slowly been […] Read more
Family expects more hard work as plan develops
Dairy farmers from Alberta have met with a succession expert but know there is more to do to make the transition final
An initial transition conversation two years ago was a boost, but there is still plenty of work needed to make the final farm transition, said Michael Haeni, a member of the upcoming generation looking at taking over the family farm. Two years ago, three generations of the family sat down with a farm transition expert […] Read more
Bad experience teaches family about planning
Farming sisters feel tough conversations needed to ensure all five siblings feel included in the transition conversations
A difficult farm transition that threatened to create a rift in her parent’s family has confirmed Chelsea Pellerin’s belief in the importance of a clear, written farm transition plan. A conversation 15 years ago of how the farm would be transferred, but not spelled out and didn’t materialize, was a wake-up call for Pellerin, who […] Read more
Winged predators a threat to cattle
Ravens and other birds are among the range of predators that can harm or kill livestock. Cam Hill, program co-ordinator with the British Columbia Cattlemen’s Association livestock protection program, says program verifiers are trained to determine the cause of livestock kills by wolves, coyotes, bears or cougars. “We are also seeing increases in bird kills, […] Read more
