NEW APP FOR WEED CONTROL
Getting the timing right for pre-harvest weed control is difficult, but a new app developed by Monsanto is expected to help.
The Preharvest Staging App is designed to assess crops and weeds for pre-harvest applications of Roundup brand agricultural herbicides.
Photos are included, as well as measurements, in-field tests and herbicide recommendations for each of the crops and weeds on the label.
Users can also use the note-taking feature and herbicide calculator.
It is available for download at the Apple App Store.
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For more information, visit www.Roundup.ca/en/preharveststagingapp.
ORDER OF EXCELLENCE AWARD
Cargill Value Added Meats has won the 2014 Canada Order of Excellence for Quality Award from Excellence Canada. Cargill also won the Gold Trophy for Quality in 2001.
Excellence Canada was founded in 1992 and is a not-for-profit organization. The award is based on a review of all aspects of a company’s organizational practices.
The company’s businesses in London, Ont., Jarvis, Ont., and Spruce Grove, Alta., accepted the award.
ALBERTA FARMSAFE PLAN TESTERS SOUGHT
Alberta Agriculture is looking for farm owners and managers to participate in a second pilot of the Alberta FarmSafe Plan.
The first pilot program to test the plan took place in 2013-14 with nine farm owners and managers.
The program has been revised based on user feedback.
The department is looking for a second, larger pilot to run in 2014-15 with 50 to 75 participants. It wants farmers that represent a variety of farming types and sizes. Farmers will learn how to identify hazards specific to their farm and how to take steps to eliminate or control them.
For more information, contact Laurel Aitken at 780-980-4230 or laurel.aitken@gov.ab.ca.
MARTIN’S FAMILY FRUIT FARM
Martin’s Family Fruit Farm has received $713,000 in federal funding to adapt innovative processing equipment for slicing and dehydrating fresh vegetables into chips. With the investment, the company will be able to include vegetables in their production of crispy apple chips.
The company will use its processing facility in Elmira, Ont., to develop and pilot test drying on sweet potatoes, potatoes, carrots and tomatoes.
HEMP RESEARCH
New research under Growing Forward 2 will focus on the medical properties of hemp as well as its use in the biofibre industry. It will be funding by $198,000 from the federal and Manitoba governments.
The project, led by Parkland Industrial Hemp Growers, will test existing varieties of hemp for levels of cannabidol, which is a compound believed to have positive health effects. This is the first time cannabidol levels will be studied in Canadian hemp varieties.
The goal is to evaluate varieties and have them available when health research, legislation and licensing are ready for the use of cannabidols.
NEW SENIOR PUBLIC POLICY
Benjamin Ofori is the Canadian Foodgrains Bank’s new senior policy adviser.
He has several years’ experience working in program, policy and research with World Vision and the Alliance Against Hunger and Malnutrition. Ofori is originally from Ghana and now lives in Ottawa.
