Soil needs to breath. It loses productivity when sealed with a layer of hardpan or a buildup of mulch on the surface to block the infiltration of air and water. Cattle producers have long realized that pasture soil becomes dry and hard when it has been compacted by a concentration of animal hoofs and has […] Read more
News
Canada-U.S. group studies phosphorus run-off issues
A new phosphorus-loss program in Ontario hopes to focus attention on heading off phosphorus runoff before it gets to waterways. Charles Lalonde, co-ordinator for the Thames River Phosphorus Reduction Collaborative, said the biggest problem is trying to sort out the various groups and phosphorus reduction projects already underway. “They all have the same thing at […] Read more
B.C. hops farm rides craft brewing wave
Small breweries around the world seek hops that are grown in different soil and climates to create unique flavours
CHILLIWACK, B.C. — Chilliwack was once the largest hops growing region in the British Commonwealth but the crop slowly fell out of favour. Thanks to the exponential growth of craft breweries around the world, farmers are interested in planting them again. Chilliwack Hop Farms started as a hobby and has grown to more than 300 […] Read more
Waterproof camera designed for rugged outdoor use
Most people today seem to take photographs with their cellphones. They are commonplace, have decent cameras and are easy to use. However, there are outdoor occasions that are not safe for cellphones. Adverse weather and backcountry environments can permanently damage these devices even when inside their protective shells. The outdoor photography niche is still well-served […] Read more
Man. plot trials reinforce role of treated canola
Agronomist says most farmers don’t scout their fields well enough to control flea beetles with spraying
It’s almost impossible to find a bag of untreated canola seed. There’s a reason for that. “You’d have to be braver than me,” said Canola Council of Canada agronomist Keith Gabert at Canolapalooza. “I hope you have a skid of whatever your favourite insecticide is.” Gabert was talking about tiny demonstration plots that showed what […] Read moreSyngenta eyes Bayer assets to bolster seed, crop protection market
BASEL, Switzerland (Reuters) —Syngenta, which was acquired by ChemChina, has vowed to bulk up its seed business and join the chase for assets that Bayer must sell to gain regulatory approval for its takeover of Monsanto. Syngenta, a distant third in the global seed market behind Monsanto and DuPont, is determined not to lose ground […] Read more
Vegetable growers face changes
A proposed restructuring plan for the troubled Ontario Processing Vegetable Growers marketing board leaves little room for ousted former board members to contribute to governance in the first years of its relaunch. And if the regulations released for public feedback in June by the Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission are passed without changes, processing vegetable […] Read more
Possible fungicide breakthrough bodes well for farmers
Two multinational chemical companies working on ‘novel fungicidal compound’ that promises to ease resistance worries
Two major players in the agricultural chemical industry are collaborating on bringing a new lineup of fungicides to the market. Sumitomo Chemical, one of Japan’s leading chemical companies, has discovered a “novel fungicidal compound” that demonstrates high efficacy for the control of major plant diseases. The company is joining forces with BASF to commercialize a […] Read moreYounger, large farm owners more likely to embrace new technology
Computers, smartphones, global positioning systems and auto steer have become standard equipment on many farms in Canada. However, the rate at which producers adopt new technologies varies significantly across the country, depending on the size of the farm, the value of the goods it produces and the age of the farmer. According to data collected […] Read more
Research seeks ability to label malt flavour with barley variety
The taste of beer is all about the hops. Wait a minute, that isn’t true, but it’s what millions of beer drinkers believe. That’s a problem for the barley industry and came up a number of times during the Canadian Barley Symposium and North American Barley Researchers Workshop, held June 25-28 in Winnipeg. “The hops […] Read more
