GUELPH, Ont. — It was 10 minutes into a presentation on soil health at the Guelph Organic Conference when a farmer raised his arm to make a point. The presenter was discussing the relationship between soil microbes and soil fertility when the farmer said, “the more you feed” the soil with nutrients, “the lazier the […] Read more
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Do organic farmers need nutrients?
Signs show provincial election is looming, says Alta. NDP
Alberta’s NDP leader is “absolutely convinced” there will be a provincial election this spring. Rachel Notley said premier Jim Prentice would be breaking the spirit of the law by calling an election 14 months before legislation indicates he has to, but he will proceed anyway. “The driving force behind his decision on timing is actually […] Read more
Biofilm and bacteria a concern for meat sector
OLDS, Alta. — Karen Liljebjelke’s veterinary students quickly grasp what she’s talking about when she describes how bacteria develop genetic resistance to antibiotics or disinfectants. “There’s an app for that,” she said. Unlike people and animals, bacteria do not need to mate to disseminate their DNA, which could include resistance genes. “These genes are basically […] Read more
Behavioural science might help improve poor farming practices
ROME (Thomson Reuters Foundation) — Traditional economics could use a rethink, says a senior World Bank official. Anne Fruttero, a senior World Bank economist, relayed a story about small farmers in Kenya’s highlands, where low fertilizer use has been holding back crop yields. Some farmers expressed the desire to buy more fertilizer but had not […] Read more
Painkiller could be approved for horses heading to meat market
RED DEER — Approval is being sought for a new pain medication for horses. Meloxicam, which was tested for the last two years on horses destined for the meat market, has proven to be an effective pain treatment for lameness and following castration. “It will be the first painkiller in North America that will be […] Read more
Bird flu found in a second backyard flock
A second flock of backyard chickens in British Columbia has tested positive for avian influenza, the first case in more than a month. Ray Nickel of the B.C. Poultry Association said the flock of 80 to 95 egg laying hens near Chilliwack was confirmed positive Feb. 3 and has already been destroyed. The last confirmed […] Read more
SaskWater rate hike hits rural communities
About 36,000 Saskatchewan residents who get their water through a provincially owned pipeline will be paying more beginning this spring. SaskWater, the provincial crown corporation that delivers water to 72,000 Saskatchewan residents, has announced a two-year rate adjustment for customers receiving potable and non-potable water. Most of those affected will see rates for potable water […] Read more
ADM’s Medicine Hat flour mill listed at $1.35M
A realtor in Medicine Hat, Alta., is fielding inquiries only days after the Archer Daniels Midland flour mill in that city was listed for sale. The facility, which ceased operations in May 2013, is listed at $1.35 million. The price includes 15 acres and more than 100,000 sq. feet of building space, a concrete grain […] Read more
Deal provides satellite images
Precision agriculture provider Farmers Edge has an agreement with BlackBridge, which operates satellites producing detailed imagery. The deal gives Farmers Edge of Winnipeg greater access to BlackBridge’s five metre RapidEye high-resolution satellite imagery. This long-term contract grants Farmers Edge access to historical and cropping season imagery in North America, South America, Australia, and Eastern Europe.
PED isn’t going away, says Ont. vet
Two winters of PED have shown Ontario hog farmers two important things, says the first veterinarian to identify PED in Canada: The disease can be controlled and eliminated from a barn. It can always appear or return, no matter how careful a farm is. Sue Burlatschenko told the Manitoba Swine Seminar that farmers must be […] Read more
