Here is a secret for you……red meat tastes very good. So much so that Impossible Foods has worked diligently to design a burger that looks and has the texture of real hamburger. They are claiming that this high-tech veggie burger is realistic it even oozes “blood.” Now it’s plant blood, but Impossible Foods is boasting… Read More
Month: October 2014
Grains started to trek higher this week as we head towards the end of the month, mostly due to international market prices picking up pace. However, by Friday, October 24th, it appeared that the rally was short-lived as the market dropped well below its monthly highs. Specifically, canola almost made it up to $420 per… Read More
Now that we’re a few weeks into the 2014-15 hockey season, we’re starting to get an understanding of how teams stack up against each other. As has been the case the last few years, it’s looking like most Canadian teams will be in a fight to just make the playoffs, with the Montreal Canadiens being… Read More
The U.S. is running out of options if it wants to avoid facing retaliatory trade action from Canada in response to its country of origin labeling (COOL) rules. Canada could have permission from the World Trade Organization to implement retaliatory tariffs by this time next year if the American government doesn’t make changes to COOL… Read More
Every Ontario farmer who grows any field crop, tender fruit, vegetable or other specialty crops is asked to fill out a confidential survey of crop protection products used during 2014. This confidential survey is being conducted by Farm & Food Care Ontario on behalf of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA)…. Read More
The soybean harvest is likely behind by about two weeks for much of Ontario and parts of the U.S. For those who may want to get wheat or cover crops in, time is of the essence, and that can mean that waiting for ideal soil conditions before planting or working the ground doesn’t happen. But… Read More
Sometimes things are not what they seem at all. Never has this been more true than in the debate over what is great tasting food. Two food pranksters attended a high-end food show to show off their newest and greatest organic dishes. The reviews that they got from attendees were great. There was one slight… Read More
Nearly the entire Real Agriculture team gathered in Saskatoon earlier this week to talk content, new features and conference coverage over the next few months. Those who know any of the team personally can likely imagine the decibel level (Lyndsey, shush!), the creative ideas that swirled, and the laundry list of ag topics on the… Read More
Canadian cattle and hog producers welcomed the World Trade Organization’s ruling on country of origin labeling (COOL) this week. On this week’s ag news podcast, Kelvin Heppner and the Real Ag team discuss the slow process of resolving the COOL dispute through the WTO, as well as A&W’s new chicken requirements, research to keep farm… Read More
I never assume anyone knows where my hometown of Mitchell’s Bay (population: 350) is, unless they like to fish or hunt or boat, or come from deep in southwestern Ontario. So I was quite surprised when, on a plane to western Canada earlier this week, the 30-something man beside me from B.C. nodded in acknowledgement… Read More
Earlier this month, Canadian fruit and vegetable processors or wholesalers lost preferred access to the United States Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA). “Without PACA access, Canadian companies trying to recover unpaid bills will have to post double the value of what they are trying to recover as bond to make a claim,” says Ron Lemaire,… Read More
FP Genetics is offering western Canadian wheat growers a guarantee to prove that newer CWRS varieties are more profitable than older lines. Currently, an estimated 80% of wheat acres are seeded with bin-run seed, says FP Genetics, and the company believes this practice means farmers are leaving money on the table by not upgrading their… Read More
Ottawa may not be everyone’s hometown, but Parliament Hill and monuments like the War Memorial belong to all of Canada. An act of violence towards our armed forces and national landmarks is an act of violence towards each of us. Ottawa is also a place where people from across the country are always meeting and gathering,… Read More
From October 27-31, farmers in Saskatchewan will have the opportunity to safely dispose of obsolete pesticide and livestock medications. The initiative is organized by CleanFARMS, a not-for-profit stewardship organization with an impressive track record. Last year, Alberta alone contributed 35 800 kilograms of unwanted pesticides for safe disposal, and since the program’s 1998 launch, it has… Read More
A staggering 80% of contaminants found in water bodies trace back to on-farm activities, according to government figures. Similar concerns in the United Kingdom have meant the early adoption of biobeds, contained areas specifically intended to capture and degrade pesticides. “We can take a lot from the existing models in Europe, but we have to modify… Read More