When looking at Canada on the global stage as a leader for safe, sustainable, nutritious, and profitable food to feed the world’s growing population, one expert says we’re on track to be a leader — but the country can also fall behind if action isn’t taken soon. Dr. Evan Fraser, director at the Arrell Food… Read More
Dairy calves experience many challenges in early life, and producers need to be diligent in the hours and days after birth to ensure calf health and reduce mortality. Overall, research shows that eight percent of calves die within 48 hours of birth — this includes those born dead or those that die within the first… Read More
A new study shows the average Canadian family will pay $487 more on food in 2020. Canada’s Food Price Report was released this week by the University of Guelph’s Arrell Food Institute (AFI) in collaboration with Dalhousie University’s Agri-Food Analytics Lab. The forecast shows the average Canadian household total grocery bill will rise to $12,667…. Read More
Leon Kochian, faculty member of the plant and soil science departments of the College of Agriculture and Bioresources at the University of Saskatchewan, has won the 2019 Arrell Global Food Innovation Award for global excellence in food innovation. The award from the Arrell Food Institute, housed at the University of Guelph, recognizes global research leaders… Read More
The Ontario Beef Research Centre has officially opened at the Elora Research Station, adjacent to the Ontario Dairy Research Centre and the soon-to-be constructed Ontario Swine Research Centre. The new centre supports research related to animal welfare, reproduction, and nutrition as well as meat quality and safety. Research results will be commercialized or shared with… Read More
The Ontario government is committing $1.2 million in agri-food research funding for projects related to bioproducts, waste reduction, and recycling technologies. Through the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance, the government is funding research to develop and market biodegradable and/or compostable straws made from natural fibre using Ontario-grown miscanthus grass and corn stover. It is anticipated the material… Read More
The Ontario government announced $1.3 million in funding through the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance, a funding partnership with the University of Guelph. The research projects at the University of Guelph will focus on increasing production and decreasing economic losses caused by crop diseases and pests on Ontario farms, including: Surveillance for blight management decisions in… Read More
Political stripes aside, the defeat of Rachel Notley’s NDP government in Alberta struck a nerve with people concerned about gender-balanced, inclusive representation among provincial leaders. Not since the early 1980s have provincial governments in our country all been led by men. It was glaring enough to see the photo of provincial leaders together last July… Read More
Economic health. Physical health. Environmental health. These are all factors we consider when looking at our overall health on the farm, but how often do we take a look at our mental health? We all know that farming is stressful, especially since it involves unpredictable variables such as weather, markets, and family. Farmers across the… Read More
Milking with single-box automated milking systems (AMS) has revolutionized the way dairy producers manage their herds. Current estimates indicate that 10 percent of the Canadian dairy herd are now milked by automated systems, and it’s growing. Globally, nearly 30,000 farms employ robots, according to a 2014 survey. Much of the conversation around dairy robots focus… Read More
For people who play the stock market, an opportunity to cash in on an 826 per cent return on investment doesn’t come along too often. But Ontario farmers can realize this type of return every time they apply herbicide in corn fields that experience intense weed pressure, says University of Guelph weed scientist Dr. Peter… Read More
A new and timely research network being established this spring will provide the nation’s cow-calf industry with benchmark data to help with planning and management. The Canadian Cow-Calf Surveillance Network is described as “a network of herds across the country that reflects the industry.” The network will involve 175 producers across Canada and a dozen… Read More
New research suggests significant savings to pork producers from screening boars for a genetic abnormality that causes prenatal piglet death and smaller litters. When the test for chromosome translocation in Canada was developed five years ago at the University of Guelph by professor Allan King and his team, the savings were estimated at about 3:1… Read More
Plants communicate. So much so, that they actually sense weed competition and reduce yield potential even before they emerge from the ground. It may sound like science fiction, but it’s just one of the many scientific facts that University of Guelph weed scientist Dr. Clarence Swanton has helped prove during his 35-year career. Over the… Read More
When it comes to connecting with other farmers and researchers, there’s no substitute for being there. Just consider attendance at events such as Crop Connect in Manitoba or Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show in Ontario, and that’s clear. But when producers can’t physically be at an event because they’re tied up with their herd, they can… Read More