Glacier FarmMedia – From flashy toy to just another tool in the tool box — for many farmers, drones have simply become an everyday part of the work they do. “It’s not as novel as it was a few years ago,” said Markus Weber, president of LandView Drones. “For a lot of people when they
FROM TOY TO TOOL: The sky’s the limit for farming drones
There’s better software and powerful zooms, and both spraying and seeding are advancing quickly too
A world without Roundup is a ‘real threat,’ says New Zealand farmer
But reduced use is an option and can thwart both proposed bans and resistance
Glacier FarmMedia – Glyphosate changed farming across the globe — but if farmers don’t want to lose the ‘chemical of the century’ entirely, they’d better use it less often. That’s the view of a seed grower from New Zealand who made farming without glyphosate the focus of his Nuffield research. It’s hard to overstate the
Taking the path of least resistance opens door to clubroot ‘disaster’
Only use resistant cultivars, says canola council, and back it up with scouting and longer rotations
Glacier FarmMedia – Canola growers should keep one simple message in mind when choosing their varieties for next year’s growing season: Every acre needs to be clubroot resistant. “What we’re trying to do is really focus on using clubroot resistance as part of a proactive, integrated prevention or management plan for every canola acre,” said
A battle the beef sector can’t afford to lose
Antimicrobial resistance in cattle isn’t going away, so proper use of livestock drugs is critical
Glacier FarmMedia – There’s a microscopic war raging in your soil, and these bacteria will do whatever it takes to protect and expand their territory. “It’s like a little arms race that goes on naturally in the environment,” said Reynold Bergen, science director for the Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC). “They’re using antibiotic resistance to
Labelling law rears its head again, but officials don’t expect its return
Some American ranchers are ‘making a lot of noise’ but odds of a return to COOL seem slim
Glacier FarmMedia – Mandatory country-of-origin labelling (COOL) is gone, but there’s a new effort by American beef producers wanting to bring it back. “It’s still hugely on our radar,” said Alberta Beef Producers chair Melanie Wowk. “When COOL was first instituted in 2003, it was costing us about $600 million a year, so I think
Demand seen soaring for legal, farm-killed meat
LOCAL | Producers, particularly small-scale farmers, would benefit from similar regulations in Manitoba, says Direct Farm Manitoba Demand for on-farm slaughter licences in Alberta has exploded since last summer when a rule change allowed consumers to buy individual animals and have them processed on the farm. Manitoba should have its own, similar regulations, says Direct
The big challenges won’t end when the pandemic does
Long-standing problems are still there but we’ve learned lessons that can be applied, say senior officials
The ag sector will require some fresh approaches to old problems if Canadian producers hope to remain competitive in a post-pandemic world. “All of the things we were worried about post-pandemic are exactly the same things we were worried about pre-pandemic,” said Simon Kennedy, deputy minister of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada. Trade conflicts,
Regenerative agriculture is becoming the next big thing for consumers
As interest in how food is produced increases, regenerative ag is a trend to watch
Consumers have latched on to a new-to-them concept that puts soil health front and centre — regenerative agriculture. “For farmers, (regenerative agriculture) is nothing new, but now we’re starting to see consumers use the term,” said Jo-Ann McArthur, president of Nourish Food Marketing in Toronto. “When we look at it, we see it potentially becoming
Select cattle genetics that are a fit for your operation
Factors such as forage quality or even how far cattle walk can be key when selecting genetics
Glacier FarmMedia – Putting cattle into an environment that doesn’t suit them is like jamming a round peg in a square hole — you might be able to make it work, but it’s going to take some effort. “Genetic selection is really about putting DNA into production,” said Vermilion-area beef producer Sean McGrath. “You’re buying
Some cattle producers have a beef with fake-meat labelling
Is it misleading to use words like burger and meat for veggie substitutes? Or do consumers get it?
Glacier Farmmedia – Plant-based protein. Simulated meat. Alternative protein. When it comes to labelling fake meat, what’s in a name? Well, it depends on who you ask. Some say using words like ‘burger’ or ‘sausage’ to describe vegetarian fare is misleading. “To me, it’s obvious we’re producing the best meat product, because everybody else wants to call theirs ‘meat,’”
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
