Michigan State University researchers have uncovered a troubling trend towards multiple antibiotic resistance in concentrated animal feeding operations. A research team led by James Tiedje, distinguished professor of microbiology found that in large swine farms where antibiotics are used continuously in feed for growth promotion and disease prevention, multidrug-resistant bacteria are likely the norm rather
Bacteria shares antibiotic resistance with genetic partners
When one antibiotic is used, resistance to many antibiotics can increase
Olymel to expand Quebec, Ontario poultry plants
La Coop federee’s meat processing arm Olymel plans “major investment” to boost production capacity two of its poultry plants in Eastern Canada. The company on Tuesday said it would put up $10 million to install an air chilling room at its primary chicken processing plant at St-Damase, just south of St-Hyacinthe in Quebec’s Monteregie. The
Agropur halts its diafiltered milk imports
Updated, May 11, 2016 — Canadian dairy processing co-operative Agropur says a three-month national program to subsidize use of Canadian dairy ingredients will allow it to “immediately” end its own imports of diafiltered milk. “We had pledged to stop importing diafiltered milk as soon as conditions allowed,” co-op president Serge Riendeau said Tuesday in a
Ottawa seeks feedback ahead of Growing Forward sequel
The federal government has set up a new web-based questionnaire to gather farmer and industry feedback on the Growing Forward 2 (GF2) ag policy funding framework as it develops the next framework. The next agricultural policy funding framework is due to launch April 1, 2018, the government said in a release Monday. The first phase
Canada, U.S. to collaborate on food safety controls
Food safety officials in Canada and the U.S. have formally recognized each other’s respective food safety controls under a cross-border co-operation pact. The two countries last week announced their new food safety systems recognition arrangement, reached during meetings of the Canada-U.S. Regulatory Co-operation Council (RCC) held Wednesday and Thursday in Washington, D.C. The two countries
Soy is a promising antimicrobial agent
New testing shows plant isolates could replace failing chemical agents
Forget chemicals. The best antimicrobial available may be natural soy isolates like isoflavones and peptides. That’s according to a new study from University of Guelph researchers who looked at using these materials to inhibit the growth of microbial pathogens that cause foodborne illnesses. Engineering professor, Suresh Neethirajan, director of the university’s BioNano Laboratory, says the
A+W books further sales growth, shifts bacon sourcing
Canadian burger and root beer chain A+W has logged a 12th straight quarter of same-store sales growth, this time following a shift in pork sourcing for its bacon supply. The Vancouver-based income fund on Tuesday reported gross sales of $243.8 million among the 838 restaurants in its royalty pool for its first quarter ending March
Farming uses exempt from Alberta off-roading ban
Alberta’s new provincewide ban on recreational use of off-highway vehicles (OHVs) in provincial parks and on other public lands won’t apply to their use in farm work. The provincial government announced the temporary OHV ban Friday as “another tool… to help prevent the spread of wildfires,” on top of Thursday’s provincewide fire ban and its
Seeding canola into dry soils not out of question: CCC
Seeding now rather than waiting for rain may be a viable option for Prairie canola growers looking out on dry fields without much chance of precipitation, the Canola Council of Canada suggests. Facing temperatures in the mid-30s C, and soil moisture down at about the one- to two-inch mark, a few Prairie growers on social
Manitoba Co-operator staff recognized with awards
Manitoba Co-operator staff were recognized with writing awards at the recent North American Agricultural Journalists annual competition in Washington, D.C. Reporters Allan Dawson and Commodity News Service reporter Terryn Shiels received third place in the Spot News category for their article “Canola crop succumbs to final blow with May 30 frost,” which published last spring.
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
