Environmental issues Archives - Page 18 of 30

VIDEO: Soil Conservation Week — the job is not over

By Manitoba Co-operator Staff April 23, 2015

April 19-25 is National Soil Conservation Week, an annual event to remind everyone of the need to protect the soil resource from some of the damage it suffered during the “Dirty Thirties.” Unfortunately, some scenes of that time were repeated in parts of Manitoba last week when south winds gusting as high as 88 km/h

Comment, Opinion

Soil care: Will we make the right choices?

When net effects are considered, tillage can never be justified

By Don Lobb April 23, 2015

2015 is International Year of the Soil, and from April 19-25, National Soil Conservation Week brings focus to soil care in Canada. We need to consider our record through the ages as we implement soil protection now. Through the past 10,000 years, history records the successive rise and failure of great civilizations and powerful nations.

Crops, Opinion

Editorial: Black swan?

By John Morriss April 13, 2015

Among the many topics in the science news releases last week was one from the University of East Anglia in the U.K. “A new study pinpoints five strains of yeast capable of turning agricultural byproducts, such as straw, sawdust and corncobs, into bioethanol — a well-known alcohol-based biofuel,” the release said. We’ve seen similar news

Crops, Opinion

Unintended consequences of U.S. biofuel policy

Corn and soy for ethanol were grown on marginal land which could have emitted  as much carbon dioxide as 34 coal-fired power plants

By University of Wisconsin-Madison April 13, 2015

Clearing grasslands to make way for biofuels may seem counterproductive, but University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers show in a new study that crops, including the corn and soy commonly used for biofuels, expanded onto seven million acres of new land in the U.S. over a recent four-year period, replacing millions of acres of grasslands. The study

Members of the Sirba Abay irrigation users’ group gather in the shade of their new farmers’ training centre to discuss how irrigation has improved their incomes and nutrition.

Crops, International news

Irrigation project means year-round food, and more

A Canadian government-supported project has led to  impressive gains in yields, and in health of the local population

By Laura Rance-Unger April 7, 2015

Vegetables were once a rarity in this community located three hours northeast of Asosa in the remote Benishangul-Gumuz region of Western Ethiopia. If onions, potatoes and tomatoes were available at all, they had travelled a long distance and been on at least three trucks. They were expensive, often prohibitively so, and poor quality. Two of

Crops, Local news

Prairie agriculture in for even more change: U of M agriculture dean

Adapt to climate change rather than trying to mitigate its effects, says Karin Wittenberg

By Lorraine Stevenson April 7, 2015

In 1980 there was no Internet. No one carried a cellphone or used GPS. Canola was a new crop for Prairie farmers. Expect even more dramatic change in the next 35 years, says Karin Wittenberg, dean of agricultural and food sciences at the University of Manitoba. Wittenberg, the keynote speaker at last month’s annual meeting

Crops, Pulses

Project shows link between healthy soils and healthy people

A unique project is improving nutrition and incomes through better farming practices

By Laura Rance-Unger March 24, 2015

A little yellow seed is sprouting big changes for farming families here in the Great Rift Valley, within reach of the Hawassa University extension services. Chickpeas grown as a double crop after maize are boosting families’ nutrition, providing extra income and helping improve the soils. Farmers here have traditionally grown one crop of maize, tef

Fairview, Alta. seed grower and Forage Seed Canada president Heather Kerschbaumer, says the association is seeking allies in its efforts to keep Roundup Ready alfalfa out of Canada.

Forages, National news

Forage Seed Canada seeks allies to keep Roundup Ready alfalfa out

Forage seed growers fear they and hay exporters will lose valuable markets because of GM contamination 

By Allan Dawson March 20, 2015

Heather Kerschbaumer just lost another forage seed sale because of GM contamination, reinforcing her opposition to allowing Roundup Ready alfalfa production in Canada. The Fairview, Alta., seed grower and president of Forage Seed Canada says the association is seeking allies to help block Roundup Ready alfalfa from commercial Canadian production until certain conditions are met.

Crops, International news

The dark side of agriculture in Hawaii

GM variety has helped protect papaya against a deadly virus, but some growers have found their crop vandalized

By Karen Daynard March 2, 2015

Hawaii — the name conjures up thoughts of beautiful beaches, waterfalls, fresh exotic fruits, flowers. However, there is a much darker side that most tourists are unaware of — an atmosphere of distrust, vandalism, legal wars, massive security, heartbreak and so much more. All of this due to genetically modified (GM) crops. With a 12-month

Crops

Climate Atlas proposed as long-term planning tool

University of Winnipeg climatologist Danny Blair wants everyone to have accessible information through an easy-to-read mapping database called the Climate Atlas of Manitoba

By Lorraine Stevenson February 6, 2015

A University of Winnipeg climatologist and a small team of researchers are working to develop high-quality maps they say will project what sort of climate agro-Manitoba is likely to have in the next half-century. The Climate Atlas of Manitoba will be a set of accessible, easy-to-understand data, based and calculated on past trends and future

Daily Network News

Huge crops in South America says analyst

U.S. livestock: ‘Cattle on feed’ report supports prices

U.S. grains: Wheat trades near contract lows under ample global supply

Tag Archives Environmental issues