Plants Archives - Manitoba Co-operator

EU seeks revised GMO rules to loosen curbs on gene-edited crops

Countries including Canada have put gene-edited plants at a lower regulatory level than GMOs, but the conversation has been ongoing in the EU

By Ludwig Burger, Philip Blenkinsop July 20, 2023

The European Commission proposed a revision of its rules on genetically modified organisms July 5 to loosen restrictions for plants resulting from newer gene-editing technology. The EU executive said the move would allow farmers to secure access to climate or pest-resistant crops with less fertilizers or pesticides and consumers would be able to buy food with better nutritional value

File photo of a CFIA vehicle. (Dave Bedard photo)

Crops, Weather

Gene-edited crops clear CFIA’s regulatory bar

Agency guidance puts gene editing on level of conventional breeding

By Dave Bedard, GFM Network News May 4, 2023

Plants gene-edited for efficient use of water or nutrients or to better withstand pests or drought now won’t have to clear the same regulatory hurdles in Canada as any crops that are modified for herbicide tolerance or include foreign genes. Federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau on Wednesday announced updated guidance from the Canadian Food Inspection

The plant species Arabidopsis thaliana is seen sprouting at a University of Florida laboratory in a small amount of lunar regolith — soil from the moon — on May 5, 2021. (Photo: Tyler Jones, UF/IFAS Lunar Plants Research Documentation/Handout via Reuters)

Crops

In one giant leap for Earth plants, seeds are grown in moon soil

By GFM Network News, Will Dunham May 13, 2022

Washington | Reuters — Scientists for the first time have grown seeds in soil from the moon — samples retrieved during NASA missions in 1969 and 1972 — in an achievement that heralds the promise of using earthly plants to support human outposts on other worlds. Researchers said on Thursday they planted seeds of a

Tests of potato genetic material, loaded onto an agarose gel, show the presence of an experimental gene. (Ken Hackman photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Crops

USDA limits review requirements of some biotech farm products

By GFM Network News, P.J. Huffstutter May 15, 2020

Chicago | Reuters — The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced on Thursday a rule that will simplify or waive agency reviews of certain biotech farm products, including plants and seeds that have been genetically modified or engineered. As a result, some products could be sold to farmers without a USDA review — a move that

Calendula is a great annual for a patch garden.

Country Crossroads, Other

Using patches of annuals in the landscape

Perfect for those hard-to-plant areas they will add colour and be inexpensive if using self-seeders 

By Albert Parsons May 17, 2019

There are always spots in the landscape that are a bit troublesome when it comes time to plant them — especially large rural landscapes where the space is almost unlimited, but the budget isn’t! Even in smaller urban gardens there are usually spots where the growing conditions are less than ideal. One remedy for such

This colourful tall Amaranthus is positioned right at the front of a border.

Country Crossroads, Other

Using tall annual flowers in a border

Instead of using smaller plants to edge a border try some taller ones 

By Albert Parsons May 10, 2019

Flower borders were once quite formal and planting them required careful planning and precise placement. This very formalized way of planting annuals is rarely used now except in large public gardens. Nowadays, beds and borders composed solely of annuals are very rare as most gardeners have switched to using perennials with just a few annuals

Clubmoss can be used in many ways indoors.

Country Crossroads, Other

Clubmoss is a versatile interior plant

Whether used as a soil cover, in a terrarium, or a stand-alone display, it will be a unique indoor feature

By Albert Parsons May 3, 2019

Living ground covers are more naturalistic than inorganic ones, and are useful not only in the outdoor garden but indoors as well. Many of us have large, indoor foliage floor plants like scheffleras, palms, dieffenbachias, dracaenas, and fig trees, sometimes using sphagnum moss or raffia to cover the soil surface, but there are plants that

The cyclamen  has both attractive  bloom and foliage.

Country Crossroads, Other

Cyclamen makes a great gift at springtime

Vibrant-coloured blooms and attractive foliage make for the perfect potted plant

By Albert Parsons April 26, 2019

One of the prettiest gift plants is the cyclamen. Its vibrantly coloured flowers and exquisitely patterned heart-shaped leaves make it an attractive potted plant to give to a relative or friend. Florist cyclamen are hybrids developed exclusively for use as pot plants; they are not meant to be used in the outdoor garden. If you

English primulas produce vibrantly coloured blooms.

Country Crossroads, Other

Primulas provide pots of colour

Only suitable for indoors in our climate, they will provide a breath of spring

By Albert Parsons April 12, 2019

I recently came upon a lovely display of primulas for sale. There were red and orange ones, bright-golden ones, several shades of pink and even one with white blooms. I chose the pot with the dark-purple blooms with the buds just opening, rather than one with mature blooms. When buying any flowering plant, choose one

Blooms of dragon wing begonias add colour to the indoor winter garden.

Country Crossroads

Adding colour indoors with dragon wing begonias

Once these plants start to bloom they will continue right into spring 

By Albert Parsons April 5, 2019

I am currently enjoying a great display of begonia blooms in my sunroom and this will continue right into spring. They do not begin their winter indoors by producing any colour however, as I usually just bring in cuttings or small offshoots from the parent plants, and these take time to develop attractive foliage or

Alberta crop conditions improve: report

U.S. grains: Corn sets contract lows on expectations for big US crop

U.S. livestock: Cattle strength continues

Daily Network News

Alberta crop conditions improve: report

U.S. grains: Corn sets contract lows on expectations for big US crop

U.S. livestock: Cattle strength continues

Tag Archives Plants

EU seeks revised GMO rules to loosen curbs on gene-edited crops

Gene-edited crops clear CFIA’s regulatory bar

In one giant leap for Earth plants, seeds are grown in moon soil

USDA limits review requirements of some biotech farm products

Using patches of annuals in the landscape

Using tall annual flowers in a border

Clubmoss is a versatile interior plant

Cyclamen makes a great gift at springtime

Primulas provide pots of colour

Adding colour indoors with dragon wing begonias

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