Sustainable agriculture Archives - Page 12 of 37

Adjusting production to lower prices is a slow process in crop agriculture

Aggregate crop production tends to remain steady in the face of lower prices,  essentially locking in low prices for long periods of time

By Daryll E. Ray, Harwood D. Schaffer February 29, 2016

There are several reasons why farmers do not respond in textbook fashion to a reduction in prices by making a proportional reduction in production. Farmers must begin planning for a given crop at least two years before the marketing year for that crop comes to a close. Most of these decisions have to be made

Crops, News

Study defines role of organic ag in feeding the world

Numerous studies point to the environmental benefits

By Lorraine Stevenson February 16, 2016

Organic agriculture can play an important role in feeding the world, according to a new study comparing conventional and organic farming systems’ ability to produce yields, benefit farmers’ bottom line, and sustain the environment. That’s the conclusion drawn by Washington State University (WSU) researchers after a review of 40 years of science-based evidence comparing organic

Opinion

Editorial: Ideology and modern farming

By Laura Rance-Unger February 12, 2016

Whenever the subject of organic agriculture surfaces in a discussion about modern farming, the “yabuts” start flowing fast and sometimes, furiously. Ya but organic farmers don’t produce as much as “conventional‚” farmers do, so if everyone went organic, there would be shortages, more pressure on land and higher food prices. And so it goes. Those

"I think there has to be a whole new generation of tillage equipment developed in the next five years." – David Lobb.

Crops

High-disturbance seeding can be as erosive as a plow

Conservation tillage isn’t conserving as much soil as you thought. That’s why  University of Manitoba soil scientist David Lobb says new tillage equipment is needed

By Allan Dawson February 12, 2016

The era of black summerfallow is over, and direct seeding and zero tillage have pretty much solved problems of soil erosion on the Prairies. Or so goes conventional wisdom. Not so, says David Lobb, a professor in the University of Manitoba’s department of soil science and senior research chair for the Watershed Systems Research Program

Green Party leader, James Beddome, speaks during a press conference, while David Nickarzn looks on.

Crops, Livestock, Local news

Manitoba needs a carbon tax: Beddome

Another voice is added to the debate over farming and greenhouse gas emissions in Manitoba

By Shannon VanRaes January 11, 2016

The word “agriculture” may not have made it into the text of the Paris climate agreement, but in Manitoba, climate change and agriculture have been appearing together a lot in recent days. Only a few weeks ago the Manitoba government released its Climate Change and Green Economy Action Plan, and now Manitoba’s Green Party has

Harry Stoddart, a sixth-generation Ontario producer presented at the Manitoba Conservation District Association’s 40th annual conference held in Brandon on December 8.

Livestock, Local news

Farming with a focus on restoration

An experienced Ontario producer says implementing a holistic management plan would be a benefit

By Jennifer Paige December 21, 2015

As many in the industry strive for sustainability, an experienced Ontario farmer wants to go one step further to build a farming system that does better than perpetuate itself. “The term ‘sustainability’ has really come to mean less damaging than the alternative, rather than truly improving or repairing,” said Harry Stoddart, during a presentation at

“Nearly 33 per cent of the world’s arable land has been lost to erosion or pollution in the last 40 years.” – Duncan Cameron, University of Sheffield.

Crops, News

Developing a sustainable model for intensive agriculture

U.K. scientists warn on soil loss and call for biotech  ‘to wean crops off the artificial world we have created for them’

By University Of Sheffield Release December 15, 2015

Speaking at the 21st Conference of the Parties in Paris on Dec. 2, experts from the University of Sheffield’s Grantham Centre for Sustainable Futures revealed that nearly 33 per cent of the world’s arable land has been lost to erosion or pollution in the last 40 years and vital action must now be taken to

Local news

Women’s 2015 conference focus on healthy soil

The Winkler event was well attended November 15 to 17

By Manitoba Co-operator Staff November 26, 2015

“Don’t treat soil like dirt.” It is a living breathing organism and we must treat it well to sustain our future. That was the closing message at last week’s Manitoba Farm Women’s Conference delivered by Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (MAFRD) land management specialist Marla Riekman. This is the 29th year of a conference

Comment, Crops, Livestock

Local food systems in Manitoba on the minds of young, small farmers

Agri-food policy must focus on more than economic development and food safety

By Jeanette Sivilay October 27, 2015

It’s an icy winter evening and I’m visiting at the kitchen table with Lydia, a fellow young farmer living near Dunrea, Man. Every so often we are distracted by the clickity-clack of hooves. There is a baby goat in a box by the coat rack. Its mother kicked it out, Lydia explains, and in this

Assiniboine Community College (ACC) will be establishing a weed identification garden after a donation from the Manitoba Zero Tillage Research Association (MZTRA) — MZTRA board chair, Brad Lewis (l), ACC agribusiness instructor, Danielle Tichit.

Crops, Local news

College to build weed identification garden

Assiniboine Community College looks to establish a weed identification garden to  house more than 80 of Manitoba’s most common annual and perennial weeds

By Jennifer Paige September 14, 2015

Southwestern Manitoba will soon be crawling with more weeds but these weeds are for a good cause. Assiniboine Community College is creating a weed identification garden with financial assistance from the defunct Manitoba Zero Tillage Research Association (MZTRA). “The garden will provide students in multiple programs with tangible and real learning opportunities and has the

Daily Network News

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures end lower

ICE Weekly: Trade progress, new data threaten to break canola’s price range

CBOT Weekly: Trade awaits USDA S/D report

Tag Archives Sustainable agriculture