Better Pork

The Canadian Pork Council (CPC) will join the "Say No to a Bad Deal" coalition, advocating for negotiations of the United Kingdom's ascension to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP),according to a press release from the council. This move comes in response to Great Britain's stance toward Canada, a signal to Canadian farmers, ranchers and producers that the United Kingdom is not interested in free and fair trade in agricultural products, according to CPC. Say No to a Bad Deal is a coalition of agriculture industry leaders and stakeholders advocating for fair and equitable trade agreements that benefit everyone. With Great Britain showing not signs of altering its approach to trade negotiations, the Council aims to remind the Government of Canada of its responsibility to prioritise the best interests of Canadian farmers and ranchers. “The CPC is proud to join the Say No to a Bad Deal coalition, and we are calling for renegotiations of theCPTPP before Canada approves the United Kingdom’s ascension," said Rene Roy, chair of the Canadian Pork Council. "We have been patient and proposed solutions to safeguard the interests of Canadianfarmers and ranchers, yet our concerns remain unaddressed. Setting a precedent for non-tariff tradebarriers within the CPTPP must be avoided to protect our industry.” “Great Britain's refusal to truly engage Canada in the current negotiations poses significant risks toCanada’s agricultural sector, and it is crucial we address these concerns head-on before the UK joins atrade deal of which we are a founding member." The CPC supports fair trade terms that uphold the principles of reciprocity and mutual benefit. Theorganisation remains committed to advocating for the interests of Canadian pork producers andsafeguarding the industry's long-term viability. "Fair trade is not a buzzword; it is the cornerstone of sustainable economic growth and prosperity," saidRoy. "For Canadian farmers, particularly pork producers, fair trade means access to global markets undermutually beneficial terms. It guarantees that our products can compete fairly, fostering growth andstability in our industry and for the country." Canadian pork producers rely heavily on international markets for their livelihoods, with 70% ofproduction destined for export markets. Fair trade agreements provide producers with the opportunityto access new markets, diversify their customer base and increase profitability. "By joining forces with the Say No to a Bad Deal coalition, we are sending a clear message: Canadianfarmers demand nothing short of fair and just trade agreements that set them up for success andsupport our industry's growth and prosperity," Roy concluded.

The pork industry provides people across different cultures a considerable source of protein, essential nutrients and a versatile ingredient for diverse culinary traditions. So, when the problem of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) infection in the pork industry results in an economic loss of $650 million annually in the United States, finding a solution is of critical significance. A diverse group of researchers at the Faculty of Science and Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands, recently published a paper sharing their discovery on better understanding and managing PRRSV. The following interview is with Dr. Brian Mark, professor at the department of microbiology and dean of the Faculty of Science, who leads a laboratory focused on understanding the molecular basis of diseases.

In a joint effort to enhance the meat processing industry in Ontario, the Canadian and Ontario governments are channeling over $13 million through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP). The initiative, aimed at supporting independent meat processors and abattoirs, seeks to elevate productivity, efficiency, and food safety standards within the province. This financial injection builds upon previous investments exceeding $14 million since 2020 under the Meat Processors Capacity Improvement Initiative, a component of the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP). The Sustainable CAP, a comprehensive 5-year, $3.5-billion investment, is designed to fortify competitiveness, foster innovation, and enhance resilience in the agriculture sector, with a significant focus on federal-provincial collaborations. Under Sustainable CAP, this funding will back 151 projects dedicated to improving meat handling and processing equipment, adopting advanced technologies, and refining industry practices. Notable beneficiaries of this support include Penokean Hills Farms, Sikorski Sausages, and Townsend Butchers, which will utilize the funds for equipment upgrades aimed at augmenting production capacity. The initiative extends beyond equipment upgrades, also encompassing training and engineering costs. Applications for project proposals were accepted from August to September 2023, and the slated completion for the 151 projects is March 2024, as outlined in the news release. This collaborative effort underscores the commitment of both governments to fortify and modernize the meat processing sector, ensuring its sustainability and competitiveness in the evolving agricultural landscape.

The Canadian Pork Council (CPC) has joined the ‘Say No to a Bad Deal’ coalition in pushing for renegotiations of the UK’s ascension to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Sask Pork, alongside other provincial pork offices across the country, stand behind and support this decision.This move comes in response to Great Britain’s stance toward Canada, a signal to Canadian farmers, ranchers and producers that the United Kingdom is not interested in free and fair trade in agricultural products.

KITCHENER–Pork producers joined Ontario Pork staff to celebrateCanada’s Agriculture Day at theKitchener Rangersgame on Tuesday, February 13. On the ice the Rangers defeated the Guelph Storm 4-3, but it was off the ice where the biggest win happened, with a record-setting food and fund drive to help restock food bank shelves. "The Food Bank of Waterloo Region was the real winner," said Ontario Pork Board Chair John de Bruyn. "With help from the community we were able to do a great job collecting cash and food donations that will really go a long way to help those facing food insecurity."  In total 1,071 pounds of food was collected, along with $4,643.90 in cash donations. The food and funds collected will go toThe Food Bank of Waterloo Region and will provide 10,125 mealsto those in need.  “Seeing the food donation bins overflow, seeing people make financial donations, it really warms my heart." said Kim Wilhelm, CEO at The Food Bank of Waterloo Region. "We often think about donating at the holidays, but the reality is food insecurity happens 365 days a year, so all year-round events like these are important to help remember the more than 58,000 people living right here in Waterloo Region who are struggling to put food on the table."  This food and fund drive is the second of the season the Rangers have held at the Kitchener Auditorium. In December the food and funds collected resulted in 8,567 meals. The 10,125 meals that will be provided from the Canada's Ag Day event, is a newseason record.Organizers are hopeful this will encourage other organizations to take up the food drive challenge. "This is an initiative that we would love to continue to do with Ontario Pork," said Sawyer Hume, Ticketing and Sponsorship Coordinator for the Kitchener Rangers. "With this success, if there are any other organizations that want to compete with Ontario Pork a little bit to see if they can get the donations up near the same level, we would very much welcome that positive competition.”   Fans at the game were also able to purchase copies of the Ontario Pork book The Whole Hog. The book features recipes, stories, and tips on how to cook pork that come directly from people who work across the pork supply chain.  All proceeds from its sale will go toFeed Ontario.  "Our partnership with Ontario Pork really means the world to us," said Feed O

The Associate Director of the Swine Health Information Centre reports statistics on the monitoring and detection of Influenza A virus have been added to the monthly domestic swine disease monitoring report.As part of its February eNewsletter the Swine Health Information Center has released its monthly domestic and global swine disease surveillance reports. This month’s Domestic Swine Disease Monitoring Report, compiled through the Swine Disease Reporting System on behalf of the Swine Health Information Center, brings a new chart for weekly monitoring of Influenza A virus PCR detection.SHIC Associate Director Dr. Lisa Becton says the newly implemented monitoring capability provides information about Influenza A detection enabling comparison to the historical trends. Quote-Dr. Lisa Becton-Swine Health Information Centre: Influenza A is one of the top viral and health challenges that pig producers face.This was actually a request from stakeholders to be added to the reporting. This is going to be looking at case submissions for Influenza A but also looking at different types over time of what is being submitted. This can be used by veterinarians and producers to track, what is Influenza doing in their systems?Does it respond to vaccines or are vaccines appropriate and what age group is this occurring in?This is a very good addition of a pathogen that is still very active out in the industry and a lot of people will benefit from the continued monitoring. Dr. Becton notes, the full domestic and global swine disease surveillance reports as well as archived reports and other swine health information can be accessed through the Swine Health Information Center's website at swinehealth.org. She also encourages stakeholders to sign up for SHIC's eNewsletter to receive monthly swine health information directly to their inboxes.

A researcher with the Western College of Veterinary Medicine says humans need to be included in the list of vectors for the spread of Streptococcus zooepidemicus.Streptococcus zooepidemicus or Strep zoo is a bacterial infection that was first identified as causing disease in pigs in 2019. It can result in dramatic symptoms such as sudden death, similar to reportable diseases such as African Swine Fever, Classical Swine Fever or Pseudorabies. Dr. Matheus Costa, an Assistant Professor with the Western College of Veterinary Medicine and an Adjunct Professor at Utrecht University, says we're still learning about the impact of Strep zoo on different species but we have evidence that it can jump from one species to another and back. Quote-Dr. Matheus Costa-Western College of Veterinary Medicine: We believe that any warm-blooded animal can be a carrier of Strep zoo, so it doesn't really matter when we talk about what species.When you're thinking about a regular commercial barn it can be anything.It can be a barn cat, it can be birds that come in and out trying to find some spillover feed, it can be any other wildlife that has access to the barn so it's very hard to dictate, these are the species we should be worried about. We should be worried about any species and that has major biosecurity implications because it's very hard to control access to the pigs by every single species.More recently we included humans into that list of species because we know they can act as carriers of Strep zoo so it's a very long list and it definitely makes biosecurity a more challenging job than it used to be. Dr. Costa right now we know very little about the ability of Strep zoo to jump from pigs to people and then people to pigs but we do know that people can carry Strep zoo for weeks, months or even years and people have been implicated in spreading Strep zoo between barns.

Researchers with the Western College of Veterinary Medicine are using the measurement of hormones deposited in the hair of pigs as an indicator of animal welfare.Biological markers are characteristics that can be measured to determine whether an animal is in a state of good health and well being. Two studies, conducted by the Western College of Veterinary Medicine through the NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Swine Welfare Research Program, looked at the levels of two hormones measured in the hair, cortisol which is indicative of stress and dehydroepiandrosterone or DHEA.Darian Pollock, a PhD candidate in the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, says her focus was chronic stress. Quote-Darian Pollock-Western College of Veterinary Medicine: In terms of the rearing environments, we didn't find any differences in the hair hormone concentration. We did see some behavioral differences in the first study looking at straw versus no straw. There was at a couple of time points more aggression in the group without straw and some minor increases skin lesions at a couple of time points and then no difference in terms of productivity like average daily gain. From that we can conclude, although straw might bring some positive welfare benefits, it wasn't consistent across their lifetime so it's possible that straw wasn't doing enough to alter the physiology that we measured and it's also possible that maybe our measures weren't sensitive enough.But, in both of our studies we did see quite a large amount of individual variation so we'll be looking into that more. In my pigs that were lame in the farrowing period, so pre-weaning, the pigs with lameness had an increased cortisol to DHEA ratio, so the ratio of cortisol to DHEA and increasing that ratio is suggestive of increased stress. Full details on this work can be accessed through swinewelfare.com.For more visit Farmscape.Ca.

The Associate Director of the Swine Health Information Center suggests the continuing global spread of African Swine Fever validates actions being taken to keep the infection out of North America. As part of its February eNewsletter the Swine Health Information Center has released its monthly domestic and global swine disease surveillance reports. SHIC Associate Director Dr. Lisa Becton says African Swine Fever remains the most dominant international swine disease threat. Quote-Dr. Lisa Becton-Swine Health Information Center: Globally we're still seeing African Swine Fever predominate a lot of the infections that different countries are seeing.For example, Montenegro is the 27th European country that has seen positive ASF in wild boar but it is also still active in other places like South Korea. This is very concerning as it continues to spread.I think as we watch and monitor how ASF is spreading it solidifies the different actions that we're taking the U.S. on several different fronts. Part of that is working with CBP to ensure our imports and products coming into the country are appropriately screened, either using beagle brigades or other mechanisms to try to detect any illegal products that could come into the U.S.But it also highlights the need to have open and active communications with other countries to be able to understand how are they managing wild boar because the U.S. has a significant population of feral swine and it's very important to understand the dynamics of control and movement for ASF in that particular group.All of these things are important and highlight the continued focus that North America needs to prevent the virus from entering into our country. Dr. Becton notes Foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks have been reported in six countries in Africa so it's also important for people to be aware of the risk factors for entry of this infection into the U.S.SHIC's domestic and global swine disease monitoring reports can be accessed at swinehealth.org.

A multi-institutional team of scientists has shown the inclusion of fibre in the diets of developing gilts helps provide the nutritional balance that will avoid over conditioning without hindering the development of mammary tissues.Research aimed at improving the mammary development of gilts, conducted as part of Swine Cluster 3, is highlighted in Swine Innovation Porc's 2022-2023 annual report. Dr. Lee-Anne Huber, an associate professor specializing in swine nutrition, in the Department of Animal Biosciences at the University of Guelph, says we know that piglet growth is directly related to milk production and milk production is driven by mammary development so the goal was to find nutritional strategies to maximise mammary development. Quote-Dr. Lee-Anne Huber-University of Guelph: The first phase of mammary development occurs between 90 days of age and puberty.How we feed the gilts will influence their mammary development and their lifetime potential for milk production.On one hand we want to have those gilts growing quickly and supplying enough nutrients for that growth but if they grow too fast during the development period, that will lead to feet and leg problems later on in the reproductive herd and possibly early culling. On the other hand, if we restrict feed to slow down growth of the animals, we've shown that mammary development is also reduced and also subsequent milk production.We're trying to balance between having the gilts grow but not too fast but not restrict them too much.Since gilts are typically housed in groups in the gilt development unit and they have ad libitum access to feed in the first place, it's extremely difficult to try and restrict their growth by restricting the amount of feed that is supplied. Fibre is an attractive approach because it increases gut fill, it makes you feel full.That's why we eat high fibre diets when we're trying to lose weight, and reduces caloric intake while animals are still offered feed ad libitum. Dr. Huber says providing a high fibre diet was effective in controlling body size and body fatness at the time of breeding and mammary development was not negatively affected.For more visit Farmscape.Ca.

By farms.com Announced in 2020 by the Government of Saskatchewan, the Lake Diefenbaker Irrigation Project stands as a crucial water management initiative, poised to invigorate over 500,000 acres of agricultural land. Supported by both federal and provincial investments, this project is a symbol of hope for numerous rural municipalities (RMs) affected by persistent drought conditions, aiming to fortify the viability of their farmland and the economic resilience of rural communities. The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM), along with its member RMs, has actively advocated for the expedited commencement of this project. With 90% of the canal infrastructure for Phase 1 already completed by 2023, the anticipation for water delivery is high. Beyond the scope of irrigation, the project is anticipated to catalyze economic growth in various smaller communities, enhance construction employment, encourage farm expansion, and increase local traffic. The forthcoming Phase 2, dubbed Project 2 Westside, promises to extend irrigation to an additional 260,000 acres, amplifying these advantages. Ray Orb, SARM's President, has highlighted the enduring benefits of the project for enhancing crop diversity and improving farm profitability. In the wake of agricultural disaster declarations due to drought in 2023, the need for the project's swift realization is more pressing than ever. Saskatchewan's farmers, lauded for their commitment to land stewardship, urgently require this irrigation infrastructure to boost food production for both Canadian and international consumers. SARM's request to the provincial government for a clear launch date for Phase 1 underscores the critical demand and enthusiasm for the project. With the canal system nearly complete, it's time for action and to witness the transformative power of water flow, heralding a promising future for Saskatchewan's agricultural landscape.

Manitoba cattle producers want a public protective service available for livestock crimes. That’s one of the resolutions members of Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) debated and passed during its annual general meeting on Feb. 8 and 9. Manitoba is the only province in Western Canada without a Livestock Investigations Unit and a dedicated RCMP officer to investigate livestock theft and fraud. Without those safeguards in place in Manitoba, criminals are finding ways to commit livestock related crimes. “It could be paper cattle, fake cattle being recorded and not inspected, or actual physical cattle theft, which happens unfortunately,” Carson Callum, general manager of MBP, told the Brandon Sun. “They might take (cattle) and if they take it to a sale barn or auction mart that doesn’t have inspection services, it doesn’t matter about the brand, or it doesn’t matter about any identification, because whoever brought it is selling him, right? And then they’ll get the dollars for it, and that’s what makes it a challenge and an issue in the sector.” Alberta has two, and B.C. and Saskatchewan have one livestock investigator each. Corporal Owen Third, an RCMP veteran with almost 20 years of experience, became Saskatchewan’s livestock investigator in October 2022.

Now is the time for members of Alberta’s ag community to nominate a peer deserving of a spot in the province’s ag hall of fame. Albertans have until May 3, 2024, to submit the name of someone who has “demonstrated leadership in farm, rural or commodity organizations or in the food industry,” the application page says. “Leadership must have been demonstrated over many years at the provincial level, and the candidate must have made a significant province-wide impact on the industry as a whole.” The ag hall of fame welcomes new members every two years. After the nominations are received, Deputy Agriculture Minister Jason Hale will appoint a selection panel to examine the candidates and select up to three inductees. The most recent class of inductions occurred in 2022. The inductees included Simone Demers-Collins, an ag advocate, educator and 4-H leader. Farms.com spoke with Demers-Collins following her induction announcement.

A member of B.C.’s ag community wants to represent her peers in the provincial legislature. Alexandra Wright, who along with her husband John in 2015 opened Kelowna Veggies, a nearly 20-acre fruit and vegetable farm on Old Vernon Road, is the Conservative Party of BC candidate for Kelowna-Mission in this year’s provincial election. Her experiences on the farm, paired with her entrepreneurship, give Wright an understanding of how regulatory hurdles can negatively affect businesses. “Alexandra is acutely aware of the challenges and red tape that small businesses face. She advocates for the removal of harmful and onerous legislation affecting the economy, food security, and farm succession planning in British Columbia,” her party said in a Feb. 10 release. BC United MLA Renee Merrifield is the current MLA in the riding. The NDP hasn’t yet announced a candidate for the riding. Wright’s other professional experience includes co-founding an end-to-end supply chain company with John. In 2013, the pair cofounded Supply Chain Specialists, which provides global consulting and management services to oil and gas producers and companies in other sectors. The Conservatives also announced who will represent the party in Abbotsford-Mission, the riding

Bill C-234 in its current amended state isn’t as good for farmers from a cost savings perspective as the original, unamended piece of legislation. That’s what the Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) discovered in a recent study of the bill. The amended bill, which removes the carbon tax exemption for fuels used to heat or cool buildings and changes the sunset period of the legislation from eight years to three, would save Canadian farmers about $27 million annually by 2025-2026. “Which over the same time period is approximately one quarter of our estimate of the Bill as passed by the House of Commons on third reading,” the PBO says in its Feb. 13 report. The unamended bill, complete with tax exemptions for buildings and an eight-year sunset clause, would see Canadian producers save much more. The PBO’s Sept. 15, 2023, report on C-234 estimates farmers would save about $106 million per year by 2025-2026, and almost $1 billion in total through 2030.

By farms.com The 50 Million Tree Program (50 MTP) is changing the landscape for Canadian farmers. By making tree planting more affordable and accessible, this initiative is not just about beautifying the countryside; it's a strategic effort to bolster farm productivity, environmental health, and community well-being. The benefits of planting trees are vast. Trees reduce soil erosion, clean our water, and offer habitats for wildlife, creating a healthier and more vibrant ecosystem. For farmers, this means not just a prettier plot of land but a more productive and valuable one. Trees act as natural windbreaks, protecting crops and buildings while enhancing the recreational appeal and biodiversity of the farm. Who Can Join? If you're a landowner with space for at least 500 trees, you're in! Whether you have half an acre of open land or are looking to buffer a windrow or watercourse with 1,000 metres of plot, the 50 MTP is ready to partner with you. While there might be some costs involved, the program offers significant financial support, covering up to 90% of the total project costs in some cases. This makes it an incredibly cost-effective way for landowners to invest in their land's future. Project Diversity Understanding the unique needs of landowners, the 50 MTP supports a variety of planting projects: Afforestation targets lands devoid of tree cover, aiming to create new forests. Riparian Buffers focus on watercourse areas, promoting bank stabilization and water quality. Windbreaks are designed to shield against wind and snow, simultaneously enhancing land productivity. Forest Restoration addresses areas within existing woodlots needing rejuvenation due to various stress factors. The Planting Process is handled by professionals. Once you're in, Forests Ontario connects you with local tree planting experts, ensuring your land gets the best treatment and the right tree species to meet your goals. With the 50 MTP, the opportunity to transform your property into a growing, green landscape has never been better. It's not just an investment in your land; it's a commitment to a sustainable future for all.

By Farms.com The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) made its presence felt in Ottawa this week, with President Drew Spoelstra leading the charge to bring the voice of Ontario's farms to the forefront of national discussions. The visit was marked by significant interactions with political leaders and participation in pivotal events that underscored the importance of agriculture in Canada. The highlight of the trip was attending the swearing-in ceremony of Senator Mary Robinson, a notable advocate for agriculture, reflecting the sector's growing representation at the highest levels of government. Robinson's experience across various agricultural roles positions her as a key ally for farming interests in Canada. Spoelstra's agenda in Ottawa was packed with strategic meetings aimed at addressing pressing concerns for the agricultural community. Conversations with MP Dave Epp focused on the grocery code of conduct, Bill C-234, and invasive species, highlighting the unique challenges facing Southern Ontario's vibrant agricultural landscape. Further discussions with influential figures, including MP Kody Blois, Minister Lawrence MacAulay, and MP James Maloney, delved into legislative matters such as Bill C-234 and the Advance Payments Program. These dialogues emphasized the critical need for supportive policies, like maintaining the interest-free limit for farm loans and recognizing the vital role of the Ontario Food Terminal in the nation's food supply chain. An overlap with the Dairy Farmers of Canada reception allowed for meaningful exchanges on dairy sector priorities, including leadership development and the urgent need for expanded processing capacity. These interactions underscore the OFA's commitment to fostering growth and sustainability in Canadian agriculture. Before concluding the visit, Spoelstra engaged with Senator Rob Black regarding the Senate's Soil Health study, anticipating its implications for future agricultural practices. This visit to Ottawa by the OFA leadership was a strategic effort to ensure that the voices of Ontario's farmers are heard and considered in national agricultural policy decisions, reinforcing the sector's significance to Canada's economy and food security.

Byfarms.com In a fresh perspective on Canada's fiscal policy, the Fraser Institute has revealed a study proposing a practical route to balancing the federal budget within a few years. Co-authored by Jake Fuss, the institute's director of Fiscal Studies, the report titled "A Case for Spending Restraint: How the Federal Government Can Balance the Budget" provides a clear roadmap for fiscal prudence. The analysis reveals two key strategies: slowing the growth in nominal program spending to just 0.3% could achieve budget balance by 2026/27, while a more immediate 4.3% cut in nominal program spending would expedite this outcome to 2025/26. This approach addresses the rapid spending increases seen before the COVID pandemic, which outpaced both population growth and inflation, contributing to significant budget deficits. The federal government's spending spree has led to an estimated $941.9 billion increase in gross federal debt from 2014/15 to 2023/24. The study highlights the burdensome cost of interest on this debt, now one of the largest budget expenses, made worse by recent interest rate hikes. Fuss emphasizes the importance of fiscal responsibility, stating, "The federal government should prioritize balancing the budget, so taxpayers aren’t saddled with future tax increases to pay ever-increasing interest on federal debt." He suggests that with the options laid out in the study, the path forward requires governmental willingness to adopt sensible fiscal measures. The Fraser Institute's report offers a clear analysis of Canada's fiscal challenges and presents attainable solutions. It advocates for spending restraint as a viable strategy for achieving a balanced budget, ensuring a stable economic future for Canadians. This study serves as a call to action for federal policymakers to consider wise financial management to prevent future tax burdens resulting from growing federal debt.

What do Kleenex, the Winter Olympics, Band-Aids, Caesar salad and College Royal at the University of Guelph all have in common? They all turn 100 in 2024. For those unaware, College Royal is the largest student-run university open house in North America. And it started in 1925. “It was started by a group of people who wanted to show livestock,” Lexi Johnston, a Bachelor of Science in agriculture student and current president of College Royal, told Farms.com. “So, the roots of College Royal really run deep in ag.” Johnston, 10 other officers and about 90 people in total make up the team responsible for organizing the experience. “It’s 12 days of events,” Johnston said. “The first 10 days are dedicated to more student activities like kickoff pub and the University of Guelph Aggies vs. Ridgetown Aggies hockey game. Super Thursday has lots of food and messiness involved. Then you’ve got the College Royal Ball where all five floors of the University Centre have food, drinks, dancing, and live music. And for the 100th year there’s going to be an alumni lounge.” The weekend of March 16 and 17 is the open house weekend.

Farmers and members of Canada’s agricultural community are taking to social media on Feb. 13 to celebrate Canada’s Agriculture Day (#CdnAgDay). Agriculture More Than Ever launched the event in 2017 to recognize the work farmers and the rest of the agri-food sector put in to producing healthy, nutritious and sustainable foods for families in Canada and around the world. “On #CdnAgDay we come together to celebrate Canadian food and those who produce it!” the Canadian Federation of Agriculture said on its X account. “Farmers across Canada are proud to provide safe, nutritious and affordable food to Canadians.” And Canadians have a lot to be proud of when it comes to agriculture and its history. Take canola, for example. In the 1970s, Canadian researchers Keith Downey and Baldur Stefansson bred canola from two rapeseed cultivars (B. napus from Argentina and B. rapa from Poland) at the University of Manitoba after identifying a need for a locally grown, healthy cooking oil. The word “canola” comes from the first three letters of Canada, with the o, l, and a standing for “oil, low, acid.” The first variety, Tower, was released in 1974.