Short Takes

According to the Calgary Herald, the listeriosis outbreak at Maple Leaf Foods might have been predicted in advance by noticing the number of Internet searches regarding the disease.

An article published in March in the Canadian Medical Association Journal says that the Internet is revolutionizing how intelligence about new and ongoing outbreaks of infectious diseased is gathered.

Researchers from the University of Ottawa and the Harvard Medical School found that searches for the term “listeriosis” spiked nearly a month before the public declaration of the outbreak and media reports about the disease.

Modern corn hybrids have long been thought to have more erect leaves and therefore are better able to increase biomass through photosynthesis, especially when plant populations are increased. According to the peer-reviewed journal Crop Science, produced by Crop Science Society of America, there is another reason. Newer hybrids are more effective at extracting water deep in the soil profile.

“There is some evidence suggesting that hybrids with narrow root angle have this capability,” a summary of the study states.

Old-style hybrids have wider roots, while modern hybrids tend to drill down to find moisture.

Farm groups concerned about the image of agriculture gave a collective groan when Sunderland farmer Bill Denby posed on the front page of the National Post on Mar. 19, raising the carcass of a 1,000-pound decomposing steer high above his skid steer loader. The accompanying story outlined concerns about the provincial government ending subsidies for deadstock pickup.

Denby, who retails meat to cottagers from his farm in Kawartha Lakes, says that the “bad” publicity about agriculture doesn’t hurt. “My sales are doing fine and I’ve been front page all over the place,” he says, asserting that his “mostly urban” customers appreciate knowing that dead animals don’t end up in the food chain.

You wouldn’t think that Texas-based Pilgrim’s Pride, known as the world’s largest chicken processor, had a lot of choice as it sheds assets in an attempt to stay afloat. Chief Executive Officer Don Jackson showed otherwise.

Pilgrim’s announced on Feb. 28 that it would shut down three plants, among them one employing 1,300 in Farmerville, La. Within days, California-based Foster Farms offered $20 million for the plant, and Louisiana backed it with another $20 million. Pilgrim’s Jackson refused the offer, saying that the sale would put Foster in the chicken business for a lower investment than Pilgrim’s and the rest of the industry could compete with. Furthermore, the problem of too many plants and too few chickens would remain unresolved.

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Even McDonald’s is having to go far afield to ease cash-low problems. In late January, the global burger flipper got a $425 million loan from three Japanese banking consortiums.

While terms and interest rates weren’t disclosed, the company described the loan as being for corporate purposes.

McDonald’s isn’t even hurting in the current recession. In early February, the company reported that world wide sales were up 7.1 per cent from a year ago as consumers sought their less expensive fare after abandoning casual dining establishments.

So if your banker is cranky, don’t take it personally. BF
 

American farmers in 11 states are getting reduced crop insurance premiums by planting triple-stack technology corn hybrids. Can Ontario farmers be far behind?

Mike Nailor, trait marketing manager for Monsanto, says that he’s had “informal” talks with Agricorp, which handles crop insurance in Ontario. Nailor says test plots show that triple-stack hybrids – those with a gene to fight corn rootworm – have a yield advantage over the same genetics with just Roundup Ready and corn borer protection. Theadvantage is 2.9 bushels per acre on rotated ground and slightly shy of 10 bushels per acre on corn-after-corn trials.

What is hairy, tusked, weighs up to 300 pounds, and can wreck a pasture, a fence, a golf course or a car?

A wild pig, and Texas claims to be home to two million of the critters.

According to Associated Press reports, wild pigs caused $52 million in crop damage last year in Texas alone. Ranchers hired 1,100 licensed hunters shooting them from helicopters, but pig numbers keep growing so state representative Sid Miller proposed issuing licenses to weekend sportsmen to increase the kill. Other methods, such as traps, have failed and birth control is still being developed.

Not everyone is a fan. Some fear a hunter may shoot a calf or a dog by mistake.

Toronto-based consultants Earthfx Inc., writing a report on Source Water Protection, had some interesting ideas on how to estimate the number of livestock in the watershed of the Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority, known as the CLOCA.

The consultants, according to a “tier one” draft report, dated January, tried to count the number of livestock in the area by “cross-checking” more than 300 known farm wells with high-resolution aerial photos.

“The scale and type of operation might also be estimated from the photos. Pigs versus cattle operations can be distinguished based on the characteristic “pink” color (sic) of the animals,” they say.

A “personalized banner” on your booth canopy which is subsidized to 40 per cent off the regular price. Your profile online on a website. Two weeks’ stall fees paid in advance. “Colourful and attractive vendor sign and cards.” What’s not to like about a scheme to bring new farmers into markets? Well, maybe the visit by “qualified inspectors” to make sure you are growing the products you sell.