'Tweeting' attracts unwelcome attention Sunday, June 7, 2015 Anyone who has followed the news likely knows the trials and tribulations of Appin dairy farmer Andrew Campbell, who planned to post a farm photo on his Twitter account every day this year and was subsequently attacked by anti-agriculture activists. Campbell is not unique in finding that launching a farming blog can bring unwelcome publicity. Wisconsin dairy farmer Carrie Mess and Alberta grain farmer Sarah Schultz told their stories at an Ontario Farm and Food Care conference in April. After Mess pronounced a PETA video allegedly showing abused cattle on a dairy farm in North Carolina a fraud on her blog, she "received a cease-and-desist order" from PETA, ordering her to take her blog off down. "I didn't . . . I framed (the letter) and put it up in my office." Because of the video the farmer couldn't find a market for his milk. The agricultural community should have supported the farmer, not abandoned him, Mess asserted. Schultz, wife of a farmer and a nurse, was investigated by her professional association after a local activist falsely accused her of selling health products from her website. How hateful does all this get? Schultz relates that, when she blogged that she was taking a holiday in Hawaii, "someone hoped my plane would crash." All three "agvocates" say they continue to tweet and blog because there is so much misinformation about agriculture on social media that needs to be corrected, and that is best done by farmers. BF Diversification: One farmer's answer to the crop rotation puzzle Farming electricity from plants
Ontario Farm Leaders Drew and Heather Spoelstra Named 2026 Outstanding Young Farmers Friday, April 10, 2026 Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers (COYF) Program has announced Drew and Heather Spoelstra of Binbrook, Ontario, as the Ontario regional winners for 2026. The announcement was made following the Ontario regional competition held April 7 through 9 in St. Jacobs, Ontario. As provincial... Read this article online
Ontario Agri-Food Discovery Centre designs revealed Thursday, April 9, 2026 Attendees of the Ontario Agri-Food Discovery Centre’s (OAFDC) AGM last month received a first look at building design concepts. The planned 34,000-square-foot science centre in Listowel, Ont., designed by Moriyama Teshima Architects, the same firm responsible for the looks of buildings... Read this article online
Proposed USDA budget cuts could shift the North American ag landscape Thursday, April 9, 2026 Image by Konyvesotto from Pixabay The US administration’s latest budget proposal includes a significant reduction to the US Department of Agriculture’s discretionary spending, a move that could have ripple effects across North American agriculture. According to Farms.com reporting... Read this article online
Corn and Soy Products Cleared for Global Market Access Thursday, April 9, 2026 The Market Access Committee for corn and soybeans has completed its 2026 review of new crop protection products, confirming no export concerns for four corn products and six soybean products. Approved corn products includeCovintroCorn,TelaroneDC,ZiduaSC Herbicide, and Storen Herbicide.... Read this article online
What Distributed Energy Resources Mean for Canadian Producers Tuesday, April 7, 2026 As energy costs rise, many Canadian farms are looking for ways to take greater control of their electricity use. One term that farmers are hearing more often is distributed energy resources, often shortened to DERs. While the phrase may sound technical, the concept is highly practical, and... Read this article online