Army worm poop deceives corn plants Monday, December 7, 2015 Chemical ecologists at Pennsylvania State University have determined that "frass," the defecations of herbivorous caterpillars that collects in the whorls of corn leaves, tricks plants into thinking they are being attacked by a fungus infection. The plants mount a defence against such, thereby reducing their defences against the actual creatures that are attacking them. They can't defend against both fungus and insects at the same time, says Dawn Luthe, professor of plant stress biology in a Penn State newsletter published in September.The newsletter notes that fall army worms "are voracious feeders on leaves in the confined whorls of corn plants."The study was published in the Journal of Chemical Ecology and may lead to the isolation of specific components of the frass that can be incorporated into a compound that can be spread on crops to increase resistance to fungal attacks. That would be an "ecologically sustainable" pesticide. An alternative is a genetic modification to incorporate proteins from the frass to boost a crop's "native resistance" to pathogens.Scientists are still trying to find a solution to dealing with those hungry army caterpillars. The faking frass is an ecological strategy "that has been perfected over thousands of years of evolution," says lead researcher Swayamjit Ray, a doctoral student at Penn State. The U.S. Department of Agriculture financed the research. BF Noise over GMO labelling in the United States Cotton underwear helps measure soil activity
Early Career Research Award supports two Guelph research initiatives Friday, July 4, 2025 The was presented to two University of Guelph researchers at the recently held Livestock Research Innovation Corporation (LRIC) symposium. Dr. Kelsey Spence received $40,000 towards her work in on-farm biosecurity research, and Dr. Sam Workenhe was awarded $60,000 to further his... Read this article online
Grape Growers 40th Annual Celebrity Luncheon has Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser Friday, July 4, 2025 The Grape Growers of Ontario’s marks the opening of the by showcasing Canadian personalities and celebrating the annual grape harvest. This year, in partnership with Meridian Credit Union, Ontario’s largest credit union and the third largest in Canada, the Grape Growers of Ontario... Read this article online
Ontario crops respond to summer heat Wednesday, July 2, 2025 According to the OMAFA Field Crop News team, Ontario field crops are showing rapid development as summer-like temperatures have dominated late June early July. The warm spell has accelerated growth and helped reduce the heat unit deficit from a cool spring. Corn fields have seen a burst... Read this article online
Canada’s Place in Global Food System Resilience Wednesday, July 2, 2025 Canada’s food system is facing serious pressure due to global supply chain issues, climate change, and rising food prices. According to a KPMG report, bold and united action is needed now to make Canada’s agriculture sector more resilient and self-reliant. With the global population... Read this article online
Calf Auction Raises Funds for Youth Monday, June 30, 2025 Wyatt Westman-Frijters from Milverton won a heifer calf named Ingrid through a World Milk Day promotion by Maplevue Farms and a local Perth, Ontario radio station. Instead of keeping the calf, 22-year-old Westman-Frijters chose to give back to the community. The calf was sent to the... Read this article online