Farmers eye drones - and so do animal rightists Tuesday, March 4, 2014 Are they a farming tool of the future? Or eye-in-the-sky spies? Depends on who's at the remote control. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reports that the Australian Lot Feeders Association wants tougher laws that stop animal rights groups from using aerial drones to spy on farm activities. Last year, the animal rights group Animal Liberation used a drone to film free-range egg farms in New South Wales, and then gave the footage to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to investigate whether the farms were actually free-range. Currently, using drones to spy on farming activities is legal in most countries. Bruce Baer Arnold, assistant professor at the University of Canberra School of Law, predicts in The Conversation that "facility operators taking the law into their own hands, shooting pesky drones . . . we can expect to see some claims in court before too long." PETA's blog post "Game of Drones" reveals a plan to purchase a drone to monitor factory farms. This is about to get very interesting. But what if it's a farmer doing the spying? The Associated Press reports that experts see agriculture as the most promising commercial market for drones. Drones can be used to monitor disease, apply precision sprays of fertilizers and pesticides, even scare away birds and other pests. Idaho farmer Robert Blair, who built his own drone to monitor his 1,500-acre farm, tells the AP "we're talking surgical agriculture, which allows us to be more environmentally friendly." BF Academic advocates user fees for agricultural antibiotics Pollution wrecks Chinese farmland
From Plows to Plates - The 2025 International Plowing Match Returns to Niagara Friday, September 12, 2025 For the first time since 1926, the International Plowing Match & Rural Expo (IPM) is returning to the Niagara Region Setpember 16 to 20. Set to take place in West Lincoln, the 106th edition of this iconic event will run under the theme “,” celebrating the deep roots and fresh flavours of... Read this article online
Festival of Guest Nations returns to Leamington Friday, September 12, 2025 On Sunday, September 14, 2025, Seacliff Park in Leamington, Ontario, will come alive with music, food, and celebration as the Festival of Guest Nations returns to honour the migrant worker communities who play a vital role in Essex County’s agricultural economy. With more than 20 years... Read this article online
York Region launching new Agri-Food Startup Program Thursday, September 11, 2025 A new program in York Region is designed to help entrepreneurs find their footing in the food space. The 14-week hybrid Agri-Food Start-up Program partners entrepreneurs with local organizations like the Foodpreneur Lab, Syzl, York Region Food Network, and the Chippewas of Georgina Island... Read this article online
Corn and Soybean Diseases Spread This Season Wednesday, September 10, 2025 As reported on the OMAFRA website fieldcropnews.com, as well as in previous articles by Farms.com, the 2025 growing season is nearing its end with corn and soybean farmers in Ontario and the U.S. Corn Belt facing disease challenges that reflect changing weather conditions. For corn, two... Read this article online
Wheat Output Decline Projected for 2025 Wednesday, September 10, 2025 Statistics Canada’s latest modelled estimates suggest that wheat production in Canada will decline slightly in 2025, driven primarily by weaker yields across several regions. National output is expected to edge down 1.1% to 35.5 million tonnes, with yields forecast to fall 1.2% to 49.6... Read this article online