Greenpeace scores big in Brazil Monday, October 5, 2009 If you don't think environmental advocacy group Greenpeace has clout south of the Equator, think again. In June, Brazilian meat and poultry processor Marfrig Alimentos S.A. said it would no longer buy cattle or sell beef from cattle raised in the deforested area of the Amazon region. Major Brazilian retailers quickly followed suit.The reason? Greenpeace published a three-year study charging that the cattle sector in the Brazilian Amazon is the largest cause of deforestation in the world.Shortly after the publication, Marfrig promised to develop a "Cattle Origin Guarantee Program" to ensure that the company and its suppliers fattening cattle don't buy animals from areas embargoed by IBAMA, Brazil's federal environmental agency, or from areas on the slave labour list of Brazil's Ministry of Labour and Employment.Furthermore, proprietors with multiple farms are off Marfrig's supplier list until all of their farms are in compliance.About the same time JBS S.A., reportedly the world's largest beef producer and exporter, announced it had signed a deal with Wal-Mart Stores Inc. ensuring that it won't supply beef from cattle from the embargoed area. BF What's organic and what's 'natural'? Ginseng a remedy for Type 2 diabetes?
Two-pass Weed Control Critical in Managing Herbicide-Resistant Waterhemp in Ontario Monday, September 8, 2025 Dr. Peter Sikkema of the University of Guelph recently shared insights into the growing challenge of multiple herbicide-resistant water hemp at the 2025 Great Ontario Yield Tour final event in Woodstock Ontario. Dr. Sikkema research highlights both the biology of the weed and practical... Read this article online
First Northern Cohort Joins Ontario Vet Program Thursday, September 4, 2025 This September, the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) at the University of Guelph welcomed its inaugural Northern Cohort of 20 students through the Collaborative Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Program (CDVMP). This initiative, created in partnership with Lakehead University, marks a milestone... Read this article online
Manitoba Farmers Defend Their Whisky Roots Amid Ontario Backlash Thursday, September 4, 2025 As most reader will know by now, on August 28, beverage alcohol giant Diageo announced it will be closing its Amherstburg, Ontario bottling plant. Located just 25 kilometres from the nearest U.S. border crossing, the company says the decision is part of a strategy to streamline its supply... Read this article online
Canadian Farmers Face Weaker Soybean Yields Ahead Tuesday, September 2, 2025 Statistics Canada forecasts that Canadian soybean production will decline in 2025, reflecting weaker yields across major producing provinces. Nationally, output is projected to fall by 7.3% year over year to 7.0 million tonnes. The decline is linked to a drop in yields, which are expected... Read this article online
Canadian Corn Outlook Shows Mixed Regional Trends Tuesday, September 2, 2025 Statistics Canada projects Canadian corn-for-grain production to grow slightly in 2025, despite drier-than-normal weather and high temperatures that have pressured yields. National production is forecast to rise 1.4% year over year to 15.6 million tonnes. This gain comes from higher... Read this article online