Livestock breeding patent unites German farmers and environmentalists Tuesday, June 2, 2009 German farmers and environmentalists have something in common for once. Both groups object to a patent being granted on a gene that is linked to rapid growth in pigs. In a rare show of solidarity, 400 of them protested in front of the European Patent Office in Munich in mid-April. Their shared goal – to prevent a patent application for livestock breeding from being granted. The technique, described in Patent EP 1651777, is not a genetic modification, but a screening process to find and mate pigs that naturally grow fast. Farmers believe that eventually they might have to pay a private company a royalty to produce livestock they have raised themselves. Originally filed in the patent office in 2004 by Monsanto, the patent has since been granted to Newsham Choice Genetics. BP Pork campaign targets younger females Solutions to labour shortages may lie offshore
Rappa High-Speed Electric Fencing System Friday, June 12, 2026 Rappa has introduced its vehicle-mounted fencing solution, the Rappa Winder, to the U.S. market, offering a faster and more efficient way to install and retrieve electric fencing. The system reduces fencing time by up to 80 percent, allowing producers to deploy approximately 650... Read this article online
RDAR extends OFCAF pause to September Thursday, June 11, 2026 A non-profit organization in Alberta that supports producer-guided ag research is extending its pause on funding applications. Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR), which receives funding from the province and federal government, won’t accept new applications for the 2026 On-Farm... Read this article online
BC Boosts Poultry Farm Disease Defense Thursday, June 11, 2026 The Government of British Columbia is continuing its efforts to support poultry farmers and protect the province’s food supply. Through the Novel Tools and Technologies Program, poultry producers are receiving financial help to upgrade their barns and reduce the risk of avian... Read this article online
Harry Siemens Honored for Farm Reporting Thursday, June 11, 2026 Veteran agricultural journalist Harry Siemens has been honored with the North American Farm Reporting Excellence Award. This award recognizes his more than 50 years of service in agricultural communication across Canada and North America. The award was created by well-known U.S. farm... Read this article online
CANZA Marketplace available for farmers Thursday, June 11, 2026 A new online resource is available for farmers looking to capitalize on climate-conscious farming practices. “The Canadian Alliance for Net-Zero Agri-food’s (CANZA) Marketplace is a long-term national effort to recognize and reward farmers for their stewardship efforts on their farms,”... Read this article online