A Geiger counter for your kitchen? Monday, April 6, 2015 Concern over potentially radioactive vegetables has inspired four students in Sweden to mock up a kitchen appliance with a built-in Geiger counter, Modern Farmer reports.Radioactive contamination – like the sort from the 2011 meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan – can have a lasting impact on consumer trust. According to GlobalMeatNews, a 2014 study found that 20 per cent of consumers in Japan were hesitant to buy food from the Fukushima region. This is despite studies proving that radiation levels are within safety standards, the Japan Times reports.These lingering concerns prompted four students at the Umea Institute of Design in Sweden to design the Food Radiation Scanner, a radiation-measuring kitchen appliance. In an overview of the project, design student Kevin Gaunt wrote that though the current model doesn't work yet, the students "wanted to make sure that our design is technologically feasible to build within the next five years." BF Trumpeter swans protected but problematic for farmers Wild boars a danger to princess's pig, among others
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
Cattle Stress Tool May Boost Fertility Friday, June 27, 2025 Kansas State University researchers have developed a cool tool that may help reduce cattle stress and improve artificial insemination (AI) results. The idea came from animal science experts Nicholas Wege Dias and Sandy Johnson, who observed that cattle accustomed to their environment... Read this article online
Ontario pasture lands get $5M boost Friday, June 27, 2025 The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing up to $5 million to strengthen shared community grazing pastures. This funding supports the province’s plan to protect Ontario’s agriculture sector and help cattle farmers improve pasture quality, ensuring long-term sustainability and... Read this article online
Health Canada sets rules for drone spraying Wednesday, June 25, 2025 Health Canada has approved the use of drones, also called Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), for pesticide application under the Pest Control Products Act (PCPA). Drones are considered aircraft by Transport Canada, but Health Canada treats them differently due to their unique... Read this article online
Twelve Ontario Agri-Businesses Receive Funding Support Wednesday, June 25, 2025 Bioenterprise Canada has announced the successful recipients of the second call for proposals under the Ontario Agri-Food Research Initiative (OAFRI) Commercialization Stream. Twelve organizations across Ontario will receive support to bring innovative agri-food solutions to the... Read this article online