SL virtual reality game . . . for chickens Tuesday, August 5, 2014 An assistant professor at Iowa State University has created what may be the first video game for chickens. Second Livestock, named after the online game Second Life, uses a virtual reality headset and an omnidirectional treadmill to give a caged bird the illusion of wandering around a field. "Even the best-intentioned producers only have so much land available to raise chickens," says the Second Livestock website. 'Virtual Free Range' allows chickens to be truly free range with no confines on their movements about their virtual worlds." So is this for real? Yes and no. The Ames Tribune reported that designer Austin Stewart debuted a version adapted for human use at an exhibition in Ames, Iowa. But, Stewart told the Tribune, implementing the full system for chickens would be too expensive to be practical. The game's true purpose is to open a discussion about animal husbandry. BF Should climate change deniers be found liable? Protests halt release of GM alfalfa
A Young Farmer Finds the Perfect Combine Wednesday, April 1, 2026 At Farms.com, nurturing a passion for agriculture starts early, and nothing illustrates that better than a recent heartwarming video featuring young Jared Altmann and the Farms.com Ag Buyer’s Guide. In the video, Jared can be seen carefully combing through the pages of the Ag Buyer’s... Read this article online
Ontario Soybean Acres to Rise in 2026 as Economics and Weather Shape Planting Decisions Wednesday, April 1, 2026 Ontario farmers are planning a modest expansion in total acres for 2026, with soybeans emerging as a key driver of change across the province, according to the 2026 annual Farms.com Risk Management Ontario Planting Intentions Farmer Survey. The survey, conducted between January 12 and... Read this article online
Ont. farmer Tony McQuail reflects on NDP leadership race Tuesday, March 31, 2026 Huron County farmer Tony McQuail is back at Meeting Place Organic Farm in Lucknow after vying to replace Jagmeet Singh as the leader of the federal NDP. “It was a very hopeful and positive experience for me,” he told Farms.com. “I was very pleased with what we were able to bring to the... Read this article online
Broadband Access is a Defining Issue for Rural Canada’s Future Monday, March 30, 2026 Broadband connectivity took centre stage during the Coalition for a Better Future’s Scorecard Reporting Event on March 26, as speakers emphasized that reliable, high-speed internet is now foundational to rural economic growth, community well-being, and Canada’s broader ambitions in... Read this article online
Rural Canada Is an Economic Powerhouse that Policymakers Need to Build Upon Monday, March 30, 2026 Rural Canada is a far bigger driver of the national economy than many policymakers realize, and leaders say the time has come to place a rural lens at the centre of public policy decision-making. That message was front and centre during the Coalition for a Better Future’s Scorecard... Read this article online