CFIA approves E.coli vaccine Monday, October 27, 2008 by BETTER FARMING STAFFOn Monday, Belleville-based Bioniche Life Sciences Inc. announced it received full licensing approval for its vaccine to reduce the presence of E. coli 0157:H7 in cattle.The 0157 strain poses serious human health risks and was implicated in the May 2000 tainted water crisis in Walkerton. More recently it was the source of food poisoning outbreaks in North Bay, southwestern Ontario and the Niagara region.Called Econiche, the vaccine has been available for limited use in Canada for nearly a year. Producers obtained it through a veterinarian who had to file applications for its use with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. The vaccine also received licensing in the United States, on the condition that at least one step of the manufacturing process occurs there and the vaccine isn’t given a trademark name.In 2007 Bioniche, which specializes in animal and human health products, received provincial and federal funding to scale up production of the vaccine. Vaccine supply will be limited until during the scale up, said the company’s news release. BF No relief expected on crop input prices Provincial hold on spending hits new farmer program
Canada's Productivity Mega Deduction Could Fuel New Farm and Ag-Tech Investment Tuesday, October 6, 2026 Canada's agriculture sector, food processors, equipment manufacturers, and ag-tech companies could soon benefit from a major new federal tax incentive designed to accelerate investment and economic growth. During a visit to Allan Equipment Manufacturing Ltd. in Charlottetown, Prince... Read this article online
MS Schippers unveils autonomous barn-cleaning robot Tuesday, October 6, 2026 The MS Smart Cleaning Robot (see photo montage above) offers three phases on one device for barn cleaning: combining high-pressure washing, chemical foam soaking, and disinfection in a single autonomous pass. A Dutch agricultural technology company is introducing an automated cleaning system... Read this article online
How One Ontario Pumpkin Farm Turned 10% of Production Into Half Its Revenue Tuesday, October 6, 2026 For one Ontario farm that was looking beyond traditional commodity production to strengthen their businesses,the answer has come from an unlikely source: ornamental pumpkins and gourds. Located east of St. Thomas, Ontario, Butters Farms has built a successful niche around seasonal... Read this article online
Canadian Food System Trust Holds Steady, but Uncertainty and Misinformation Are Rising Tuesday, October 6, 2026 Canadians largely maintain a positive view of the nation's food system, but rising concerns about affordability, misinformation, and the growing influence of artificial intelligence are creating a more complex environment for maintaining public trust. That was among the key findings... Read this article online
Canadian Agri-Businesses Face Insurance Crunch as Premiums Rise and Coverage Options Shrink Tuesday, October 6, 2026 Small agricultural businesses across Canada are facing a mounting insurance challenge as premiums climb and coverage options become harder to find, according to research from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB). The report highlights a growing concern among farmers,... Read this article online