Feds back plan to fight potato cyst nematode Wednesday, March 16, 2011 by BETTER FARMING STAFFThere’s no sign of the potato cyst nematode in Ontario but if it ever does arrive, a control strategy that a Quebec research centre is developing will come in handy, says the Ontario Potato Board’s general manager.On Thursday, the federal government announced that it was granting $700,000 to the Centre de recherche Les Buissons inc. to develop an integrated parasite management strategy for the pest.According to the federal news release, potato cyst nematodes are major parasites that can negatively affect potato production. The funding backs study of the parasites’ biological traits.Don Brubacher, Ontario Potato Growers’ general manager, says a nematode infestation was found in Quebec in 2007. Shortly after, there was a positive test in Alberta but the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, which conducts annual surveys for the nematode, could never find a second sample that was positive, he explains. Despite the lack of confirmation, the sighting “made it difficult” for Alberta’s seed potato industry, which exports into the United States, Brubacher says. The finding in Quebec meant a “significant hit in production,” for that province. Brubacher says he was aware that the centre applied for funding but he was not aware the money had been announced.The non-profit centre, which specializes in potato and small northern fruit research, is located 400 kilometres northeast of Quebec City. BF Crop insurance rates drop for 2011 Winery doubling output
New Ontario agrobotics challenge seeking high school submissions Thursday, October 2, 2025 A new competition for Ontario high school students is looking for innovative ways to solve challenges in the ag sector. The AgRobotics Ontario Challenge launched at the end of September. The competition is a collaboration between the Western Fair District, the Ontario Council for... Read this article online
Canada Post Strike Continues to Threatens Agri-Businesses and Rural Communities Thursday, October 2, 2025 The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is calling on the federal government to take swift action to end the ongoing Canada Post strike, warning that the disruption is causing serious harm to small businesses – including many in the agriculture sector. “The government’s... Read this article online
Farmland Values Climb Across the Prairies-Manitoba Leads, Ontario Holds Steady Thursday, October 2, 2025 Canadian cultivated farmland values rose by an average of 6.0 per cent in the first half of 2025, according to the mid-year farmland values review by Farm Credit Canada (FCC). This marks a modest acceleration compared to the first half of 2024, which saw a 5.5 per cent increase. Over... Read this article online
Setting Foundations for Higher Yielding Soybeans Wednesday, October 1, 2025 Farmers can achieve higher soybean yields by focusing on strong foundations and careful field management according to Shaun Casteel, Extension Soybean Specialist from Purdue University, who spoke at the in August. He emphasized that no single method guarantees success—each field... Read this article online
Canada Post Strike Got you Down–Missing your Ag Buyer’s Guide? Tuesday, September 30, 2025 We know it’s not quite the same as holding a crisp new copy of the Farms.com Ag Buyer’s Guide in your hands—but with postal workers on strike (yes, again), the digital edition will have to do for now! The Ag Buyer’s Guide Team is pleased to share the October Digital... Read this article online