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
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
Early Career Research Award supports two Guelph research initiatives Tuesday, June 24, 2025 The 2025 Early Career Research Award was presented to two University of Guelph researchers at the recently held Livestock Research Innovation Corporation (LRIC) symposium. Dr. Kelsey Spence received $40,000 towards her work in on-farm biosecurity research, and Dr. Sam Workenhe was awarded... Read this article online