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 Report Highlights Farm Housing Needs in Greenbelt Areas Wednesday, June 4, 2025 The Greenbelt Foundation has released a new report titled Housing Needs and . It highlights the urgent need for housing solutions in rural Ontario for farm families, farm workers, and agri-business employees. As the farming community knows, agriculture is a vital part of Ontario’s... Read this article online
New Precision Ag Digital Digest Coming Soon Wednesday, June 4, 2025 The Summer 2025 Farms.com Precision Ag Digital Digest will be released on June 11. Summer is upon us! Tillage and seeding are mostly completed (…hopefully), so we are shifting focus to irrigation, baling, spraying, guidance, and harvest (among other topics and technologies). In... Read this article online
Ontario Promotes Local Food to Boost Economy and Jobs Tuesday, June 3, 2025 Ontario is celebrating Local Food Week from June 2–8, 2025, honoring the people behind the province’s strong and self-sufficient food supply. From farmers and food processors to retailers and restauranteurs, these individuals contribute to the economy and food security. The agriculture... Read this article online
Artificial Intelligence Aiding Operations, But Not Without Concerns Tuesday, June 3, 2025 Artificial intelligence is increasingly being deployed to optimize food production in Canadian greenhouses, offering promising efficiencies in crop management. However, Dr. Rozita Dara, director of Artificial Intelligence for Food (AI4Food) at the University of Guelph, cautions that the... Read this article online
First Ministers and Prime Minister Pledge Action on Trade Growth Infrastructure - Including Agriculture Tuesday, June 3, 2025 Canada’s First Ministers met in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, aiming to strengthen the national economy. They discussed the federal plan to boost major projects through new legislation, called . These projects aim to build a strong and resilient Canada by strengthening security, economic... Read this article online