Has the bacterium that causes fire blight become resistant to product used to control the disease? Study aims to find out Friday, July 3, 2015 by SUSAN MANNAgriculture and Agri-Food Canada researchers are planning to study pear and apple tree samples to determine if the bacterium causing a destructive disease in those crops is resistant to a control product farmers use.The researchers have started to collect pear and apple tree samples and will also be collecting them next year, says Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada researcher scientist Antonet Svircev. “The project goes for three years.”She is in charge of the project for Ontario, while other scientists across Canada will be collecting samples from other areas and studying them. Svircev is stationed at the federal government’s Vineland Research Station.Researchers will be studying the samples to see if the bacterium, called erwinia amylovora, that causes fire blight carries a gene making it resistant to streptomycin, a product used to control fire blight in Ontario’s commercial orchards since the 1960s.“There are certain genes within the bacterium that tell us there may be resistance,” Svircev says. “We’re looking for these certain genes for resistance in the bacterium. But just because we find the gene doesn’t mean that there really is resistance so we have to do tests in the lab. We have to confirm it.”Fire blight is one of the most destructive apple and pear tree diseases. It kills the shoots of the trees and makes them look like they’ve been scorched by fire. BF New seed branch launched Ontario's corn plantings are up
Ontario Promotes Local Food to Boost Economy and Jobs Thursday, June 5, 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
Scientists at Guelph Target Avian Threat Thursday, June 5, 2025 The University of Guelph (U of G) is activeey engaged against the spread of avian flu. Experts from a variety of departments, including virology, engineering, veterinary medicine, and computer science, are working together to stop this growing threat. “This is not just a crisis for the... Read this article online
Trouw Nutrition launches IntelEgg Thursday, June 5, 2025 Trouw Nutrition has announced the launch of , a digital platform designed to empower layer producers with real-time insights and data-driven decision-making tools. The image above shows an demo screen. This browser-based application is set to transform how poultry farmers monitor,... Read this article online
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