Hens that live and let live Tuesday, August 4, 2009 The Agricultural Research Service, part of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), has developed a line of less aggressive hens that still produce a lot of eggs. The goal is to cut mortality in group-housed flocks without the usual, less than welfare-friendly beak trimming.Housed together to an age of 54 weeks in communal cages rather than battery cages, commercial birds are merciless and suffer an 89 per cent mortality rate compared to 20 per cent for the less aggressive, newly developed line of birds. The gentler birds also produced more eggs.A press release from the USDA says that, over 20 years of breeding selection, egg production has increased significantly in one particular breeding line of laying hens while mortality due to aggression and cannibalism among birds with untrimmed beaks increased tenfold.Biologist Heng-wei Cheng speculates that the less aggressive behaviour may be due to a decrease in dopamine levels in the birds. Dopamine, secreted by the brain, is associated with dysfunctional behaviour and a decreased ability to deal with stress. Red Fife returns to its Otonabee roots Behind the Lines - August/September 2009
Ontario Supports Farmers Through 4R Nutrient Program Thursday, January 22, 2026 Several key agricultural organizations and the provincial government have renewed the Memorandum of Cooperation for the 4R Nutrient Stewardship program for a third term. The agreement brings together the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario, Fertilizer Canada, Grain Farmers of... Read this article online
Canada-Ontario Funding Aims to Expand Agri-Food Markets Wednesday, January 21, 2026 The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing up to $20 million through the new Market Diversification and Trade Resiliency Initiative to help farmers, food processors, and agribusinesses expand sales of Ontario-grown products domestically and internationally. The initiative... Read this article online
Bushel Plus rebrands to BranValt for global harvest-tech growth Tuesday, January 20, 2026 Bushel Plus Ltd., a well‑known name in harvest optimization tools and training, is preparing for a major brand transformation as it shifts to a new global identity: BranValt. The company recently announced that the transition will officially take effect in July 2026, marking a... Read this article online
Canada Negotiates Tariff Reductions on Canola Seed by China Tuesday, January 20, 2026 Mark Carney has concluded his visit to Beijing for high-level meetings with Chinese leaders, including Xi Jinping. The visit marked the first trip to China by a Canadian prime minister since 2017 and resulted in a joint statement outlining a new strategic partnership between the two countries.... Read this article online
Ontario Pig Producer Disease Advisory -- PED and PDCoV Risks Rising This Winter Tuesday, January 20, 2026 Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea (PED) and Porcine Deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) continue to pose significant risks to swine operations across the industry. Both viruses are highly infectious, spread easily through manure, contaminated equipment, transport vehicles, and human movement, and can have... Read this article online