Imported fruit linked to Aussie hepatitis outbreak Friday, May 1, 2015 Australian farmers are selling more fresh berries than usual after imported frozen berries were implicated in a February hepatitis A outbreak, the Free Press Leader reports.The outbreak has been linked to poor hygiene and water supplies in a Chinese packaging plant, Pork Network reports. Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott supports plans for new Country of Origin Labelling (COOL) in response to the incident: "We don't want to add needlessly to the burdens of business, but we do want to ensure that consumers get the information that they need and the public is protected."Otto Saeck, a blueberry farmer in New South Wales, told ABC Rural: "I think if you buy Australian fruit you're going to get good quality fruit; if you buy imported you have to take your chances unfortunately." By early March, 26 cases of hepatitis A had been reported, News.com.au reports. BF Goat meat and milk finding favour in North America Plant protection bill gets mixed response
5.5% values rise in Canadian farmland - FCC Report Friday, October 11, 2024 FCC reports strong increase in Canadian farmland values According to Farm Credit Canada (FCC), Canadian cultivated farmland values experienced an average increase of 5.5% in the first half of 2024. Over the 12 months from July 2023 to June 2024, farmland values rose by 9.6%, although... Read this article online
OP-ED: Happy Agriculture Week from Minister Flack Thursday, October 10, 2024 Rob Flack, Ontario's minister of farming, agriculture and agribusiness, provided the following message to celebrate Ontario Agriculture Week: Happy Ontario Agriculture Week! Every year during the week before Thanksgiving Monday, we celebrate the 871,000 people across the food supply... Read this article online
Helping farmers become more resilient to extreme weather and climate change Thursday, October 10, 2024 Funding supports 213 projects for resilient agricultural landscapes The governments of Canada and Ontario have announced over $12.2 million in funding to support 213 agricultural projects across Ontario. These projects aim to make farmland more resilient to extreme weather and... Read this article online
2024 Bright Futures scholarships awarded by Hensall co-op Thursday, October 10, 2024 Three students awarded scholarships for advancing agriculture and rural communities Hensall Co-op has announced the recipients of its 2024 Bright Futures Scholarship. The scholarship recognizes students pursuing post-secondary education in agriculture or fields that benefit rural... Read this article online
New wheat varieties boost disease resistance for healthy crops Thursday, October 10, 2024 Climate-smart wheat to resist diseases In Ontario, researchers at the University of Guelph are working to breed disease-resistant wheat varieties to help farmers combat Fusarium head blight (FHB), a fungal disease affecting wheat crops. Led by Dr.Helen Booker, this program aims to... Read this article online