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Better Farming Ontario Featured Articles

Better Farming Ontario magazine is published 11 times per year. After each edition is published, we share featured articles online.


Purple Loosestrife not so bad after all

Sunday, March 8, 2015

Twenty years ago, non-native Purple Loosestrife was expected to take over wetlands in southern Ontario and overwhelm biodiversity. It didn't happen and Prof. Ken Thompson, a senior research fellow in the Department of Animal and Plant Sciences at the University of Sheffield in England, says that is typical. He argues that invasive species do not pose as great a risk as many say they do, the CBC reports.

In an interview with the CBC, Thompson – author of "Where Do Camels Belong - Why Invasive Species Aren't All Bad" – argues that many alien species are rarely a true threat to the native ecosystems they join. So-called "invasive" species are often just taking advantage of the damage caused by human activity and pollution. In an article for the Huffington Post, Thompson wrote that "if we think we have reason to dislike a species – native or alien – we should first check if it is actually causing net harm, and specifically if the species itself is the problem and not merely a symptom of some other problem."

According to Thompson, Purple Loosestrife may in fact be providing more food for native pollinators. Thompson does admit that some species – such as the Brown Tree Snake which destroyed the native bird population of Guam – are a true risk to an ecosystem, but that measures taken by humans against invasive species often have unintentional, long-lasting and harmful consequences on the environment. BF

Current Issue

August 2025

Better Farming Magazine

Farms.com Breaking News

Applications Open for Grains Innovation Fund 2026

Thursday, July 24, 2025

Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO), the province’s largest commodity organization representing 28,000 farmers, is now accepting applications for the 2026 Grains Innovation Fund. The fund offers grants up to $75,000 to support innovative projects that promote the use of Ontario’s grains such as... Read this article online

Bruce County Hosts Animal Rescue Training

Thursday, July 24, 2025

Under hot and humid July weather, firefighters from Bruce County and nearby areas gathered in Mildmay, Ontario, for special training in large animal emergency rescue. This hands-on session was organized by Equine Guelph and supported by the Bruce County Federation of Agriculture (BCFA). It... Read this article online

2026 Grains Innovation Fund is now open

Thursday, July 24, 2025

Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO), the province’s largest commodity organization representing Ontario’s 28,000 barley, corn, oat, soybean, and wheat farmers, is now accepting applications for its . “This year marks another exciting chapter for the Grains Innovation Fund,” stated Paul... Read this article online

Provincial Ministers Discuss Farm Support and Trade

Monday, July 21, 2025

When the federal, provincial, and territorial (FPT) Ministers of Agriculture met virtually on July17to discuss plans for building a stronger, more competitive agriculture sector in Canada, a major topic was business risk management (BRM) programs. Recognizing the pressures from uncertain... Read this article online

Ontario Pork Offers Free Tasting Events to Build Brand

Monday, July 21, 2025

Ontario Pork has teamed up with Fortinos Supermarkets to bring a special treat for customers across Ontario this BBQ season. Shoppers visiting any of the 24 Fortinos stores in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) can enjoy free samples of delicious Ontario-raised pork every weekend until August... Read this article online

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