Raw milk cheeses scrutinized in U.S. Thursday, June 6, 2013 The federal government in the United States is rethinking a 60-year-old law that allows cheeses made with raw milk to be sold to consumers as long as they have aged for at least 60 days. Aging is supposed to kill dangerous bacteria that cheese carries, but a story in Scienceline, published by New York University's science health and environmental department, cites a University of Vermont study that found gouda and cheddar cheese aged for 100 days contained E. coli. Last fall, 22 people in 13 states were reported infected with listeria, allegedly after eating imported Italian raw milk cheeses which were subsequently recalled. Even with an extended aging time, it's not likely that raw milk cheeses will be made 100 per cent bacteria (and risk) free. The story says the Food and Drug Administration began its re-evaluation of the 60-day rule in 2009 and won't comment until its study is complete. BF The new superfoods: Big market potential but challenging to grow U.S. report downplays pesticides as colony collapse cause
Wheat Output Decline Projected for 2025 Wednesday, September 10, 2025 Statistics Canada’s latest modelled estimates suggest that wheat production in Canada will decline slightly in 2025, driven primarily by weaker yields across several regions. National output is expected to edge down 1.1% to 35.5 million tonnes, with yields forecast to fall 1.2% to 49.6... Read this article online
Research Projects and Companies Supported Through OAFRI Tuesday, September 9, 2025 The governments of Canada and Ontario have announced an investment of up to $4.77 million to strengthen the province’s agri-food sector. This funding, delivered through the Ontario Agri-Food Research Initiative (OAFRI) under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable... Read this article online
Two-pass Weed Control Critical in Managing Herbicide-Resistant Waterhemp in Ontario Monday, September 8, 2025 Dr. Peter Sikkema of the University of Guelph recently shared insights into the growing challenge of multiple herbicide-resistant water hemp at the 2025 Great Ontario Yield Tour final event in Woodstock Ontario. Dr. Sikkema research highlights both the biology of the weed and practical... Read this article online
First Northern Cohort Joins Ontario Vet Program Thursday, September 4, 2025 This September, the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) at the University of Guelph welcomed its inaugural Northern Cohort of 20 students through the Collaborative Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Program (CDVMP). This initiative, created in partnership with Lakehead University, marks a milestone... Read this article online
Manitoba Farmers Defend Their Whisky Roots Amid Ontario Backlash Thursday, September 4, 2025 As most reader will know by now, on August 28, beverage alcohol giant Diageo announced it will be closing its Amherstburg, Ontario bottling plant. Located just 25 kilometres from the nearest U.S. border crossing, the company says the decision is part of a strategy to streamline its supply... Read this article online