Scientist says new alfalfa could succeed Sunday, October 16, 2016 A scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada says a new variety of alfalfa developed in the Maritimes could help producers grow more for their cattle. Geneticist Yousef Papadopolous began looking for better alfalfa in 1988. After nearly 30 years of work and 2,000 plants, the variety known as CRS 1001 could be a huge help for farmers. "I think it has tremendous potential," Papadopolous told CBC. "I know it can tolerate our diverse environments across Canada. It’s got an advantage. It will have a market here (the Maritimes) and it will have a market elsewhere.” It’s developed with rhizomes, which produce creeping root stocks and can improve plant survival in the Maritimes where farmers are impacted by excessive moisture and poor soil quality. Farms in Saskatchewan, Ontario and Quebec have grown the new variety, and other field tests have been conducted in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. Beginning in February, seed companies will bid for the right to produce CRS 1001. Papadopolous said the companies should ensure Maritime farmers aren’t left out of the conversation. “We want to make sure the farmers who have been supporting us have access,” he told CBC. “Those farmers have been helping us in the real world.” View CBC News story: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/alfalfa-tremendous-potential-maritimes-agriculture-scientist-1.3805850 Better Farming's annual sewage and bypass report Oxford County on its way to the goal of 100% Renewal Energy
Canadian Meat Council Sets New Plan to Strengthen Red Meat Competitiveness Thursday, November 12, 2026 Canada’s red meat processing sector has a new three-year strategy aimed at strengthening its competitiveness as meat companies navigate changing trade relationships, regulatory pressures and an increasingly complicated global marketplace. The Canadian Meat Council (CMC) has released... Read this article online
Upcoming winter Ontario farm shows Thursday, November 12, 2026 As Ontario producers continue the 2026 harvest, lessons from the season that was, and preparation for 2027 begins with the winter farm show circuit. Here are some of the shows farmers can attend in the next few months. The Advancing Women in Agriculture Conference East takes place Nov.... Read this article online
CANZA Expands Climate-Smart Farming Program by 36,000 Ontario Acres Thursday, November 12, 2026 Ontario farmers interested in adding regenerative practices to their operations will have another opportunity to receive financial and agronomic support in 2027. Canadian Alliance for Net-Zero Agri-Food (CANZA) is expanding its Million Acre Challenge by 36,000 acres, with... Read this article online
Hensall Co-op Awards $17,500 to Seven Ontario Students Tuesday, November 10, 2026 Seven post-secondary students are receiving financial support from Hensall Co-op as they pursue education connected to agriculture and the future of rural communities. The Ontario farmer-owned co-operative has announced the 2026 recipients of its Bright Futures Scholarships, with each... Read this article online
Ag organizations call for immediate pause to Alto project Tuesday, November 10, 2026 Three Canadian farm groups are asking the federal government to suspend the Alto rail project. The presidents of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA), Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA), and Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA) in Quebec wrote to Transport Minister Steven... Read this article online