Seed of the year finalists announced Monday, July 2, 2012 by SUSAN MANNTwo soybean varieties, a forage seed and a navy bean variety are in contention for this year’s eighth annual Eastern Canada Seed of the Year competition.The entries are: Dividend VL Orchard Grass, Ex Rico 23 Navy Bean, OAC Bayfield and DH 410. The varieties and their breeders will be honoured at the Eastern Canada Seed of the Year recognition event at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto in November. The winner will be announced then too.The competition is sponsored by the University of Guelph and SeCan with additional support from the Ontario agriculture ministry and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.Martin Harry, spokesman from SeCan, says he’d characterize this year’s entries as “all winners. They all have the potential to win.”Formed in 1976, SeCan is the largest supplier of certified seed to Canadian farmers.Through the Seed of the Year application process breeders are encouraged to highlight their research accomplishments in developing a new field crop, forage, fruit, vegetable or herb variety. Any publicly developed Canadian variety is eligible to compete.Entries were evaluated on innovation, presence throughout the value chain, sustainability, marketability and overall impact on the Canadian agri-food industry. BF Former CFFO general manager calls it quits Ontario wheat producers offered advance
Canada's Productivity Mega Deduction Could Fuel New Farm and Ag-Tech Investment Tuesday, October 6, 2026 Canada's agriculture sector, food processors, equipment manufacturers, and ag-tech companies could soon benefit from a major new federal tax incentive designed to accelerate investment and economic growth. During a visit to Allan Equipment Manufacturing Ltd. in Charlottetown, Prince... Read this article online
MS Schippers unveils autonomous barn-cleaning robot Tuesday, October 6, 2026 The MS Smart Cleaning Robot (see photo montage above) offers three phases on one device for barn cleaning: combining high-pressure washing, chemical foam soaking, and disinfection in a single autonomous pass. A Dutch agricultural technology company is introducing an automated cleaning system... Read this article online
How One Ontario Pumpkin Farm Turned 10% of Production Into Half Its Revenue Tuesday, October 6, 2026 For one Ontario farm that was looking beyond traditional commodity production to strengthen their businesses,the answer has come from an unlikely source: ornamental pumpkins and gourds. Located east of St. Thomas, Ontario, Butters Farms has built a successful niche around seasonal... Read this article online
Canadian Food System Trust Holds Steady, but Uncertainty and Misinformation Are Rising Tuesday, October 6, 2026 Canadians largely maintain a positive view of the nation's food system, but rising concerns about affordability, misinformation, and the growing influence of artificial intelligence are creating a more complex environment for maintaining public trust. That was among the key findings... Read this article online
Canadian Agri-Businesses Face Insurance Crunch as Premiums Rise and Coverage Options Shrink Tuesday, October 6, 2026 Small agricultural businesses across Canada are facing a mounting insurance challenge as premiums climb and coverage options become harder to find, according to research from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB). The report highlights a growing concern among farmers,... Read this article online