'Sheep-eating plant' blooms in Britain Monday, August 5, 2013 According to The Huffington Post and other, perhaps more reliable, news sources such as the BBC, a so-called "sheep eating-plant" bloomed for the first time in June at the Royal Horticultural Society's Garden Wisley in the U.K. where it had been located for 15 years. Puya chilensis, a native of an arid area of Chile, uses razor-sharp hooked-shaped spines to protect its soft inner core from attack by birds and small animals. A press release from the horticultural society says those spines are also known to ensnare sheep. After they die and decompose, the animals nourish the plant by providing fertilizer. According to the society's press release, horticulturalist Cara Smith says, "We keep it well fed with liquid fertilizer as feeding it on its natural diet might prove a bit problematic." The society spokesperson adds that the plant is placed so that it doesn't ensnare children either. According to The Guardian Express, shepherds in Chile set fire to the plant in order to protect their flocks. Not hard to do in Chile's arid desert where it lives. The plant in the garden in Britain is 10 feet tall. BF Really local tries to dodge regulatory bullet Behind the Lines - August/September 2013
US-Canada tariff uncertainty continues to concern businesses and farmers Tuesday, August 25, 2026 As of late August 2026, trade relations between Canada and the United States remain under pressure as both countries work to finalize an agreement aimed at preventing a new round of tariffs from disrupting cross-border commerce. While a temporary reprieve has been secured, uncertainty... Read this article online
Alveo partners with AgriNerds on bird flu surveillance Tuesday, August 25, 2026 Poultry producers may soon have access to a new tool designed to improve how they monitor and respond to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) threats. Alveo Technologies and AgriNerds have announced a partnership that will combine rapid on-farm molecular testing with real-time... Read this article online
OPA Secures Lambton County Site for 2027 International Plowing Match Monday, August 24, 2026 Lambton County is preparing to welcome one of Ontario agriculture’s biggest events after the Ontario Plowmen’s Association (OPA) announced it has secured a site for the 2027 International Plowing Match and Rural Expo (IPM). The event is scheduled for September 21 to 25, 2027, on... Read this article online
Grain Prices Rise as Crop Tours Raise Yield Concerns Monday, August 24, 2026 Grain markets ended the week on August 21, 2026, with a strong tone as traders assessed the latest Pro Farmer Crop Tour results, crop damage concerns across the U.S. Midwest, improving demand prospects and growing fund interest from speculative traders. During the August 21 Farms.com... Read this article online
AALP Dream Gala tops $110,000 for leadership programming Sunday, August 23, 2026 The () raised more than $110,000 to support leadership development within Ontario’s agri-food sector, according to the Rural Ontario Institute (ROI). Held at The GrandWay Events Centre in Elora, the biennial fundraising event was organized by participants and recent graduates of .... Read this article online