'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
Canada Trade Tribunal Submits Report on Vegetable Imports and Potential Industry Injury Monday, September 14, 2026 The Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) has submitted its report on imports of certain vegetable goods to the Governor in Council following a six-month safeguard inquiry into potential injury to Canadian producers. The Tribunal announced Sept. 9 that the report contains its... Read this article online
FCC Launches $1 Billion Agri-food Project Finance Fund for Canadian Food Processing Growth Monday, September 14, 2026 Farm Credit Canada (FCC) has opened a 60-day Expression of Interest (EOI) process for a new $1 billion Agri-food Project Finance initiative, marking one of the largest targeted investments in Canadian food processing infrastructure in recent years. The financing program is intended to... Read this article online
Organic Farming in Canada Enters the Mainstream as Market Nears $12 Billion Monday, September 14, 2026 September is recognized as Organic Month across Canada, offering an opportunity to feature a sector that has transformed from a niche market into a significant component of Canadian agriculture. For many years, organic farming was often viewed as a specialized production system... Read this article online
Canadian Staccato® Cherry Patent Dispute Ends in Major Settlement Monday, September 14, 2026 Canada's tree fruit breeding program has secured a significant legal victory in a long-running intellectual property dispute involving the popular Staccato® cherry variety. Summerland Varieties Corp. (SVC) announced that it and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) have reached a... Read this article online
Migrant workers recognized for contributions to Ontario agriculture Monday, September 14, 2026 The agricultural industry took centre stage in Leamington on September 13, 2026, as the Festival of Guest Nations celebrated the contributions migrant workers make to farms, greenhouses, and food production across Essex County and Ontario. Held at Seacliff Park, the event brought together... Read this article online