That's a funny-looking bird! Monday, October 6, 2014 In the farming future, the unmanned aerial vehicle monitoring the chlorophyll levels in your crops or precision-spraying your fertilizer may never come down to earth. Joseph Moore, a PhD candidate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is working on a drone that can recharge its batteries by perching on power lines.A magnetometer installed inside the drone would be able to detect magnetic fields given off by power lines. The drone could then land on the line and power up through inductive charging. Moore modelled the prototype's perching on the landing movements of birds.He gave Business Insider a demonstration of the technology using a model glider and, while the glider did not actually perch, it was able to come "within centimetres" of a mock power line.This technology could eliminate one of the most impractical aspects of unmanned aerial vehicles – their low battery life, currently only 10 to 30 minutes according to Gizmag.com. BF Help on the way for overworked farmers Behind the Lines - October 2014
$15.1M to Scale Whole-Cut Plant-Based Protein Friday, May 22, 2026 Protein Industries Canada has announced a $15.1 million co-investment in a multi-partner project aimed at scaling advanced manufacturing technology for whole-cut protein alternatives and strengthening Canada’s domestic agri-food value chain. The initiative brings together NS/TX... Read this article online
90 percent of agri-businesses are concerned about the future of Canadian agriculture Friday, May 22, 2026 Canada’s agriculture sector is facing a prolonged period of low confidence and limited growth, raising concerns about its long-term resilience. According to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), agri-business sentiment remains near the bottom across all industries, with... Read this article online
Free safety kits help Canadian farm families teach children safe farming habits Thursday, May 21, 2026 BASF Agricultural Solutions Canada is celebrating five years of the BASF Safety Scouts program, an initiative designed to help farm families teach children about farm safety in a fun and engaging way. Since its launch in 2021, the program has supported safe learning by providing free... Read this article online
Ontario Farmers Face Warmer 2026 Growing Season with Uneven Moisture Outlook Thursday, May 21, 2026 Ontario producers are heading into the 2026 growing season under a familiar but complex weather pattern. According to Environment and Climate Change Canada’s latest seasonal outlook, temperatures across much of the province are expected to trend above normal, while precipitation signals... Read this article online
Canada Faces Below-Average Hurricane Season, Will Farmers be Safe? Thursday, May 21, 2026 As the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season begins, Canadian farmers and rural communities are being reminded that preparation remains critical, even with forecasts calling for fewer storms. Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) says modern forecasting systems are ready to deliver... Read this article online