Trumpeter swans protected but problematic for farmers Monday, April 6, 2015 Trumpeter swans are posing a problem for farmers in B.C.'s Cowichan Valley.Bob Crawford, president of the Cowichan Valley Agricultural Society, told the CBC that flocks of trumpeter swans are causing problems – including flooding and soil damage – for local farms. "Every time these birds get in on a field that's grazed, it delays the cutting of crops by seven days," he said. Despite this, farmers are not allowed to kill the birds, as they are a protected species.According to the CBC, farmers have resorted to using noisy propane cannons to try to scare the swans. But non-farming households in the area have complained about the noise, and one frightened swan managed to cause a blackout at the home of a non-farmer after hitting a power line. Crawford told the CBC, "You have moved to the farmland now. You're going to have noises, and farms farm 24 hours a day." BF Swede midges 'last straw' for northern canola growers A Geiger counter for your kitchen?
Creating Safe Farms for Kids Wednesday, May 7, 2025 The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) is hosting the second annual Kids FarmSafe Week from May 12 to 18, with the theme “Nurturing the Future of Agriculture.” The initiative aims to raise awareness about health and safety risks for children and youth on farms. According... Read this article online
Encouraging Consumers to spend 1 Percent More at Farmers Markets Could Make a Big Difference Wednesday, May 7, 2025 A recent study led by University of Northern British Columbia professor David Connell reveals that farmers’ markets, while growing in popularity, still make up only a small share of household food spending. The research was conducted across 70 markets in British Columbia and involved... Read this article online
2025 Election Results Prompt Concern and Reflection Among Prairie Farmers Tuesday, May 6, 2025 Users on Agriville.com weigh-in on the 2025 federal election outcome As news broke that Mark Carney’s Liberals had won the 2025 federal election, many western Canadian farmers on Agriville.com shared their reactions. The mood was largely one of disappointment, with concerns about the... Read this article online
Mother’s Day Q&A with Davina Garner Tuesday, May 6, 2025 Mother’s Day is this Sunday (don’t say we didn’t remind you), and all this week Farms.com is connecting with moms in the ag sector for a Q&A about motherhood, what makes it great, and what makes it tough. Davina Garner (DG) and her husband Kurtis run a dairy and cash crop farm in Embro,... Read this article online
OFA viewpoint on growing future farmers Tuesday, May 6, 2025 Agriculture is arguably among the most important industries we have. Not only is it one of the biggest sectors of the Ontario and Canadian economies, but it’s also fundamental to our very existence. After all, everyone has to eat—and in Ontario, we’re luckier than most in the wide... Read this article online