Humans spread ASF in Europe Tuesday, February 9, 2016 Humans are responsible for the spread of African Swine Fever in eastern Europe. That is the conclusion of scientists Klaus Depner and Sandra Blome at Germany's Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut.High levels of the virus causing ASF are found in the blood of infected animals, much less in saliva and feces, so living animals are not that contagious. Furthermore, sick animals with fevers don't travel; they stay put and die a few days after infection. Carcasses of infected wild boars do remain a source of infection for some time. The scientists speculate that, when many pigs were going to die, they were sent to slaughter and infected meat made it to markets, homes and suitcases. The virus spread along main roads.Farms that became infected were found to have insufficient biosecurity measures in place. Attempts to eradicate wild boars, thought to be a source of the disease, simply scared sick animals away, so that they died in other locations. Good hygiene and biosecurity are the answer, the scientists say. BP Venting on the weather Sizzle hasn't left the price of bacon
Ag groups call for pause to AAFC cuts Friday, March 20, 2026 Close to two dozen Canadian ag groups wrote to Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald to ask for an immediate pause to the scheduled cuts at AAFC research facilities. The federal government is closing seven ag research sites and eliminating 665 positions to support the prime minister’s goal... Read this article online
Top Tillage Equipment for Large Acreage Farming - A 2026 Buyer’s Guide Thursday, March 19, 2026 Choosing the right tillage equipment is crucial for high acreage growers managing heavy residue, variable soil conditions, and the need for efficient seedbed preparation. Today’s leading tillage systems combine residue sizing, soil preservation, and operational efficiency—while pairing... Read this article online
Corteva introduces Lumiscend LUXE fungicide seed treatment Thursday, March 19, 2026 Corteva has launched a new fungicide seed treatment in time for the 2026 planting season. Lumiscend LUXE combines four active ingredients – difenoconazole, metalaxyl-M and S-isomer, ipconazole, and inpyrfluxam – to provide farmers with a robust seed treatment option spanning Groups 3, 4,... Read this article online
CGC issues multiple licenses on March 18 Thursday, March 19, 2026 Two Canadian and one American grain handler received licenses from the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) on March 18. One of the Canadian companies, Red River Seeds in Morris, Man., the leading buyer of rye grain in Western Canada, received two licenses. One of those licenses is a grain... Read this article online
ADM and Bunge Earn Spots on 2026 World’s Most Ethical Companies List Thursday, March 19, 2026 Two major agricultural companies, ADM and Bunge, have been named to the 2026 World’s Most Ethical Companies list by Ethisphere, a global authority on defining and advancing ethical business practices. The recognition places both companies among nine honorees in the Food, Beverage and... Read this article online