GMO and refuge seed in a bag gets federal nod Monday, June 13, 2011 by SUSAN MANNMonsanto will begin selling its stacked trait corn seed with the required refuge in the same bag starting this fall for planting in 2012.Michael Nailor, Monsanto’s trait marketing lead, says the company received approval Thursday from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for its Genuity SmartStax RIB Complete corn seed. Farmers planting Bt corn are required to plant a non-Bt refuge area to prevent insects from developing resistance to the Bt proteins. Nailor says farmers using Genuity SmartStax RIB Complete won’t have to buy separate corn seed and plant a separate, structured refuge. The bag contains 95 per cent Genuity SmartStax seeds and five per cent non-traited seed. Farmers would just plant the corn and not have to worry about a refuge because it’s already included.The refuge will be randomly located in the field “which makes it great because now a farmer doesn’t have to stop and plant a separate refuge and do a lot of stopping and starting,” Nailor says, noting the product will be available in Ontario and Quebec.The Genuity SmartStax corn seed, developed in collaboration with Dow AgroSciences and introduced in time for the 2010 planting season, offers protection against a number of above ground pests including corn borer, fall armyworm and western bean cutworm. Below ground it has protection for corn rootworm.Nailor says farmers want to be compliant with government-mandated refuge rules and have been asking for this product for years. BF Decision reserved in egg whistleblower's contempt case Premier's Award winners announced
Proposed USDA budget cuts could shift the North American ag landscape Wednesday, April 15, 2026 The US administration’s latest budget proposal includes a significant reduction to the US Department of Agriculture’s discretionary spending, a move that could have ripple effects across North American agriculture. According to Farms.com reporting, the proposal outlines a... Read this article online
Study reveals key climate drivers of potato beetle outbreaks Tuesday, April 14, 2026 A long term research project from Michigan State University (MSU) and the University of Wisconsin is offering new insight into what drives Colorado potato beetle outbreaks, giving US potato growers a clearer picture of how weather patterns and environmental conditions shape one of the... Read this article online
Fuel Tax Suspension Offers Timely Relief for Canadian Farmers Ahead of Peak Growing Season Tuesday, April 14, 2026 Canadian farmers are set to see short-term relief at the fuel pump following a major federal policy announcement that directly affects on-farm operating costs. On April 14, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that the federal government will temporarily suspend the Fuel Excise Tax on... Read this article online
Operating farm equipment in Ontario Tuesday, April 14, 2026 Farms.com continues to dive into farm equipment licensing and insurance requirements for Canadian producers with a look at the rules for Ontario. Do Ontarians need a license to drive a tractor? No license is required for a farm tractor or other self-propelled farm equipment whether on private... Read this article online
Ontario Farm Leaders Drew and Heather Spoelstra Named 2026 Outstanding Young Farmers Friday, April 10, 2026 Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers (COYF) Program has announced Drew and Heather Spoelstra of Binbrook, Ontario, as the Ontario regional winners for 2026. The announcement was made following the Ontario regional competition held April 7 through 9 in St. Jacobs, Ontario. As provincial... Read this article online