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
Bonnefield joins Canadian Agriculture Investment Coalition Wednesday, February 11, 2026 Bonnefield Financial Inc. announced its participation in a new investment coalition focused on strengthening Canada’s agriculture and food industry. The coalition, brought together by Farm Credit Canada, includes more than 20 investment organizations. Together, they are prepared to invest... Read this article online
Looking for a heritage machine Tuesday, February 10, 2026 A Brantford, Ontario area heritage organization—the Canadian Industrial Heritage Centre (CIHC)—is putting out a call to the Canadian agricultural community in hopes of locating a rare piece of machinery that helped transform grain harvesting around the world. The CIHC is preparing... Read this article online
Why farmers built their own renewable energy association Tuesday, February 10, 2026 When renewable energy developers come knocking on rural doors, farmers often find themselves staring at 40-page leases, unfamiliar terminology, and long-term commitments that could shape their land for decades. For many, the opportunity is exciting and enticing—but also... Read this article online
Food Freedom Day 2026 - What Canada’s Grocery Costs Really Tell Us Monday, February 9, 2026 The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) has announced that Sunday, February 8th, 2026, marked Food Freedom Day—the date by which the average Canadian household has earned enough income to cover its entire annual grocery bill. Each year, CFA analyzes how much of Canadians’... Read this article online
Canadian Grain and Pork Sectors Join Others in Sound Alarm Over AAFC Research Cuts Friday, February 6, 2026 The Grain Growers of Canada (CGC), the Canadian Pork Council (CPC), and Swine Innovation Porc (SIP) are expressing serious concern following recently announced staff reductions and facility closures or consolidations within Agriculture and Agri‑Food Canada (AAFC). The groups warn that... Read this article online