Research combines water, agriculture Tuesday, May 17, 2011 by PAT CURRIEThe Ontario government announced Wednesday that it is investing $300,000 in new research aimed at protecting and conserving water while strengthening agri-food industries. The water-related research is part of almost $1.3 million provided under the New Directions research program. The program also includes projects aimed at the emerging organic and ethnic markets, the ornamental horticulture (flowers and plants) sector and food processing.The Centre for Agricultural Renewable Energy and Sustainability in Ridgetown has commissioned a research biodiesel facility to investigate technological, economic and environmental aspects of biodiesel production. Researchers will investigate how the wastewater can be used to purify crude glycerol (useful as an animal feed ingredient) and help compost waste from poultry farms. Benefits could include reducing costs, improving water use and quality, and improving air quality from poultry operations.Researchers will also compare water use in 20 dairy systems on several farms. The findings will be will then be shared with other dairy farmers. Researchers will measure how much water is used for such things as cleaning cows before milking and washing dairy equipment and milking parlours.Researchers will also probe water use at greenhouses producing vegetables, plants and flowers. Five innovative treatment technologies will be evaluated under field conditions for their effectiveness in providing high-quality water for re-use. The best technologies will then be shared with the horticulture industry. BF GFO study seeks to explain price spikes RMP on track
Farmland Rents Lag Land Values Thursday, May 7, 2026 Farm Credit Canada (FCC) has released a new economic analysis highlighting a growing gap between farmland values and rental rates across the country, a trend that will likely reshape expansion decisions for Canadian producers. According to the analysis, Canada’s average farmland... Read this article online
How to Keep Your Groundwater Safe and Clean Wednesday, May 6, 2026 Groundwater plays a vital role for families and businesses in rural and agricultural settings. It supports essential activities such as livestock care, irrigation, and cleaning processes, and in many areas, it's the sole source of drinking water. For this reason, it's critical for rural... Read this article online
Rising Waters on the Canadian Prairies and Beyond Wednesday, May 6, 2026 Spring flooding is intensifying across large portions of Canada, placing farms under growing pressure during one of the most important windows of the agricultural year. From the Prairies to Central Canada and into Atlantic regions, saturated soils, elevated rivers, and damaged rural... Read this article online
Spring Economic Update Sets the Stage for a Challenging Year on the Farm Friday, May 1, 2026 The Federal Government released its 2026 Spring Economic Update on April 28, outlining the country’s current economic position and federal priorities for the months ahead. While the update does not contain new direct funding announcements for agriculture, it offers important signals for... Read this article online
When Grain Stops Moving Rail and Port Delays Cost Canada Up to $540 Million Friday, May 1, 2026 A new economic analysis commissioned by the Agriculture Transport Coalition has found that just one week of rail and port disruptions during peak export season can cost Canada’s grain sector up to $540 million. The majority of these losses stem from missed export sales that cannot be... Read this article online