Scientist says new alfalfa could succeed Sunday, October 16, 2016 A scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada says a new variety of alfalfa developed in the Maritimes could help producers grow more for their cattle. Geneticist Yousef Papadopolous began looking for better alfalfa in 1988. After nearly 30 years of work and 2,000 plants, the variety known as CRS 1001 could be a huge help for farmers. "I think it has tremendous potential," Papadopolous told CBC. "I know it can tolerate our diverse environments across Canada. It’s got an advantage. It will have a market here (the Maritimes) and it will have a market elsewhere.” It’s developed with rhizomes, which produce creeping root stocks and can improve plant survival in the Maritimes where farmers are impacted by excessive moisture and poor soil quality. Farms in Saskatchewan, Ontario and Quebec have grown the new variety, and other field tests have been conducted in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. Beginning in February, seed companies will bid for the right to produce CRS 1001. Papadopolous said the companies should ensure Maritime farmers aren’t left out of the conversation. “We want to make sure the farmers who have been supporting us have access,” he told CBC. “Those farmers have been helping us in the real world.” View CBC News story: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/alfalfa-tremendous-potential-maritimes-agriculture-scientist-1.3805850 Better Farming's annual sewage and bypass report Oxford County on its way to the goal of 100% Renewal Energy
A new front in the repair access debate Friday, March 6, 2026 Iowa lawmakers have pushed the right‑to‑repair conversation into new territory with House File 2529, a bill that focuses specifically on diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) systems—the single most common cause of emissions-related downtime on modern farm machinery. The bill would require... Read this article online
March 8 is International Women’s Day Friday, March 6, 2026 Across the United States and Canada, women are taking on increasingly visible roles in agriculture—managing farms, leading ag-tech startups, advancing research, and strengthening the rural economies that feed both nations. Their work reflects a shift in an industry once defined... Read this article online
Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry to Visit Toronto and Southwestern Ontario Tuesday, March 3, 2026 The Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry will be in Toronto and Southwestern Ontario later this week as part of its ongoing study on the role of Canada’s agriculture and agri‑food sector in strengthening national food security. The fact‑finding mission is scheduled for... Read this article online
AgriStability Program Updated to Include Pasture-Related Feed Costs Beginning in 2026 Monday, March 2, 2026 In case you missed it last week, the Honourable Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, announced that pasture-related feed costs will be added as an allowable expense under AgriStability starting with the 2026 program year. The update addresses rising operational... Read this article online
Bringing more Food and Ingredient Processing Back to Canadian Soil Monday, March 2, 2026 Protein Industries Canada has announced the second cohort of nine companies participating in its Program, an initiative designed to bring more food and ingredient processing back to Canadian soil and expand the nation’s value‑added agriculture sector. The selected companies span the... Read this article online