2024

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Corteva announces breakthrough in hybrid wheat technology

Real Agriculture

Corteva Agriscience has announced its intentions to take a bold step into the hybrid wheat market. After decades of tantalizing potential, many industry players have thrown in the towel on the promise of winter wheat, but Corteva says its new proprietary hybrid system marks a “crucial step-change” and is expected to deliver a “new floor… Read More Corteva Agriscience has announced its intentions to take a bold step into the hybrid wheat market.

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Weekend reading: Real Food, Real Facts

Food Politics

Charlotte Bilekoff. Real Food, Real Facts: Processed Food and the Politics of Knowledge. University of California Press, 2024. 267 pages. Food processing is a big issue these days (witness RFK Jr’s pledge to get ultra-processed foods out of school meals) and I was interested to see what food studies scholar Charlotte Biltekoff had to say about it.

Food 356
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State agriculture officials to address trade opportunities between the U.S and Cuba

NASDA

Press Release WHO: National Association of State Departments of Agriculture CEO, several NASDA members and a NASDA industry guest will host a press conference to discuss learned opportunities and challenges to agricultural trade between the U.S. and Cuba on Feb. 21, 2024, following a NASDA-led trade mission to the country. Press Conference Participants: Ted McKinney, CEO, NASDA Amanda Beal, Commissioner, Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry Bryan Hurlburt, Commissioner

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9 trends affecting agriculture for 2025

Real Agriculture

Lagging productivity, the diving Canadian dollar, precarious U.S. trade, and volatile global news all make the list of the top nine trends impacting agriculture in 2025. Also on the list, saysAaron Goertzen, senior economist with BMO, are increased input costs, high crop carryover, lower interest rates, and a more loose labour market. Each of these Read More Lagging productivity, the diving Canadian dollar, precarious U.S. trade, and volatile global news all make the list of the top nine trends

Carryover 250
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The truth about farm expansion with Monette Farms

Real Agriculture

In Episode 15 of The Truth About Ag Podcast, Kristjan Hebert and Evan Shout dive into the complex world of land management and expansion with Darrel Monette of Monette Farms. Known for its impressive —and sometimes controversial— growth over the past 15 years, Monette Farms has become a force across multiple regions. Darrel shares hard-won. Read More In Episode 15 of The Truth About Ag Podcast, Kristjan Hebert and Evan Shout dive into the complex world of land management and expansion with Darre

Farming 298
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Feedlot manure and compost fuels crop performance

Real Agriculture

Two things are true when it comes to agriculture: where there is cattle, there is manure and where there are crops, there is a need for nutrients. Producers have found many ways to handle those two truths individually, but research is showing that some things really are better together. Feedlot operators have been spreading manure… Read More Two things are true when it comes to agriculture: where there is cattle, there is manure and where there are crops, there is a need for nutrients.

Manure 278
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Dietary guidelines II. Where is rigorous nutrition research?

Food Politics

In considering the effects of ultra-processed foods, the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) only dealt with observational research. It excluded what I consider the most important study ever done to explain weight gain: the controlled clinical trial of ultra-processed versus processed diets done at NIH in 2019. This study is hugely important for four reasons: The ultra-processed and minimally processed diets were matched for nutrients and palatability; study subjects could not tell wh

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Kubota’s RTV-X cab designed to make life easier on the farm

Real Agriculture

There is no denying that access to a rough terrain vehicle (RTV) is a huge advantage when getting things done on the farm. Whether a producer is repairing fences, transporting mineral, or moving equipment between outbuildings, these workhorses have the potential to make life just that much easier. Farm work is exactly where the design… Read More There is no denying that access to a rough terrain vehicle (RTV) is a huge advantage when getting things done on the farm.

Farming 306
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4-H Canada forced to lay off staff following major federal funding cut

Real Agriculture

4-H Canada says it has had to make the difficult decision to lay off seven staff members following a major cut to the funding it receives from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

Food 363
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An update on Nutri-Score: despite food industry opposition, it’s doing well

Food Politics

A recent opinion piece in the Washington Post explains why the FDA should establish front-of-package nutrition labeling here and now: These countries are doing nutrition labels the right way Christina Roberto, Alyssa Moran, and Kelly Brownell contrast the “ stop signs you’ll see in Mexico, the Nutri-Score system used in France, or the Health Star Ratings in New Zealand” with the current lack of a system like those in the United States.

Food 358
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AI model becomes a PhD assistant in your pocket

Real Agriculture

Google and ChatGPT have been giving farmers the answers to many of their agronomy questions for a while now. Artificial intelligence (AI) programs such as ChatGPT use information that is publicly available on the internet to answer questions that are typed into the prompt. The better the prompt, the better answers a person is likely… Read More Google and ChatGPT have been giving farmers the answers to many of their agronomy questions for a while now.

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Weekend Reading: Soda Science

Food Politics

Susan Greenhalgh. Soda Science: Making the World Safe for Coca-Cola. University of Chicago Press, 2024. This terrific book picks up where I left off with Soda Politics: Taking on Big Soda (and Winning) (2015) and Unsavory Truth: How the Food Industry Skews the Science of What We Eat (2018). Susan Greenhalgh’s focus, however, is on ILSI, the International Life Sciences Institute (now renamed the Institute for the Advancement of Food and Nutrition Sciences).

Science 342
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Mind Your Farm Business, Ep. 99 — Recognizing and avoiding burnout

Real Agriculture

Farming is a high-stress profession that sees many participants shouldering heavy loads of worry and anxiety that can lead to burnout. Author and mental health advocate Dr. Jessica Metcalfe says it’s important for farmers and ranchers to recognize these conditions and take proactive steps to ensure the weight of agriculture doesn’t overwhelm their business and… Read More Farming is a high-stress profession that sees many participants shouldering heavy loads of worry and anxiety that can lead to

Farming 267
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Glyphosate resistant lamb’s-quarters confirmed in Quebec

Real Agriculture

Glyphosate resistance has been confirmed in lamb’s-quarters in Quebec. The finding, which comes from the CÉROM grain research centre, is the first confirmation of glyphosate resistance in the annual weed anywhere in the world. University of Guelph research scientist Dr.

Grain 353
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Edible Bean School: Fungicide strategies for white mould control

Real Agriculture

The 2024 growing season has been a wet one for much of the edible bean growing region and that means growers need to get out and scout as crops start to flower in a growing environment that’s high risk for disease. On this episode of RealAgriculture’s Edible Bean School, host Bernard Tobin and Hensall Co-op. Read More The 2024 growing season has been a wet one for much of the edible bean growing region and that means growers need to get out and scout as crops start to flower in a gro

Crop 343
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The Agronomists, Ep 172: Managing crop loss at the combine with Lorne Grieger and Marcel Kringe

Real Agriculture

You can’t manage what you don’t measure, and if you’re not measuring grain loss out the back of the combine, you could be losing two, four and even 10 bushels an acre on the harvest pass. Recognizing that both header loss and combine loss contribute to lower yield and volunteer issues for the next season, Read More You can’t manage what you don’t measure, and if you’re not measuring grain loss out the back of the combine, you could be losing two, four and even

Harvester 327
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Using artificial intelligence to calculate GHGs at the individual farm level

Real Agriculture

While policy leaders around the world are pushing to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at an unprecedented speed, the science is still working to catch up, at least when it comes to measuring carbon sequestration rates and emissions at the farm level. The conventional way of measuring carbon is to look at what is currently. Read More While policy leaders around the world are pushing to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at an unprecedented speed, the science is still working to catch up,

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Railways, unions, and government playing a game of economic chicken and Canadians seem happy to pay for it

Real Agriculture

I feel like all I have talked about on RealAg Radio for the past two weeks is the potential impacts of both Canadian railways going on strike. As the minutes tick down to the August 22nd strike deadline, it’s become clear that Canadians are completely comfortable with the impacts of the threat. The comfort level.

Logistics 338
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Identifying and managing stripe rust in winter wheat

Real Agriculture

Fast-moving, highly destructive stripe rust is popping up in winter wheat fields across Ontario. RealAgriculture agronomist Peter Johnson says the disease is a significant threat to the crop and can cause up to 50 per cent yield loss if not managed properly. He stresses that timely fungicide applications are crucial for controlling the disease. In. Read More Fast-moving, highly destructive stripe rust is popping up in winter wheat fields across Ontario.

Yield 347
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The Sharp Edge: Increasing nitrogen efficiency with Nik Oreskovic

Real Agriculture

Split application, variable rates, stabilizers and a side-dresser with Y-drops: it all adds up to better nitrogen use for Binbrook, Ont., corn grower Nik Oreskovic. On this episode of The Sharp Edge, Oreskovic tells Maizex agronomist Henry Prinzen how he has parlayed Ontario On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF) cost-share funding into an advanced nitrogen management.

Farming 340
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Corn School: Tackling tar spot with disease tracking technology

Real Agriculture

Genetics and fungicides are the two pillars of disease defence when it comes to yield robbers like tar spot. But weather and technology also play a key role in helping growers defend their crops against the foliar disease. On this episode of the RealAgriculture Corn School, Ontario Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Agribusiness pathologist Albert… Read More Genetics and fungicides are the two pillars of disease defence when it comes to yield robbers like tar spot.

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Pulse School: Pea aphids, nesting dolls, and economic thresholds

Real Agriculture

Children have enjoyed playing with nesting dolls for years and years. You know the ones — where opening one doll leads to finding another, smaller doll inside. What does a delightful children’s toy have to do with pea aphids in lentil crops? Let’s explain. Pea aphids are parthenogenic and much like the beloved nesting dolls, Read More Children have enjoyed playing with nesting dolls for years and years.

Crop 331
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Help shape the future of farm support!

Real Agriculture

These days, the Canadian Federal Government and multinational food companies are investing hundreds of millions to support BMPs on Canadian farms. Here’s the thing, nobody knows your operation better than you do. These programs need YOUR feedback on what you want and need. Everyone in agriculture is focused on productivity and profitability, and so Food Water Wellness.

Farming 345
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Meaningful conversations, social media moderation, and sleep: keys to managing through stress-filled times

Real Agriculture

Harvest is often a highlight of the year, but it can also be a stress-filled time, especially when combined with other factors outside of a farm’s control. In addition to the usual untimely weather and equipment breakdowns, the list of uncontrollable factors this harvest includes declining crop prices that are creating questions about profitability and.

Harvester 334
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Soil School: Building a corn management strategy that fits your farm

Real Agriculture

Soil type, water availability, hybrid choice, plant population and crop nutrients are just some of the factors growers have to consider when pursuing a high-yielding corn crop on their farm. On this episode of RealAgriculture’s Soil School, we catch up with Aaron Stevanus as he shares how these factors are evaluated at the Stevanus Family. Read More Soil type, water availability, hybrid choice, plant population and crop nutrients are just some of the factors growers have to consider when p

Farming 328
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C-282 is tearing relationships in the agriculture industry apart

Real Agriculture

In life, there are several topics traditionally avoided in conversation when gathering with friends, such as politics, religion, and money. Some ideas are best left parked in your head instead of being debated in the open as they can fray long-time friendships or even family. For the bond of Canadian agriculture going forward, the idea.

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Soybean School: Feeding a hidden hunger for nitrogen

Real Agriculture

Those healthy looking soybeans may be hiding a hunger for nitrogen that could deliver higher yields. The oilseed’s nitrogen needs have been much studied over the years with researchers generally agreeing higher rates of nitrogen don’t pay, but that may not be the case when growers push for higher yields. On this episode of the. Read More Those healthy looking soybeans may be hiding a hunger for nitrogen that could deliver higher yields.

Yield 306
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The Agronomists, Ep 175: Rotation’s real value with Dr. Dave Hooker and Lana Shaw

Real Agriculture

One of the most powerful and inexpensive tools farmers have in the pest management toolbox is crop rotation. A well-planned rotation can add yield stability, more yield, decreased weed and insect pressure, and keep diseases in check. The question is, how do we know which crops should be in a rotation and what benefits we… Read More One of the most powerful and inexpensive tools farmers have in the pest management toolbox is crop rotation.

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PMRA approves first herbicide for drone application in Canada

Real Agriculture

The use of drones for spraying pesticides on crops is still off-label and not legal in Canada, but it’s one step closer to becoming reality. Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) has approved its first herbicide for drone application in Canada, although it’s not for agricultural use. Corteva says it has received approval for.

Pesticide 334
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Bourgault targets capacity without complexity in new product roll-out

Real Agriculture

It’s no secret that farmers are looking for more productivity for their farm machinery dollar. A key part of that farming formula is capacity, specifically larger equipment that can get more done in a day and help cover the big acres that many farmers are working across vast tracks of land. Saskatchewan-based Bourgault Industries has… Read More It’s no secret that farmers are looking for more productivity for their farm machinery dollar.

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Weekend reading: FAO calls for food systems-based dietary guidelines

Food Politics

The U.N.’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is taking the lead on bringing dietary guidelines into the 21st Century. It is calling for national dietary guidelines not only to be nutrient-based and food-based, but food systems-based. Food systems-based guidelines extend beyond food-based guidelines that “provide advice on foods, food groups and dietary patterns to provide the required nutrients to the general public to promote overall health and prevent chronic diseases.

Food 344
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How capital gains taxation changes will impact the farm succession plan

Real Agriculture

There may be a flurry of activity in several accountants’ offices over the next 10 weeks as farm families grapple with how changes to the capital gains inclusion rate and exemption laid out in the latest federal budget may impact their succession planning. The government plans to increase the taxable portion of capital gains —. Read More There may be a flurry of activity in several accountants’ offices over the next 10 weeks as farm families grapple with how changes to the capital ga

Farming 340
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Soil School: What’s the value of wheat straw?

Real Agriculture

RealAgriculture agronomist Peter Johnson says there’s no better time to talk about soil health than during wheat harvest. Johnson says all things wheat, including the straw, give growers a tremendous opportunity to increase soil health. Ontario research shows that by adding wheat to the rotation, growers see a five percent increase in corn yield and.

Straw 331
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Ag Hall of Fame Class of 2024: Cattle genetics and leadership with Paul Larmer

Real Agriculture

Becoming a leader in improving cattle genetics and influencing the global view of the Canadian dairy sector starts at a young age. Paul Larmer attributes a good portion of his career success to having been raised with a strong work ethic, humility and the influence of 4-H on his attitudes, public speaking, teamwork and attention. Read More Becoming a leader in improving cattle genetics and influencing the global view of the Canadian dairy sector starts at a young age.

Cattle 317
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The Sharp Edge: Weight vs count — what’s the best seed choice for higher soybean yields?

Real Agriculture

Some soybean varieties produce higher pod counts and more beans while others produce heavier beans but fewer pods and fewer beans. When it comes to choosing soybean varieties how should growers factor seed weight and pod count into their variety selection decisions? That’s a question the Maizex Seeds agronomy team has been looking at in. Read More Some soybean varieties produce higher pod counts and more beans while others produce heavier beans but fewer pods and fewer beans.

Seeding 317
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The Sharp Edge: Diving deeper on ideal corn planting depth

Real Agriculture

What’s the best planting depth for corn? There’s lots of research that points to a two-inch depth, but there’s growing evidence that planting corn up to three inches deep is a better choice if the seed can access optimum moisture levels at that depth. On this episode of The Sharp Edge, Maizex Seeds agronomist Henry.

Seeding 328
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Corn School: Managing corn like wheat for higher yield

Real Agriculture

Why on earth should corn growers take a page out of wheat growers’ handbook? Paul Sullivan, of Sullivan Agro near Kinburn, Ont., says there are management lessons learned in wheat that apply to corn production, too. It all comes down to managing stress at key points in the growing season. Looking to the Great Lakes. Read More Why on earth should corn growers take a page out of wheat growers’ handbook?

Yield 331