HOW CAN CANADIANS RESPOND TO PAIN CHALLENGES IN LIVESTOCK?

Source: The Beef Site

A farm animal welfare and behavior expert has said that animal welfare research, while important, can't be waited on for fear of risking the sector's reputation. It seems every few months there are more case studies that emerge on why agriculture needs to become more proactive in managing animal welfare... (read more)

WIND-BLOWN MIDGES CARRIED FARM VIRUS TO UK

Source: BBC

A virus that hit farms in the UK last year came from midges blown across the Channel from France and Belgium, scientists have confirmed. The Schmallenberg virus, which emerged in the Netherlands and Germany in 2011, can lead to sheep and cattle having stillborn or deformed offspring. The disease has affected more than... (read more)

REBRANDING BEEF: INDUSTRY MARKETS MORE AFFORDABLE CUTS OF STEAK

Source: LA Times

For generations, beef shoulder was a blue-collar cut of cow, fit for the meat grinder or crockpot but not much else. But where others saw pot roast, Tony Mata saw potential. Mata is a Dallas meat scientist whose mission is to find hidden gems in rough parts of the steer. He and a team of researchers came up with the... (read more)

1’M NOT JUST GAMING, MA! I’M HELPING THE WORLD’S FARMERS

Source: NPR

There's no easy way to track all of the world's crops. What's missing, among other things, is an accurate map showing where they are. But the people behind Geo-Wiki are hoping to fix that, with a game called Cropland Capture. They're turning people like you and me into data gatherers, or citizen scientists, to help identify cropland... (read more)

ENVIRONMENTAL FARM STEWARDSHIP WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Source: NSFA

The Federation of Agriculture and its Environmental Farm Plan are pleased to announce Siegmar and Gilberte Doelle, Wild Rose Farm as the winners of the Environmental Farm Stewardship Award. The Doelle's own and operate Wild Rose Farm, which is a certified organic mixed vegetable, flower, herb, and livestock farm... (read more)

CELEBRATING ABILITIES CONFERENCE

Source: Atlantic Farmer

On Dec 4, Dr. Temple Grandin will be a keynote speaker at “Celebrating Abilities Conference” (CAC) in Sydney, Cape Breton. CAC is an international gathering of more than 30 experts including researchers, clinicians, business owners, government representatives, activists, professors, and more. The purpose of the conference is to focus on four major streams, Autism, Social... (read more)

FARMERS’ INCOME ON THE RISE

Source: The Chronicle Herald

Farming in Nova Scotia is becoming a more lucrative business, with mink, apples, and blueberries leading the way. The net income of Nova Scotia farmers doubled to $52 million in 2012, up from $26 million the year before, Statistics Canada figures released Tuesday show. Pushing up farm income was an increase... (read more)

BANNED FEED ADDITIVE FOUND IN U.S. BEEF DELIVERY

Source: allaboutfeed.net

South Korean authorities have suspended some beef imports from the United States following the discovery of the feed additive zilpaterol in a consignment of beef, supplied by a unit of JBS USA Holdings. Zilmax, a zilpaterol-based drug, is mixed into cattle feed and is used to bulk up the animals before slaughter. Its use can help feedyards get roughly 25 more pounds of beef from each carcass. The drug came into focus this year when Tyson Foods, the (Read more...)