The Highs and Lows of Tunnels
Earlier this year, Kathy Demchak, Senior Extension Associate at Pennsylvania State University, spoke at the Pacific Agriculture Show about the pros and cons of growing under plastic tunnels, the differences between high and low tunnels, and production results for tunnel-grown berries. Demchak shared information and compared data on high and …
Tips to Ensuring Crop Success
Jason Smith When growing any horticultural crop there are many things that can contribute to its success such as water source and quality, types of equipment, nutrition, integrated pest management and planting stock. Starting off with good quality planting stock is very important; but, more importantly, the health of the …
The Social Media Savvy Farmer
Cathy Finley We all know that being a farmer these days isn’t just about growing things; you have to have prowess in every area of business management from financial forecasting to marketing, as well as continually evolving your professional development to become a jack-of-all-trades around the farm, proficient in skills …
Integrating High Tech on the Farm
Jeana Cadby Feeding the world is going to take high-tech solutions. The latest trends in agricultural technology have allowed farmers to address traditional farming issues with a high-tech edge, using the latest and most buzzword worthy trends. Tech companies are more than happy to integrate innovative developments in agriculture, with …
Using Fungi to Kill Weeds
Lana Harach Herbicides. Pesticides. These words have negative connotations, and often when the general public hears them, the first, if not only thought that comes to mind is chemicals—man-made and terrible for the environment. We hear of stories where the chemicals that manage farm crops end up in streams and …
REVISING CANADA’S FOOD GUIDE
Ronda Payne Canada’s Food Guide, established by Health Canada, is undergoing changes—for the first time in a decade—but the process thus far has many thinking dairy will be eliminated as a category. When the potential was revealed in the guiding principles and recommendations for the revision to the food guide, …
NEW STANDARDS FOR POULTRY
Ronda Payne At times, the details of farming and animal care can seem detached from the reality that farmers grow, and are responsible for, food—food that feeds a growing population. The public is becoming more interested and involved in the origins of their food, and with poultry and eggs taking …
Innovation’s the Key to Vertical Farming
Jonathan Lloyd Vertical agriculture is often synonymous with hydroponic farming systems, but is not necessarily the same thing—hydroponic systems are growing crops without soil, in an artificial medium, and this can be done within a conventional greenhouse layout. However, more and more hydroponic producers are shifting away from traditional flatbed …
Modern Dairy Vet Tech
Proactive Dairy Veterinary Medicine Ronda Payne Who better to take on dairy veterinary medicine than someone who has lived on a dairy farm? Often, it’s that love of the herd that leads skilled veterinarians to explore new tools and techniques for ways to keep cows living longer and healthier lives …
Sunny Side Up for BC’s Egg Industry
Paul Pryce British Columbia’s egg industry may not be Canada’s largest—the province accounts for only 12.5% of Canadian laying egg hatcheries— but it certainly shows substantial leadership in agri-tech innovation. For example, for consumers who show an increasing interest in animal welfare and how their food is produced, it is …