Greenpeace scores big in Brazil Monday, October 5, 2009 If you don't think environmental advocacy group Greenpeace has clout south of the Equator, think again. In June, Brazilian meat and poultry processor Marfrig Alimentos S.A. said it would no longer buy cattle or sell beef from cattle raised in the deforested area of the Amazon region. Major Brazilian retailers quickly followed suit.The reason? Greenpeace published a three-year study charging that the cattle sector in the Brazilian Amazon is the largest cause of deforestation in the world.Shortly after the publication, Marfrig promised to develop a "Cattle Origin Guarantee Program" to ensure that the company and its suppliers fattening cattle don't buy animals from areas embargoed by IBAMA, Brazil's federal environmental agency, or from areas on the slave labour list of Brazil's Ministry of Labour and Employment.Furthermore, proprietors with multiple farms are off Marfrig's supplier list until all of their farms are in compliance.About the same time JBS S.A., reportedly the world's largest beef producer and exporter, announced it had signed a deal with Wal-Mart Stores Inc. ensuring that it won't supply beef from cattle from the embargoed area. BF What's organic and what's 'natural'? Ginseng a remedy for Type 2 diabetes?
Quinoa - How an Ancient Grain Became a Prairie Crop Opportunity Thursday, September 3, 2026 What began as an experimental crop on Canadian farms has become a small but increasingly recognized part of the country's specialty crop sector. Quinoa, often celebrated for its high protein content, gluten-free status, and versatility in food products, has been grown commercially in... Read this article online
Massey Ferguson launches N-Series planters at Farm Progress Show Wednesday, September 2, 2026 Massey Ferguson North America has unveiled its new N-Series Split/Narrow Row Planters during the 2026 Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa, introducing a lineup designed to offer growers greater flexibility, integrated planting technology and lower long-term ownership costs. The new series... Read this article online
Applications Open for AALP Class 22 Wednesday, September 2, 2026 The Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program (AALP) has opened applications for Class 22, giving aspiring leaders an opportunity to strengthen their leadership skills and expand their understanding of the agriculture and food sector. The program,establishedin 1984, has playedan important... Read this article online
AI Powered Super Bean Could Grow in Ontario Farmers Fields Soon Wednesday, September 2, 2026 Researchers at the University of Guelph developedBeanGPT, an artificial intelligence is helping transform crop development, and a new dry bean variety may soon bring major benefits to farmers. Researchers have created an AI-supported breeding platform calledBeanGPTthat helpsidentifythe best... Read this article online
Wheat Futures Surge as Black Sea Risks Fuel Grain Market Rally Monday, August 31, 2026 Grain markets finished the week of August 28, 2026, on a strong note as wheat futures led a broad rally across agricultural commodities. Traders monitored escalating risks around Black Sea exports, potential changes to U.S. crop estimates, weather concerns across the Midwest, and increased... Read this article online