The fruit of a disaster millions of years ago Tuesday, October 2, 2012 Those ripe red juicy tomatoes that put dollars in growers' pockets are the result of a meteorite that crashed into Earth between 60 and 70 million years ago.According to researchers who have mapped the tomato genome and published their findings in Nature on May 30, the fruit of the surviving tomato plant suddenly tripled in size after a very stressful event, likely a solar eclipse following the meteor strike. The fruit turned red and toxins that protect other members of the nightshade family were lost.According to the scientists, modern breeding means little by comparison. Tomatoes grown in Holland, for example, only differ about 0.6 per cent from their ancestors brought to northern Europe from Spain in the 15th century. BF Global warming speeds tree growth Wanted: More drainage engineers, maybe
Ontario invests $6.1 million in northern agriculture projects Thursday, October 8, 2026 The Ontario government is investing more than $6.1 million in 14 agricultural projects across Northern Ontario in an effort to improve farm productivity, support rural communities, and strengthen the province’s food production capacity. The funding is being provided through the Northern... Read this article online
How Much of Your Thanksgiving Dinner Reaches Canadian Farmers? Thursday, October 8, 2026 There are lots of articles and videos about the cost of this year's Thanksgiving dinner. But the Farms.com team we wondered, how much of the pie so to speak, was making it to the farmer. Admittedly, we used Artificial Intelligence to help us make certain calculations and assumptions.... Read this article online
Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Donate $25,000 to Fight Hunger During Agriculture Week Thursday, October 8, 2026 As Ontario Agriculture Week gets underway and Thanksgiving celebrations approach, Ontario's fruit and vegetable growers are once again demonstrating their commitment to local communities through a significant contribution aimed at fighting hunger and reducing food waste. The Ontario Fruit... Read this article online
Canadian Food System Trust Holds Steady, but Uncertainty and Misinformation Are Rising Thursday, October 8, 2026 Canadians largely maintain a positive view of the nation's food system, but rising concerns about affordability, misinformation, and the growing influence of artificial intelligence are creating a more complex environment for maintaining public trust. That was among the key findings... Read this article online
Farmland Demand Strong in Alberta, Not so for the Rest of Canada Wednesday, October 7, 2026 Canadian farmland values continued their upward trend during the first half of 2026, although growth has moderated compared to the rapid gains seen in recent years. According to Farm Credit Canada's (FCC) mid-year farmland values review, cultivated farmland increased by an average of... Read this article online