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
Green Care Farms celebrates five years of dementia care Monday, September 28, 2026 What a wonderful event! As communities recognize World Alzheimer's Day 2026, Green Care Farms marked a major milestone: five seasons operating Canada's first care farm designed specifically for people living with dementia. The celebration took place on September 19, 2026, at Andrews... Read this article online
Harvest Weather Alert: Midwest Rain Risks Rise as Super El Nino Strengthens Monday, September 28, 2026 As summer gives way to autumn, farmers across the U.S. Midwest and parts of Canada are watching a weather pattern that appears poised to become increasingly active during the heart of harvest season. According to Nutrien Ag Solutions meteorologist Eric Snodgrass, recent atmospheric... Read this article online
International Plowing Match Wraps Up with Champions, Parades and Rural Pride Monday, September 28, 2026 The 107th International Plowing Match and Rural Expo (IPM) concluded Saturday, September 26, after a week that celebrated Ontario agriculture through competition, community spirit and a series of crowd-pleasing parades. Held in Bruce County from September 22 to 26, the event attracted... Read this article online
Canada’s Investment Boom Must Reach Beyond Big Cities, Says Rural Prosperity Group Monday, September 28, 2026 Canada’s first-ever Investment Summit generated headlines for the sheer size of the commitments announced. Federal officials said the event attracted investment commitments approaching $500 billion, with projects spanning critical minerals, artificial intelligence, energy,... Read this article online
Harvest Window Emerges Despite Heavy Rain Threat Across Key Crop Regions Monday, September 28, 2026 Farmers across North America are facing another week of weather extremes as the remnants of Hurricane Polo spread moisture across major agricultural regions, even as forecasters continue to point toward a valuable harvest window developing in early October. According to the latest... Read this article online