Engineered alfalfa seeds 'adds some complexity' to Ontario hay export venture says forage council manager Friday, April 22, 2016 by SUSAN MANNSome Middle Eastern countries are refusing to accept genetically modified hay, and now that GM alfalfa seeds are being planted in Eastern Canada, exporters with hay destined for those countries will have to monitor their product closely.Ray Robertson, manager of the Ontario Forage Council, says hay from the United States and Western Canada has been exported to Middle Eastern countries, such as Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.The availability of GM alfalfa in Canada “adds some complexity to the (export) situation,” he says.Ontario hay exports to the Middle East haven’t started yet “mainly because we don’t have the double compaction facilities yet,” he notes.The Ontario Hay and Forage Co-operative Inc. was formed this spring and is looking into the feasibility of setting up a double compaction hay facility in southern Ontario, likely in the Guelph/Kitchener area. The proposed facility would handle up to 100,000 tonnes of hay annually and cost an estimated $10 million to $15 million to build.The Ontario Forage Council has not taken a position on GM alfalfa. “We have members on both sides of the fence,” Robertson says. Forage Genetics International began selling its genetically modified alfalfa seed in the spring. It contains both Monsanto’s glyphosate-tolerant trait (called Roundup Ready) plus another trait reducing the amount of lignin in the plant. Lignin is a structural component of alfalfa plants that hold them upright, says the company’s March news release announcing the sales. Reducing lignin should make the genetically modified alfalfa more digestible for cattle and dairy cows.Only a limited amount of seed (enough to plant less than 5,000 acres of hay) was available in Eastern Canada, and the product is not yet available in Western Canada. Canadian growers are required to keep hay produced from the genetically modified alfalfa in Canada.Seed quantities allocated for the spring in Eastern Canada were sold out this spring, a company spokesman said in an earlier interview.The product received approval for unconfined environmental release in 2014 from Canadian regulatory authorities. American farmers have been growing genetically modified alfalfa since 2005.Meanwhile, opponents of genetically modified alfalfa are continuing to ask federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Lawrence MacAulay to halt sales of the product. In an April 20 news release, the National Farmers Union (Canada) says a letter signed by 15 farm organizations asks MacAulay to remove the variety registration for GM alfalfa until a full economic impact assessment is done.The groups are also asking the minister to establish a protocol to test all imported alfalfa seed grown in the United States, the release said. BF Picket protocol alleviates traffic backlog during strike at Ontario Food Terminal New federal program for youth employment in agriculture short on details
BASF introduces Surtain herbicide for field corn growers Tuesday, September 17, 2024 Field corn growers in eastern Canada have a new crop protection product available to them. After about 10 years of research and trials, BASF has introduced Surtain, a residual herbicide for corn that combines PPO inhibitor saflufenacil (Group 14) and pyroxasulfone (Group 15) in a premix... Read this article online
We Didn’t Start the Fire! Impacts of Wildfire Smoke on Corn Monday, September 16, 2024 Assistant Professor of Corn Production at Purdue University’s College of Agriculture, Daniel Quinn, PhD. recently provided fascinating insights into the impacts of fire on major corn producing areas, many of which have been impacted by smoke from wildfires. Quinn was the keynote... Read this article online
New home for the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario Saturday, September 14, 2024 The Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario (CFFO) has announced it has moved into its new office building in Ingersoll. Located at 274620 27th Line in Ingersoll, the new office will serve as the hub for CFFO’s ongoing efforts to advocate for and support Ontario’s Christian farmers.... Read this article online
Canadian Ag Youth Council Welcomes new Members Saturday, September 14, 2024 Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has announced the latest members to join the Canadian Agricultural Youth Council (CAYC). This update introduces nine fresh members alongside thirteen returning youths, marking a significant step towards involving young voices in agricultural... Read this article online
New CEO for Livestock Research Innovation Corporation Friday, September 13, 2024 Livestock Research Innovation Corporation (LRIC) is promoting from within with the appointment of the organization’s newest Chief Executive Officer. Industry Services Manager Kelly Somerville has been tapped to assume the role as of September 3, replacing retiring CEO Mike McMorris.... Read this article online