Garlic chases mosquitoes

Mosquitoes bothering you? 

Try garlic! Strong garlic! The kind that will ruin your romance life for days.

Well, not really. It’s actually sprayed in the environment.

“The District of Taylor, just south of Fort St. John, in Northeastern British Columbia is using a garlic spray to fight mosquitoes and Mayor Rob Fraser says it's working,” reports Canadian Press.

He says ball diamonds have now been misted with the 99 per cent garlic spray and a second application is planned.

Taylor councillors have been assured the spray can kill mosquito larvae while leftover sulphers, undetectable by humans, can deter adult mosquitoes for weeks.

Floods and heavy rains delayed the experiment but Fraser says Taylor residents are generally pleased and some have even bought the product and sprayed it themselves.

He says if the second application goes as well, council will have to decide on a budget to expand the project in 2017.

"The next phase (would) also have a look at the equipment. Right now, we're just spraying it with backpacks, so it is very labour intensive," he says.

Leduc, Alta., and Huntsville, Ont., have also used the environmentally friendly garlic solution to eradicate mosquitoes.

Port of Churchill is closed

The owners of the port of Churchill on James Bay have closed it down before any grain could be shipped.

It has been kept alive for decades, despite problems with the rail line running through muskeg and rumours that the grain terminals are slowly sliding into the bay.

But a strong lobby by farmers and grain companies has, until now, kept it open with arguments that it moves a lot of grain and is the shortest route to European markets. They also hoped that global warming would keep the shipping lines open longer every season.

But Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister says Omnitrax kept it going last year only because the NDP government he defeated secretly gave it $500,000.

He said there’s a confidentiality clause in the deal with Omnitrax. He obviously does not feel himself bound by that government commitment and he said his government will not provide the money Omnitrax sought for this season.

New chicken processor coming to Ontario

The Ontario chicken marketing board says Yorkshire Valley Farms is making progress to become a new entrant in the processing sector.

Yorkshire Valley Farms intends to process for the organic chicken market. Earlier this year it was conditionally granted new entrant chicken processor status following a comprehensive and extensive due diligence review process conducted by a third-party business and financial consultancy for the directors of the Chicken Farmers of Ontario marketing board.

There are limited supplies of chicken for a keen demand from processors, so the chicken board allocates supplies from its member growers to each approved processing plant.

Yorkshire Valley is working towards a fall deadline to complete the commitments it has made to the board.

“Our success depends upon our ability to understand consumers, markets, our food customers and fellow industry-value chain stakeholders, and to ensure that we are responsive to their evolving needs,” said board chairman Henry Zantingh.

“We recognize the ongoing need to support our Ontario industry to meet the changing consumer demands for different types of chicken,

“Consumer tastes are evolving, becoming more diverse and distinct. Organic has been identified as a distinct market segment as well as one of the fastest growing market segments, and we see it as a key strategic building block in helping grow the Ontario industry.”

The board also said recently that it is working with business interests who are exploring the potential to establish a kosher chicken-processing plant. The only one Ontario had was bought out a couple of years ago by Sargent Farms which does not process for the kosher market. Sargent wanted the company’s access to chickens.

“Ontario has a rich tradition of growing and processing premium quality chicken and further investment by the new entrant processor Yorkshire Valley Farms will enhance the ability of our industry to meet consumer demand by providing locally grown, locally processed, 

organic chicken,” said Rob Dougans, board president and chief executive officer.

“CFO’s goal is to drive strategic, sustainable economic growth by being responsive to, and consistently meeting, consumer demand and increasing chicken’s market share of consumer meat protein consumption,” Dougans said.

“This announcement also demonstrates the importance of building and implementing supply management policies and programs that can stimulate new industry development and investment, and which can continue to support and nurture the entrepreneurial energies and economic growth ambitions of the Ontario chicken industry. 

Each year CFO advances a strategic market to be served by an approved new entrant processor. 

CFO designated organic as the strategic market segment that should be served by new processor entrants with applications in 2015 / 2016.

DeVries wins extension award

Dr. Trevor DeVries of the University of Guelph has won the 2016 Canadian Society of Animal Science (CSAS) Animal Industries Award in Extension and Public Service. Dr. DeVries received his award at the CSAS Awards Banquet in Salt Lake City on Friday.

The Canadian Pork Council was among the first to congratulate him. Chairman Rick Bergmann said “we are happy to support CSAS and its commitment to animal science. The Canadian pork sector recognizes the importance of research and animal science and its role in increasing the Canadian agriculture industry’s competitiveness. We congratulate Dr. DeVries on winning this award.”

Dr. DeVries is a Canada Research Chair in Dairy Cattle Behaviour and Welfare and an Associate Professor in the Department of Animal Biosciences at the University of Guelph. His research over the years has focused on dairy cow feeding behaviour and ruminant nutrition.

He teaches and leads a research program focused on dairy cattle nutrition, management, behaviour and welfare.

U.S. depletes loan guarantee fund

The United States’ U.S. government's $2.65 billion operating loan program to help farmers keep their businesses going has already run out of cash for this fiscal year that ends Sept. 31.

That happens as requests for federal financial assistance grow amid the worst agricultural downturn in more than a decade, U.S. officials said Monday.

As a result, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is looking for other money sources "to help bridge the gap in farm operating loans as much as possible until additional funds are made available, either this year or in the next fiscal year," the agency said.

Such loan guarantees and direct loans through the USDA's Farm Service Agency are often considered loans of last resort, say bankers and economists.

Without the financial support, some farmers may struggle to survive until the next cash injection in the fall.

As the rural sector struggles with low commodity prices and mounting trade competition, U.S. grain farmers are increasingly relying on the FSA for loan assistance. Agricultural lenders, too, are turning to the agency to help guarantee the loans they are issuing to farmers - whether for operational or real estate needs.

Even with the operational loan program funding depleted, the applications from farmers and bankers continue to grow.

"At this time, there are already tens of millions (of dollars) in backlog in Direct and Guaranteed operating loan accounts, and that number is expected to increase through the end of the fiscal year," the FSA told News Max Monday.

Flour problems expand

General Mills has expanded its recall of flour produced at its mill at Kansas City, Missouri, because four more people have fallen ill with STEC 026.

That adds another strain of STEC to the food poisonings that now total 48 people in 21 states whose illnesses have been genetically linked to General Mills’ flour.

Parents are warned to keep their children from eating raw flour, such as cookie dough

.

Children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems – eg. undergoing chemotherapy for cancer – are particularly vulnerable.

The four new cases and the expansion of the recall to include more processing dates happened Monday.

Two MPPs join fight for veggie growers

Two provincial politicians have joined the vegetable growers who are alarmed by a proposal to strip the Ontario Processing Vegetable Growers Marketing Board of its price-negotiating powers.

They are asking the provincial agriculture minister to intervene to allow more time for farmers’ comments, but Agriculture Minister Jeff Leal says simply that if they don’t like what the Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission eventually decides, they can apply for re-consideration.

After re-consideration, he says he has the right to intervene.

Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett, who is the Tory opposition critic for agriculture, and Elgin-Middlesex-London MPP Jeff Yurek made their pitch in an open letter to Leal last week.

“Proposing major changes to processing vegetable marketing at the height of the growing and harvest season is not the way to do things,” Barrett said.

“Farmers’ priority is harvesting their crop, irrigation and other direct crop-related matters, not responding to regulations that could impact them.”

Barrett and Yurek met with processing vegetable growers recently on a farm near the Elgin-Norfolk county line.

“Why are farmers being asked to work on this during their busiest time of the year - extend the August 12th  comment deadline to after harvest,” Yurek said.

For more information on the proposal, or to comment, visit the web site at  http://www.ontariocanada.com/registry/view.do?postingId=22133&language=eng .

Move over bacon, make room for Schmacon

Schmacon is a beef product made to immitate bacon, but promoted as half the calories, half the fat and great taste.

It’s made by Howard Bender of Naperville, Ill. He offers it online and has had orders from as far away as the Middle East where neither Jews nor Muslims will eat pork.

“Schmacon is delicious and different than anything else on the market,” Bender told the Chicago Tribune.

He first offered the product last year. The cut comes from the underbelly of cattle which is normally used for hamburger.

“It is a new way for us to utilize more of the total carcass,” says Mark Gwin, Certified Angus Beef product integration manager.

“What we’re trying to do is value-add those lower priced parts of the carcass.”

Celery and cherry powder help naturally cure the meat and give it the cured meat color without using nitrites. This process helps reduce the amount of sodium used.

Schmacon is not currently available nationwide. However, the product is sold online through the Schmaltz Deli website. (schmalzdeli.com)

Two MPPs join fight for veggie growers

Two provincial politicians have joined the vegetable growers who are alarmed by a proposal to strip the Ontario Processing Vegetable Growers Marketing Board of its price-negotiating powers

.

They are asking the provincial agriculture minister to intervene to allow more time for farmers’ comments, but Agriculture Minister Jeff Leal says simply that if they don’t like what the Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission eventually decides, they can apply for re-consideration.

After re-consideration, he says he has the right to intervene.

Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett, who is the Tory opposition critic for agriculture, and Elgin-Middlesex-London MPP Jeff Yurek made their pitch in an open letter to Leal last week.

“Proposing major changes to processing vegetable marketing at the height of the growing and harvest season is not the way to do things,” Barrett said. “Farmers’ priority is harvesting their crop, irrigation and other direct crop-related matters, not responding to regulations that could impact them.”

Barrett and MPP Jeff Yurek met with processing vegetable growers recently on a farm near the Elgin-Norfolk county line.

“Why are farmers being asked to work on this during their busiest time of the year - extend the August 12th  comment deadline to after harvest,” Yurek said

.
For more information on the proposal, or to comment, visit the web site at  http://www.ontariocanada.com/registry/view.do?postingId=22133&language=eng .

erie meats

Owen Roberts elected international leader

Owen Roberts of Guelph has been elected president of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists during its annual meeting in Germany.

Roberts is director of research communications at the University of Guelph and set up a program to train students in journalism, including the Spark program that has students producing magazine articles about research.

He also writes columns that appear in a number of newspapers and other publications.

Roberts moved up from secretary general and vice president of the federation.

Lena Johansson from Sweden was elected vice president.

Grand River irrigation restrictions announced

The Grand River Conservation Authority is asking water-taking permit holders to cut back because river levels are low. That includes farmers who irrigate crops in an area generally south-east of Brantford.

More specifically, it is those who take water from Whitemans, McKenzie, Boston, Mount Pleasant, Horner and Kenny Creeks in Brant, Oxford and Norfolk Counties, the Six Nations reserve, New Credit and Haldimand.

Whitemans Creek has been in a Level 2 condition since Thursday, July 7. 

McKenzie Creek has now also been moved to a Level 2. 

Level 2 triggers a request to voluntarily cut back water use. The next step is to require conservation measures.

The rest of the Grand River watershed remains in a Level 1 condition.

The request comes from the Grand River Low Water Response Team, which has noted water levels in the McKenzie and Whitemans Creek sub-watersheds have dropped to below half of the average summer flow. 

In addition, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry is asking anglers to refrain from fishing in Whitemans Creek, which is an important trout habitat. Low water levels and warm water temperatures can put the fish population under stress, which can be compounded by fishing.

While the watershed received some much-needed rain last week, the soil has been very dry and the rain that did fall absorbed quickly or ran off in the urban areas. 

The southern part of the watershed continues to be particularly dry, and there is little rain in the forecast.

Flows are being maintained in the Grand and Speed Rivers from discharge from the large reservoirs. 

Residents are being asked to not water lawns, even from private wells.

The aquifers that feed Whitemans and McKenzie creeks also feed many wells and dug ponds in the area. Water withdrawn from wells and ponds can reduce the amount of water that makes its way into the creek. Therefore, it is important that all water users help to conserve water. 

For farmers, information on Water Shortages and Conservation is available in the Low Water Response section of the GRCA website, as well as suggested actions that other major water users can take to help conserve water. 

The GRCA’s report on Drought Contingency Planning for the Grand River watershed, written as part of the Grand River Watershed Water Management Plan, is also available online.

Permits To Take Water are issued by the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) to those who withdraw more than 50,000 litres a day of water from a watercourse, pond or well. 

In the Whitemans Creek  and McKenzie Creek sub-watersheds, there are about 215 permit holders , most of them for irrigation.

Mercy For Animals targets Gray Ridge Eggs

Mercy For Animals released video taken by an underground worker at a Gray Ridge Eggs farm near Listowel showing, among other abuses, caged hens tramping on a dead bird.

The agent says his main job was removing dead birds from cages.

"You'd see the dead rotting birds decomposed beyond recognition, just left in cages with hens still laying eggs that all go for human consumption, he said.

He will not release his identity because he intends to continue underground videotaping at farms that hire him.

The underground agent told Huffington Post that many of the hens would get their legs trapped in the sides of the cages, unable to reach food or water, and would be trampled by other hens. 

Mike Walsh, vice-president of marketing for Gray Ridge Egg Farms, said he can’t recognize any Gray Ridge farm from the 

He said battery cages are a common industry practice, but that no new ones were being built at Gray Ridge.

Mercy For Animals has been highly successful publicizing animal abuses via underground videos. It has hit Canadians several times, including Chilliwack Cattle Company of British Columbia, the largest dairy in Canada that uses a rotary milking parlour, and turkeys in barns near Bright that tend breeding birds for Hybrid Turkeys.

Until now, there has never been a case of the accused saying the videos were not shot at their facilities.

                   

Backyard flocks pose health risk

Backyard chicken flocks have caused a rash of outbreaks of salmonella poisoning, including children, reports the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The data comes out just as city councils, including the one in Kitchener, are considering bylaw changes to legalize raising chickens in the city.

The U.S. agency says there now are “eight multistate outbreaks of human salmonella infections linked to contact with live poultry in backyard flocks.

“In the eight outbreaks, 611 people infected with the outbreak strains of salmonella were reported from 45 states.

“Illnesses started on dates ranging from January 4 to June 25.”

Of those who became ill, 138 were hospitalized. One died, but not of salmonella. Thirty-two per cent (195 of those sickened) were children under the age of five.

The agency says “epidemiologic, traceback, and laboratory findings have linked the eight outbreaks to contact with live poultry such as chicks and ducklings sourced from multiple hatcheries.”