Wild pigs added to invasive species list

Wildlife officials in Ontario have added wild pigs to its list of 12 invasive species and are asking the public for help to curb them.

Provincial government officials have referred to them as an "ecological train wreck"  and said that "based on experiences from other jurisdictions, it is clear that the least costly and most effective approach for managing wild pigs is to act early." 

The province’s new regulations ban the release of pigs into the wild.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry is drafting protocols in the event a pig escapes from a farm or transport truck so it can be notified immediately and the animal can be recaptured or dispatched as soon as possible.

The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters has been asked to help hunters, trappers and outdoor enthusiasts to properly identify the animals and report their locations to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. 

"Once they become established, it's virtually unheard of to get rid of them. If they become widespread in a place like Ontario, there's virtually no chance of eradication," said Ryan Brook, a wild pig expert and an associate professor at the University of Saskatchewan.

"We've missed that window in Saskatchewan. I think Ontario is in a good position to get on it. If I were grading this as a project, I would give them an A-plus for effort." 

Germany is being overrun by wild pigs and hog farmers are terrified that ones infected with African Swine Fever will spread the deadly virus to their herds. Germany built a fence along the border with Poland to try to stop them, but they’re now well established in parts of Germany.

A recent report said more than 1,000 of them have been infected with African Swine Fever; that has prompted a number of countries, including China, to ban pork from Germany.

In the Southern United States, such as Texas, it’s a sport to shoot them from helicopters.

But some have advised against hunting them because then they become more reclusive and more difficult to find and eliminate.

                                 

 

 

 

PepsiCo backs regenerative agriculture

Pepsi

By Jim Romahn

Apr. 22/21

 

PepsiCo backs regenerative agriculture

 

PepsiCo has announced it’s in favour of regenerative agriculture, but has not yet offered financial incentives to farmers who till seven million acres to supply the company with potatoes for chips, oats for oatmeal, corn for soft drink sweetener and oranges for orange juice.

With more than $70 billion in annual sales of potato chips, oatmeal, orange juice, soda and snack foods, Pepsi is a major buyer of potatoes, oats, corn and oranges.

The company said its regenerative ag commitment is part of Pepsi’s Positive Agriculture agenda, which has five key goals: build soil health and fertility, sequester carbon and reduce emissions, improve watershed health, increase biodiversity and improve farmer livelihoods.

“We know we have to do even more to create truly systemic change,” said Jim Andrew, the company’s chief sustainability officer.

“By focusing on regenerative agriculture practices at the local level to improve soil health, we can build a stronger foundation for our products and help make the entire food system more sustainable.”

I doubt all the fine talk will amount to anything when PepsiCo sits down to negotiate potato production contracts.

                          

 

Hardeman launches second phase

Ontario Agriculture Minister Ernie Hardeman launched the second phase of the Agri-tech Innovation Program with $22 million for investments that will curb COVID-19.

It is a shared-cost program with the federal government. As examples, the government suggested robots to prune vineyards or optic scanners to sort fresh fruits and vegetables.

In this phase, the government said it is looking for “sector-specific, unique and innovative technologies in the workplace that enhance protection of workers against COVID-19, lead to increased business efficiencies and productivity, and help build the sector’s resilience.”

The province will cover 35 per cent of the project cost to a maximum of $100,000. This stream is designed for significant projects with a minimum value of $150,000. 

There will be a third phase for ideas and innovations that are new to North America. In this phase the projects will involve piloting or demonstrating the technology and will need to be a collaboration between at least two businesses/organizations. 

Agropur exits milk hauling

 Agropur is selling or closing all of its milk transport businesses in Quebec and Nova Scotia.

It remains in the business in New Brunswick.

In Nova Scotia, Agropur will discontinue its farm pick-up operations as of June 30. The change will result in the elimination of 34 jobs at Agropur. 

Dairy Farmers of Nova Scotia has signed agreements with two other transport companies to take over the operation.

Eleven employees in Quebec will lose their jobs; the other 75 will be retained by the companies buying those businesses.      

                  

 

 

 

Mayo Schmidt to lead Nutrien

Mayo Schmidt has stepped down from chairman of the board to take the reins as chief executive officer and president of Nutrien.

Nutrien is the combination of Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan, the world’s largest potash mining company, and Agrium, the world’s largest fertilizer retailer.

He takes of Nutrien from Chuck Magro who surpised many by suddenly resigning to pursue other opportunities.

Schmidt rescued the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool from near-bankruptcy, sold off some assets to reduce debt, then led a merger with the Manitoba Wheat Pool and Agricore. After that the company changed its name to Viterra.

                           

 

 

Farmers challenged to acquire PPE

The Ontario Federation of Agriculture has found that many of its members are experiencing difficulty acquiring personal protective equipment they need for themselves and their workers.

The OFA surveyed 498 of its members and learned that that the key issues are N95 masks, dust masks and sterile gloves. They are all mandatory for COVID-19 protection employers must supply for their workers.

More than half of the survey participants said they don’t have an extended PPE supply on hand, and only 12 per cent feel they have enough to last six months or more.  

Sixteen per cent said they worry that a lack of PPE will force them to shut down and 21 per cent said they expect shortages within the next three months. 

Buurmas win innovation award

David and Roger Buurma of Lambton County have won this year’s Don Hill Legacy Award for their innovation to side-dress nitrogen in corn crops.

They mounted rubber hosing on the spray nozzles of their 120-foot boom sprayer and dragged these over the soil between rows of taller corn.

The sprayer’s GPS (Global Positioning System) unit ensures accuracy and they can move at five to eight miles per hour.

The award is given annually by the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) to recognize on-farm innovation to address an identified environmental risk associated with soil, water, air, or biodiversity.

“This innovation reflects the spirit of the Don Hill Legacy Award — it’s a simple, low-cost and effective solution to an environmental challenge on the farm,” said OSCIA President Chad Anderson.