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Feds lift ‘pause’ on increases in crop chemical MRLs

New set of rules also calls for 'cosmetic' pesticide use to be banned on federal lands

Proposals to increase a crop chemical’s maximum residue limits (MRLs) on foods and food crops in Canada can again seek federal approval, after being put on temporary hold two years ago. Among several other changes, a planned new package of federal regulatory amendments will put a gradual end to a “pause” imposed in August 2021 […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Feds open up consultations for sustainable ag strategy

Producer groups to have reps on advisory committee

The federal government has enlisted farm groups on the ground floor of consultations toward development of a long-term strategy to “amplify” the adoption and use of sustainable practices in agriculture over the next year. Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau on Dec. 12 announced the launch of public consultations on strategy development, running from now through March […] Read more


File photo of a rapeseed field in southern China’s Yunnan province. (YuenWu/iStock/Getty Images)

One-third of China’s land protected under ecological ‘red line’ scheme

Authorities crack down on farm encroachment

Shanghai | Reuters — Nearly a third of China’s land is now off-limits to development under a scheme known as the “ecological protection red line,” a senior official said at a news briefing on Monday, bringing the country in accord with global biodiversity targets. China first proposed its “red line” scheme in 2011 to put […] Read more

Jessica Grenke and her colleagues paired ranchers practicing AMP grazing with those who didn't and examined the effects on plant diversity.

AMP grazing no better for plant diversity than less intensive methods, U of A study finds

For ranchers counting on boosting plant diversity through intensive rotational grazing, a recent study may yield disappointing results. Jessica Grenke, a PhD student at the University of Alberta’s department of biological sciences, found through an observational study that highly intensive rotational grazing does not benefit plant diversity more than less-intensive rotational grazing. “This is not […] Read more


When you have a lot of standing water on land you can bet you’ll have a lot of mosquitoes, and it’s hard to find a better control for these blood-sucking pests than the dragonfly.

Building biodiversity on agricultural lands

From the Ground Up with Steve Kenyon

Nature works in whole systems. There are millions of symbiotic relationships that coexist in a single ecosystem. Yet every ecosystem also interacts and relies on the other ecosystems around it. The aquatic ecosystem has a dynamic interaction with the riparian area ecosystem which interacts with the uplands ecosystem which relates to the woodland ecosystem. We […] Read more

Red velvet mites are one of a whole host of predator insects that protect our crops and cattle, if we protect them.

Let’s talk about sex

Grazing with Steve Kenyon

Our agriculture industry is based on reproduction. Livestock need to reproduce and plants need to reproduce. It’s what we do. It’s pretty simple, right? In livestock production, we spend a great deal of time and money on genetics. Which bull to buy, which heifers to keep, and which cows to cull. (The same is true for all […] Read more


Water and fire dominate BCCA meeting

Associations: News Roundup from the August 2018 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Concerns about biodiversity and balancing resources were among the issues voiced by the members of the British Columbia Cattlemen’s Association at its 2018 annual general meeting. Newly elected BCCA president Larry Garrett says topics such as disappearing grasslands, water scarcity and using grazing to minimize wildfire risk came to the forefront during the meeting, held […] Read more

In many grasslands, including those of Western Canada, moderate grazing actually boosts overall plant diversity.

Making hay of environmental goods and services

Researchers wrestle with turning an abstract concept into concrete profits for producers

If you were to ask most cattle producers about the goods and services their grasslands provide, it might seem like an obvious question. Most would say that quality forage promotes the health of their cattle, provides high-quality protein and boosts their bottom line. Others might talk about how their grazing practices promote biodiversity and overall […] Read more


(Photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

France moves toward all-out ban on neonics

Paris | Reuters — French lawmakers approved plans for a total ban on some widely used pesticides blamed for harming bees, going beyond European Union restrictions in a fierce debate that has pitched farmers and chemical firms against beekeepers and green groups. The EU limited the use of neonicotinoid chemicals, produced by companies including Bayer […] Read more

This is what one field looked like before I took it over. See what it looks like three years later (picture below).

Are you a good steward of the land?

In agriculture, we pride ourselves on our lifestyle. We are ranchers or farmers and we view ourselves differently than our urban cousins. We take credit for being “Stewards of the Land.” We harvest what we sow and work with nature to feed the world. This all sounds warm and fuzzy, but I think that this […] Read more