Anti-GMO sentiment seems to be waning in Europe, and the European Commission is stepping up approvals for farmers to grow genetically modified crops. At the same time, in North America, where GMO crops got their start, concerns have heightened about farmers’ overuse of the herbicides that control weeds in GMO fields. Photo: geneticliteracyproject.org
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The numbers of Ontarians accessing food banks hasn’t declined in step with post-pandemic economic recovery. Feed Ontario, the province’s largest collective of hunger relief organizations, has released a report of recommendations aimed at resolving the root causes of hunger. It should be top drawer reading for all politicians.
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Farm safety is a timely topic at all times, but especially so during harvest when farmers are spending long hours with machinery. The odds of problems arising increase significantly. This year’s farm safety messaging uses creative marketing approaches, like those employed to increase public support for COVID-19 vaccinations. Photo: @farmerlex
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Agriculture communicator Owen Roberts sits down with Joe Dales of RH Accelerator to talk about his long career in reporting agriculture, food and rural news, and training student journalists to become effective communicators.
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Farmers in western Canada and northern Ontario, who have been suffering through a drought, received additional, last-minute funding to help them feed and water their livestock.
Kudos to federal agriculture minister Bibeau for managing to make it happen before the election was called. Photo: northernontariobusiness.com
Owen Roberts is a faculty member in the Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications program at the University of Illinois. As an agricultural journalist, he is the past president of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists and a lifetime achievement award recipient from the Canadian Farm Writers' Federation.