Food and Farming Canada » beef

Keeping tabs on where the cows are

Lilian — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 13:12:45 +0000

RFID tags are placed in an animal's ear

Many modern-day pet owners microchip their four-legged companions.

This is to help identify them should they become lost, injured or otherwise harmed in some way.

Farmers are doing a similar thing with their beef cattle.

They’re using radio frequency identification (RFID) tags to keep track of their animals as they move [...]

As cows live and eat

Lilian — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 12:59:02 +0000

Here’s the third in a series of guest posts I’ve been writing for the Canadian Beef Blog.

Last month, I described some of the different cattle breeds and how to tell the difference between a dairy cow (one that gives milk) and a beef cow (one that is raised for meat).

Now we’re going to take a quick [...]

Cows of many colours

Lilian — Tue, 17 May 2011 02:11:43 +0000

Here’s another guest blog I wrote for Canadian Beef Blog recently:

A cow is a cow is a cow, right? Not exactly.

Yes, they’re all the same type of animal but there are many different breeds. For example, even though they’re both dogs, there aren’t a lot of similarities between a small white Bichon Frise and a large [...]

What you probably didn’t know is happening on our farms

Lilian — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 13:06:01 +0000

Here’s a piece I wrote as a guest post for the Canadian Beef Blog.

Every day is Earth Day on the farm. This slogan has long been used by folks in agriculture to highlight how farming benefits the environment. The good news stories don’t get told is a common complaint I hear from the farmers and farm [...]

Long awaited support for local food and farming

Lilian — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 12:58:07 +0000

There was good news in the provincial budget for farmers this week. The Ontario government announced new, permanent risk-management programs that farmers have long been asking for to help bring some much needed stability to notoriously fluctuating farm incomes.

Farm leaders have been making their case both federally and provincially about the need for this kind of [...]

Through the eyes of a cow

Lilian — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 18:23:18 +0000

Have you ever wondered what the world looks like through the eyes of animals?

I think about that sometimes when I watch my dog lie in the grass, seemingly engrossed in nothing. Growing up on a dairy farm, I was surrounded by cattle on a daily basis and I remember wondering that too when I’d watch them [...]

Discovering Luxembourg wine country

Lilian — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 22:38:30 +0000

It was the day of wines – bubbly wines, white wines, pink wines and even red wines. The Moselle wine area of Luxembourg is a gem and one I didn’t even know existed.

We started off the day at Wormeldange cellars of the Domaines De Vinsmoselle, united winegrowers since 1921. They make a fabulous series of [...]

You deserve a break

Lilian — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 13:06:26 +0000

If you’re tired of winter and in need of a break, this might be for you.

The Beef Information Centre (BIC) has just launched a new contest – grand prize: a weekend getaway for two at the luxurious Inn on the Twenty in the heart of Niagara’s wine country.All you have to do for your chance to [...]

The right to farm and feed the world

Lilian — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 11:20:21 +0000

The world’s demand for food and food-based products is set to double – if not triple – by 2050 and farmers must speak up for their right to meet that demand using conventional farming methods combined with new technologies.

If they don’t, a US researcher told delegates at the Beef Industry Convention in London ON recently, we [...]

“Buy local” resonates with consumers

Lilian — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 12:29:18 +0000

Foodland Ontario is one of the most recognizable brands in our province – and their “buy local” messages are making a difference with consumers.

Recent market research shows that almost 3/4 of Ontario grocery shoppers look at where food is produced when they’re making their purchasing decisions.

Furthermore, 96% of shoppers recognize the Foodland Ontario logo, Ontario [...]