Third-World Farmers Getting Southwestern Ontario Help

Apr 16, 2014

A Southwestern Ontario farm service company and some volunteers are teaming up to help third-world farmers increase their yields by using modern techniques.

South West Ag Partners project manager Jim Hazzard says Lambton farmer Mark Lumley got the organization involved in helping small land owners in Zambia.

“He looked at it and did a trial corn plot of a quarter of an acre that did very well, and Mark contacted us and we went over to see if we could replicate this on a bigger scale,” he says. “They were planting around 22,000 seeds per acre and we upped that to what we plant around 32,000 and we upped the fertilizer.”

He says the company and volunteers have a three year commitment and believe there will be increased yields in the first crop which is nearing harvest.

Source: Agrimedia

Video: Season 6, Episode 10: Defining Resiliency and the Research Driving Swine Health Forward

Genetic research and new technologies continue to influence the future of swine health and production efficiency. In this episode, we explore how research and technology are being used to support stronger, more resilient pigs, while also improving overall production outcomes. In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Jenelle Dunkelberger, geneticist with Topigs Norsvin, to discuss both routine and emerging strategies for improving piglet, pig, and sow livability. She outlines two primary approaches to enhancing resiliency: gene editing and traditional selective breeding. Continuing the resiliency conversation, we also hear from Dr. Lucina Galina, director of technical research projects at the Pig Improvement Company. She shares insights into ongoing gene-editing work focused on PRRS, detailing the pathway to success, regulatory and practical considerations, and the questions that still remain as the technology evolves. Together, these conversations provide a closer look at how research, genetics and innovation are shaping the future of swine health and livability.