Forest Farming Is Growing in Popularity

Aug 28, 2023

By Jeanine Davis

Forest farming is gaining in popularity across the nation. There has been a small number of university researchers and extension personnel working with farmers and the industry on growing native woodland plants for decades. But it has only been quite recently that more people, including institutions, non-profits and consumers, have become interested in the practice of cultivating forest botanicals. Here is a new article by Daniel Watson published in Ambrook Research that describes the practice and highlights a western NC forest farmer and the Appalachian Beginning Forest Farmer Coalition that our program is so engaged in:

Source : ncsu.edu

Video: Why Invest in Canada’s Seed Future? | On The Brink: Episode 3

Darcy Unger just invested millions to build a brand-new seed plant on his farm in Stonewall, Manitoba so when it’s time for his sons to take over, they have the tools they need to succeed.

Right now, 95% of the genetics they’ll be growing come from Canadian plant breeders.

That number matters.

When fusarium hit Western Canada in the late 90s, it was Canadian breeders who responded, because they understood Canadian conditions. That ability to react quickly to what’s happening on Canadian farms is exactly what’s at risk when breeding programs lose funding.

For farmers like Darcy, who have made generational investments based on the assumption that better genetics will keep coming, the stakes are direct and personal.

We’re on the brink of decisions that will shape our agricultural future for not only our generation, but also the ones to come.

What direction will we choose?

On The Brink is a year-long video series traveling across Canada to meet the researchers, breeders, farmers, seed companies, and policymakers shaping the future of Canadian plant breeding. Each week, a new story. Each story, a piece of the bigger picture.

Episode 3 is above. Follow Seed World Canada to catch every episode, and tell us: Do you think the next generation will have the tools they need to success when they takeover? How is the future going to look?