Government of Canada supports farmers’ mental health

Mar 10, 2023

While participating at the inaugural National Symposium on Agricultural Mental Health, the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, today announced the federal government’s financial support to the Canadian Centre for Agricultural Wellbeing (CCAW).

This investment of up to $168,440 will help the CCAW spread awareness of and multiply the resources available for the agricultural community. The mission of this new not-for-profit organization is to lead research and roll out initiatives in collaboration with community organizations across the country to address farmers’ wellness challenges.

This funding contributed to, among other things, the creation of this inaugural National Symposium on Agricultural Mental Health, a conference organized by CCAW, in concert with The Guardian Network. Bringing together mental health groups, researchers, decision makers, agricultural associations and farmers, this conference addresses the challenges and opportunities of the mental health movement across the country.

The Government of Canada is continuing to explore ways with provincial and territorial partners that policies, programs and services can further support projects that specifically address the mental health issues of workers in the agricultural sector.

Source : Canada.ca

Video: Winter Canola Trial in Mississippi | Can It Work for Double Cropping? | Pioneer Agronomy

Can winter canola open new opportunities for growers in the Mid-South? In this agronomy update from Noxubee County, Mississippi, Pioneer agronomist Gus Eifling shares an early look at a first-year winter canola trial and what farmers are learning from the field.

Planted in late October on 30-inch rows, the crop is now entering the bloom stage and progressing quickly. In this video, we walk through current field conditions, fertility management, and how timing could make this crop a valuable option for double-cropping soybeans or cotton.

If harvest timing lines up with early May, growers may be able to transition directly into another crop during ideal planting windows. Ongoing field trials will help determine whether canola could become a viable rotational option for the region.

Watch for:

How winter canola is performing in its first season in this Mississippi field

Why growers chose 30-inch rows for this trial

What the crop looks like as it moves from bolting into bloom

Fertility strategy, including nitrogen and sulfur applications

How canola harvest timing could enable double-cropping with soybeans or cotton

Upcoming trials comparing soybeans after canola vs. traditional planting

As more growers look for ways to maximize acres and diversify rotations, experiments like this help determine what new crops might fit into existing systems.