SouthWest Crop Diagnostic Day

Meet the Agricultural and Food Sciences Class of 2025

On Thursday, June 5, the University of Manitoba will celebrate the graduating class of the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences. Get to know some of the remarkable students who are ready to shape the future of agriculture and food systems. TREVOR DELICHTE Diploma in Agriculture Trent Delichte - 2025 gradWhy did you pick your program? I decided to enrol into my Diploma in Agriculture at the U of M because I felt like it was a very practical program. As I plan to return to the farm eventually, the skills, connections, and knowledge I would gain would be beneficially tailored towards my future tasks in running the farm. Favorite memory? My favourite memory from the program was getting to present my final project. Seeing all my hard work come to fruition and getting to share it with others was a great feeling. If you could talk to yourself before you started your program, what advice would you give? I would tell myself to take each day one step at a time. While two years seems

Alberta invests in veterinary diagnostics to support livestock industry

Starting with Budget 2025, the Alberta government is allocating $9.5 million over three years to the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM). This funding will support the operation of a comprehensive veterinary diagnostic laboratory. UCVM’s diagnostic services provide local veterinarians with accurate diagnoses at competitive prices, aiding in treatment decisions that enhance animal health and welfare. The funding from Budget 2025 allows UCVM’s Diagnostic Services Unit to plan long-term, retained skilled staff, and expand its services. RJ Sigurdson, Minister of Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation, says this funding will enhance its ability to test for various infectious organisms and support disease investigations. “For almost three decades, Alberta’s livestock producers and veterinarians had to send diagnostic samples to other provinces for results. This funding allows for faster responses to potential animal health threats,” explains Minister Sigurdson.

Fusarium Head Blight is Lurking — but This Forecasting Tool Sees it Coming

If you want to strike fear into the heart of a cereal grain farmer, just say, “fusarium head blight.” Known as FHB, this fungal disease is one of the most destructive threats to cereal crops worldwide, causing billions of dollars in damage each year. It can bleach the heads of cereal plants, contaminate grain with a dangerous toxin called deoxynivalenol (DON), and spread rapidly during rain events—often before farmers even realize it’s there. “Once farmers see infection in their crops, it’s too late.” That’s the hard truth from Dr. Adam Foster, a research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) based in Prince Edward Island. In the Maritimes—where warm, humid summers create ideal conditions for FHB—Dr. Foster has been leading the charge to help farmers better manage this elusive disease. He believes climate change may make the problem worse, particularly as nighttime temperatures continue to rise. FHB is notoriously difficult to manage. It can lie dormant in the field

TechniTextile Québec looks to revitalize regional wool production in Québec

Saint-Hyacinthe,  - TechniTextile Québec, Québec’s technical textile materials cluster, is aiming to revitalize the regional supply, processing and production chain for Québec and Canadian wool, right here in Québec, within the next year.

Ju Wool Leads Groundbreaking Prototyping Project to Transform Quebec’s Wool Industry

QUÉBEC – May 30, 2025, J. Underhill Wool Inc. (JU WOOL) is proud to announce its leadershiprole in a pioneering initiative set to reshape the wool industry in Quebec. As a key partner in securing a historic subsidy, JU WOOL is helping to unite six Quebec-based enterprises specializing in commercial-scale wool processing into a powerful regional ecosystem.