Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

Houston, we have landed. On day two of the North American study tour AALP class 17 stopped in at NASA Johnson Space Center. We had the chance to see the historic mission control center where they navigated the first man to the moon, in addition to many other missions to space.

The control center, which closed in 1992, still features the speaker where many historic words were said – including “Houston, we have landed” and “We are on our way, Houston” – the first and last words spoken from the moon.

The mission control center is currently under renovation in preparation for the 50th anniversary of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landing on the moon.

We took a ride through rocket park en route to the training centre where the astronauts train for missions to the International Space Station. It was an incredibly high tech facility full of Iron Man-like looking space suits.

Good thing we got lost on the way to our next stop – the Port of Houston – because we got to drive by a number of ‘small’ -- by Texan standards -- oil refineries. We finally arrived at the Port of Houston and had an impressive tour of one of the largest ports in the United States. 

Our last stop of the day was at the El Real Tex Mex restaurant where we were privileged to meet and hear from Mr. Joel Cowley, the President and CEO of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. This show is the largest in the world, with over 2 million people attending during the 3 weeks it runs each March.

Next Stop – College Station!

Views: 147

Comment

You need to be a member of Ontario Agriculture to add comments!

Join Ontario Agriculture

Agriculture Headlines from Farms.com Canada East News - click on title for full story

Upcoming Webinar: Understanding bovine tuberculosis

Alberta Beef Producers (ABP) is hosting a webinar on November 17 at 7:00 p.m., with participation from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). The session will focus on bovine tuberculosis (bTB) and what it means for Alberta’s cattle industry. Presenters will provide background on the disease, share the latest information on the current bTB trace-in, and discuss what producers need to know moving forward. “This webinar is a great opportunity for producers to hear directly about how investigations like this work, what steps are taken by CFIA and industry, and how producers can stay informed,” says Karin Schmid, ABP’s Beef Production and Extension Lead. Titled “Bovine Tuberculosis: The Bacterial Ninja,” the session will focus on information relevant to primary producers, including an overview of the investigation process, common questions from producers, and resources for those seeking additional information or support.

Meeting Alberta's rising demand for water

Bill 7, the Water Amendment Act, would help farmers, ranchers, communities and businesses by streamlining regulatory requirements, increasing transparency and making it easier for Albertans to use and share water. The proposed changes keep the strong foundation of Alberta’s water management system in place while introducing common-sense updates that protect the environment while supporting a growing province and economy. “Water is one of Alberta’s most precious resources. Alberta is growing, and so is the demand for water. By listening to Albertans and updating the Water Act, we’re helping communities, businesses, and our economy grow and access the water they need to thrive.” Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas “By making these crucial changes, we’re taking an important step toward strengthening and growing our agriculture industry. These changes will help increase access to water, support the expansion of our irrigation districts and ensure farmers and ra

U.S. not ready to accept cattle from Mexico yet due to New World Screwworm

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins says her country is not yet ready to reopen its border to Mexican cattle amid an outbreak of the flesh-eating New World screwworm parasite. However, she is pleased with Mexico’s efforts to contain the pest. Rollins, in Mexico City for meetings with officials including President Claudia Sheinbaum, said that President Donald Trump was “very focused” on reopening the border, which has been largely closed to Mexican livestock since May. Rollins, who declined to give a time frame for reopening the border, said she would speak to top U.S. officials about the issue on Wednesday and would have more conversations about screwworm with Trump. Mexico has been working to contain the outbreak, which has spread northward from Central America, rattling the livestock and beef industries of both the U.S. and Mexico. 

Canadians believe ag is a top priority for federal support

A Nanos poll showed Canadians ranked agriculture higher than the auto sector

Few DON Concerns with 2025 Ontario Corn Crop

There appears to be virtually no concern with elevated vomitoxin levels in this year’s Ontario corn crop. 

© 2025   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service