Ontario Agriculture

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Out last day in Texas had the AALP Class visit BNSF Railway headquarters (the air traffic control of the railway) a 23-billion dollar company situated outside of Fort Worth in an impressive, modern facility. We were greeted by James Titsworth, General Director of Business Development. We viewed the impressive state-of-the-art dispatch area, where over 250 people work together 24/7 ensuring safety of the railway system West of Mississippi. An impressive display of maps, graphs, live feeds were seen as data flows into dispatch in real time, making real time decisions. Truly a technology driven railway, busiest in North America.


After touring the dispatch area, we met in a boardroom to gain a better understanding of BNSF and Canadian agriculture. (Western Canada)

The Class learned that tonsumer, industrial, coal, and agricultural products are all transported (ag is a small piece of pie). This is very much a trade-dependent business, they are very concerned with NAFTA. North Gate Saskatchewan is the main inland port in Canada (crude, chemical, grain, primarily wheat and canola for Canada).

It was explained that it is a market-based system, working together with clients, giving them a competitive edge as the company is flexible to change with changing markets.


It was noted that many people who hold executive positions at BSNF come from agricultural backgrounds.

It was very interesting to have an insight of all the people and systems in place to have BSNF run smoothly. It is a well-run machine where efficiently and safety were paramount.

The afternoon was spent with Jim Prewitt of Landmark Nurseries. Jim also happens to be the chairman of the board of the TALL program.

Jim introduced us to his good friend Rutledge Haggard who lent us the use of his beautifully decorated hall for the meeting.


Rutledge gave us the background of his family and how they settled the area of Plano in 1866. He and his brother took over the family farm and continue to farm it today but the city is eating it up. They have no more cattle but continue to farm milo (grain sorghum) and wheat.

Jim was a very modest man. He grew up on a dairy farm but knew that was not his calling. He went to college, got married and took on his first job with a plumbing company but would only stay one year. After buying a new home, he began to landscape it. Others saw what he did and asked him to do theirs. His new career had started. He did 28 houses that year.


He acquired his parent’s farm (200 acres) and started the nursery. He currently has six nurseries and about 2500 customers all on the commercial side of landscaping. He sells everything from 4-inch pots to 45-gallon trees. He is moving from annuals to perennials, which is what his customers want. Jim has 278 employees and believes in giving them responsibilities. He has a problem with labour because so much of it is manual labour. He believes in reinvesting in people and that is his connection to the TALL program. He believes in relationships. He was very interested in knowing more about us than telling his story.

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

Rimbey livestock auctioneer crowned world champion

Dean Edge, of Rimbey, Alberta, has become only the third Canadian to win the World Livestock Auctioneer Championship since its inception in 1963. In his acceptance speech, he credited his success to the support of his family — wife Jeanine, and children Erin, Lexie, and Lane. He also acknowledged his fellow competitors at the championship, held in Dunlap, Iowa, emphasizing the collective effort behind his victory. “This world championship might be connected to my name for the next year, but it’s not mine,” Edge remarked. “It’s ours. I’m going to be working for us for the next year to the very best of my ability to get out there and promote what we do.” As the reigning champion, Edge will spend the next year traveling in the custom-wrapped World livestock Auctioneer Championship pickup, showcasing his talents and promoting the livestock industry. “I’ve always loved the travel, and especially the chance to see so many livestock auction markets and learn how they do things,” said Edge

USask researchers discover genes that protect wheat from disease

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Bill C-202 divides Canadian ag

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Environmental monitoring of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) in Alberta with a focus on transmission to commercial poultry operations

Why is this research important for Alberta ag? The current highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak in Alberta has impacted 32 poultry flocks including 20 commercial poultry operations leading to depopulation of close to one million birds. The HPAI outbreak is linked to H5N1 sub type, and it has been attributed to death of migratory and non-migratory wild birds as well as some mammals. Although the outbreak impacted poultry operations severely during the winter and spring, the number of cases has declined during the summer with only one case recorded during July. It is expected that cases will increase with the cooler temperatures during the fall and winter. However, it is not clear that original mode of transmission of HPAIC to the impacted poultry operations as to contamination of water and air by migratory wild birds or farm to farm spread. It is also not clear if non-migratory birds living at the vicinity of poultry operations are also playing a role in viral transmission

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