by Dan Woolley

Dr. Andria Jones-Bitton knows well the many sources of on-farm mental health distress. She is a veterinarian, epidemiologist, and associate professor at the University of Guelph’s population medicine department. She also heads a research team examining the multiple roots of farmer psychological stress. They include weather and climate change, farm labour, finances, government regulatory burden, family problems and succession planning, threats to supply management, social isolation, public scrutiny, and activism.

by George Fullerton

Around 100 registrants from across New Brunswick attended a conference titled Exploring Value-Added Opportunities for Farms and Entrepreneurs held at the Hugh John Flemming Forestry Centre in Fredericton on Dec. 4. The New Brunswick Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture, and Fisheries sponsored the conference. Several presenters took time to define “value added,” which in the context of agriculture refers to increasing the value of a primary product through processing, manufacturing, or special marketing efforts.

by Kathy Birt

When 19-year-old Maddie Stewart of Frenchfort, P.E.I., entered 4-H at age nine, she may not have had dreams of winning national honours. But that’s exactly what she received in November at the Royal Winter Agricultural Fair in Toronto. Maddie Stewart and the heifer calf she showed at the Royal finished second as the reserve grand champion in the 2018 TD Canadian 4-H Classic competition. That was after competing in the junior yearling conformation and showmanship competitions.

by Rupert Jannasch

“Antimicrobial Resistance and Use in Canada: A Federal Framework for Action” marks a turning point for antibiotic use in animal agriculture. As of Dec. 1, 2018, almost all antibiotics used for animals will have to be prescribed by a veterinarian. Legal prescriptions will depend on having a valid veterinary-client-patient relationship (VCPR) in place. At a minimum, maintaining a VCPR will require a yearly farm visit by a vet.