Proceedings of the 2012 Canadian Organic Science Conference

The Canadian Organic Science Conference and Organic Science Cluster Strategic Meetings featured leading scientists presenting and discussing current advances in the field of organic and sustainable agricultural practices in Canada and beyond. Information is of interest to both organic and conventional researchers, with research presented in a diverse range of fields, including: soil fertility, quality and health; horticultural and specialty crops; cereal-based cropping systems; livestock productivity, health and welfare; greenhouse production and season extension; food, sustainability and organic systems; social science and organic agriculture; and extension of organic research

Realising Global Water Futures: a Summary of Progress in Delivering Solutions to Water Threats in an Era of Global Change

Canada First Research Excellence FundNon-Peer ReviewedOver the past six years the Global Water Futures program has produced a wide range of scientific findings and engagements with multiple types of potential users of the research. This briefing book provides a snapshot of some of the science advancements and user engagement that have taken place to date. Annual reports to the funding agency are the most up to date source of information: this compilation has been created from reports submitted by projects in 2022, representing both completed and current project work. The briefing book aims to provide quick access to information about GWF projects in a single place for GWF’s User Advisory Panel: we hope that knowing more about the research being produced will spark conversations about how to make the best use of the new knowledge in both policy and practice

Vulnerability and Adaptation to Drought

Although there is considerable historical literature describing the social and economic impact of drought on the prairies in the 1930s, little has been written about the challenges presented by drought in more contemporary times. The drought of 2001-02 was, for example, the most recent large-area, intense, and prolonged drought in Canada and one of Canada's most costly natural disasters in a century. Vulnerability and Adaptation to Drought describes the impacts of droughts and the adaptations made in prairie agriculture over recent decades. These adaptations have enhanced the capacity of rural communities to withstand drought. However, despite the high levels of technical adaptation that have occurred, and the existing human capital and vibrant social and information networks, agricultural producers in the prairie region remain vulnerable to severe droughts that last more than a couple of years. Research findings and projections suggest that droughts could become more frequent, more severe, and of longer duration in the region over the course of the 21st century. This book provides insights into the conditions generating these challenges and the measures required to reduce vulnerability of prairie communities to them. Developing greater understanding of the social forces and conditions that have contributed to enhanced resilience, as well as those which detract from successful adaptation, is a principal theme of the book. To that end, the book examines drought through an interdisciplinary lens encompassing climate science and the social sciences. Two of the chapters are based on the drought experiences of other countries in order to provide a comparative assessment

Physiochemical, Nutritional, Molecular Structural Characterization and Dairy Cow Feeding Value of Oat Grain in Comparison with Barley Grain: Impact of Varieties and Processing Methods

The general objectives of this study were to determine the impact of varieties and processing methods on the physiochemical, nutritional and molecular structural characteristics of CDC oat grain, as an alternative to barley grain in dairy cows diets. In the first study, three CDC varieties of oat, CDC Nasser (feed type), CDC Arborg and CDC Ruffian (milling type), were used and compared to CDC Austenson barley grain (feed type). In the second study, commercial oat and barley were tested, the oat was processed using three different methods (dry-rolling, steam-flaking, and pelleting) while barley was dry-rolled. In studies 1 and 2, the chemical profile, energy value, rumen degradation kinetics of nutrients, hourly effective rumen degradation ratios/potential N-to-energy synchronization, and intestinal digestion of nutrients were analyzed, the truly absorbed protein supply to dairy cattle and feed milk values were evaluated using on the DVE/OEB system and the NRC Dairy model, and the protein molecular spectra were analyzed. In study 3, the samples from different processing methods were used in a dairy trial, to evaluate production and milk composition as well as metabolic parameters, such as blood BHBA and urea. In study 1, CDC Nasser showed significantly higher percentage of EE in relation to the other varieties of oat. Degradation of starch and CP in the rumen was higher for all varieties of oat when compared to barley. On the other hand, starch, sugar, and NFC content were higher for CDC Austenson barley grain, that also showed the highest bypass CP and starch. No significant difference was observed between CDC Nasser and CDC Austenson barley on total digestible nutrients (TDN1x), net energy for lactation (NEL) and intestinal digestibility of bypass CP (dBCP). In study 2, heat processing (steam-flaking and pelleting) increased EE (P<0.01) and tended to decrease uNDF (P=0.09). Steam-flaking increased (P=0.04) the total digestible nutrients (TDN1x), ME, and NEL and increased (P<0.01) rumen bypass CP (%BCP). Rolled barley showed the lowest (P=0.03) metabolizable protein (MP) and degradable protein balance (DPB) (P<0.01) among the studied treatments. Processing methods did not significantly change the protein molecular structure of the oat treatments, making the protein related structures hard to separate using PCA or HCLA. In the third study, cows fed dry-rolled oat had the lowest DMI, while increased (P<0.01) milk production compared to all other treatments. Milk fat percentage was also higher (P<0.01) for rolled-oat when compared to pelleted oat and rolled barley. Acetate concentration in the rumen was lower (P<0.01) for cows fed pelleted oat (-3.95 mM). Digestibility of starch was higher for oat grain (P=0.05). Based on the data presented by this research, oat grain can be suitable as an energy concentrate for lactating dairy cows in total mixed rations

Ecological characterization of the Florida springs coast: Pithlachascotee to Waccasassa Rivers

This report covers the upper coast of west-central Florida. This region includes the drainage basins and nearshore waters of the west coast of Florida between, but not including, the Anclote River basin and the Suwannee River basin. The name Springs Coast wash chosen because this area contains a multitude of springs, both named and too small or inaccessible to have been names. Much of the area is karstic limestone. Most recognizable among the springs are the famous Crystal river, Weeki Wachee, and Homosassa. This territory includes large expanses of marsh and wetland and, along its shores, the southern end of the largest area of seagrass beds in the state -- the Florida Big Bend Seagrass Beds preserve. It also possesses numerous spring-fed rivers and streams along the coast, whose constant discharges provide unique, relatively stable estuarine environments. This document is a summary of the available information on the Springs Coast area of Florida, for use by planners, developers, regulatory authorities, and other interested parties. An understanding of the factors affecting their plans and the possibly unexpected impacts of their actions on others will, it is hoped, promote intelligent development in areas capable of supporting it. We have tried to provide a clear, coherent picture of what is currently known about how the physical, chemical, and biological factors of the environment interact. (343 pp.

Forages and Technology Management in Growing and Finishing Beef Cattle Systems

A systems study evaluated the effects of an implant [25.7 mg estradiol (Compudose; Elanco Animal Health)] at two rates of gain (LOW: 0.45 kg/d and HIGH: 0.9 kg/d) applied during the winter backgrounding phase in drylot and winter grazing systems and its effects on subsequent phases of production. HIGH supplementation with an implant during the winter backgrounding phase in the drylot system yielded the greatest ending body weight (EBW) during the summer backgrounding phase (P = 0.04). LOW supplementation, without an implant, improved summer backgrounding average daily gain (ADG; P = 0.05) while achieving similar carcass adjusted final body weight and hot carcass weight (HCW) as those wintered at HIGH with an implant. In the dormant meadow winter backgrounding system, additional supplement yielded increased winter and summer EBW and ADG (PP \u3e 0.16). A feedlot study compared the effects of a direct-fed microbial feed additive to no feed additive on performance and liver abscess rates in finishing beef cattle. The DFM technology used in this study was developed to reduce the abundance of Fusobacterium necrophorum and Streptococcus bovis in the rumen. Feeding this specific DFM at 1 billion bacterial cells/steer daily to finishing beef cattle did not significantly affect performance, carcass characteristics, liver abscess rate, or the severity of liver abscesses. Rumen undegradable protein (RUP) values of crested wheatgrass (CWG) have not been well established. Knowing the amount of RUP available to cattle grazing CWG throughout the grazing season can help producers calculate MP supply and aid supplementation decisions throughout the grazing period. An experiment evaluated the forage value of crested wheatgrass harvested from Western Nebraska over a two-year period (2019-2020). The study found that crude protein decreased throughout the growing season while RUP % CP increased. The RUP content of CWG may range from 0.8% to as high as 1.21% of DM throughout the grazing season. RUP digestibility is less than 50% of RUP resulting in digestible RUP being less than 0.5% of DM. Advisor: James MacDonal

When Antibiotics Fail: The Expert Panel on the Potential Socio-Economic Impacts of Antimicrobial Resistance in Canada

Antimicrobials are life savers in Canada, enabling modern healthcare and playing a central role in agriculture. They have reduced the economic, medical, and social burden of infectious diseases and are part of many routine medical interventions, such as caesarean sections, joint replacements, and tonsillectomies. As use of antimicrobials has increased, bacteria evolved to become resistant, resulting in drugs that are no longer effective at treating infections. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is increasing worldwide, and with widespread trade and travel, resistance can spread quickly, posing a serious threat to all countries. For Canada, the implications of AMR are stark. When Antibiotics Fail examines the current impacts of AMR on our healthcare system, projects the future impact on Canada’s GDP, and looks at how widespread resistance will influence the day-to-day lives of Canadians. The report examines these issues through a One Health lens, recognizing the interconnected nature of AMR, from healthcare settings to the environment to the agriculture sector. It is the most comprehensive report to date on the economic impact of AMR in Canada

Country-specific IT projects: Учебное пособие по английскому языку для студентов ИВМиИТ - ВМК

Данное учебное пособие предназначено для занятий со студентами 1 и 2 курсов Института вычислительной математики и информационных технологий Казанского Федерального Университета, продолжающих обучение английского языка на базе программы средней школы, а также будет полезным любому читателю, интересующемуся англоговорящими странами (Канада, США, Австралия, Шотландия) в целом и IT изобретениями, сделанными в этих странах, в частности

Mathematical modelling to support blood collection for the Welsh Blood Service

Human blood is a scarce resource and its role in healthcare is fundamental, with donated blood saving the lives of many on a daily basis. The blood supply chain is responsible for the transfer of blood from donor to the recipient, but the availability of such an invaluable resource as human blood is ultimately attributable to the many voluntary donors. Thus, the efficiency of the collection of donated blood is crucial to the downstream effectiveness of the blood supply chain. Working in partnership with the Welsh Blood Service, our aim is to create a decision support tool to aid the scheduling process to match supply and demand of blood products, whilst minimising costs and wastage in the system. We present an integer linear programme model that consists of two stages. The first stage schedules mobile blood donation clinics, considering over 300 locations, with the objective to minimise both the number of clinics scheduled within the planning horizon and the amount of blood collected that exceeds the demand. The second stage assigns workers to each scheduled clinic, with the objective of minimising costs such as overtime costs. Both stages of this scheduling model are developed in Python and are solved using PuLP - an open source Python package which utilises COIN-OR CBC solver. Test instances are designed and the experimental results are presented which demonstrate the effectiveness of the two-stage model to improve cost and time efficiencies of the collections process at the Welsh Blood Service, in addition to enabling the matching of supply to demand. Finally, some insights regarding the staffing levels of each region are discusse