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Novel Open Source Seed Pledge aims to keep new vegetable and grain varieties free for all
Novel Open Source Seed Pledge aims to keep new vegetable and grain varieties free for all
April 15, 2014 by Nicole Miller
Jack Kloppenburg (left), professor in the Department of Community and Environmental Sociology, Irwin Goldman (center), chair of the Department of Horticulture, and Claire Luby (right), graduate student in the UW’s Plant Breeding and Plant Genetics program, fill envelopes with non-patented seeds in the Horticulture office in Moore Hall.
Photo: Bryce Richter
This week, scientists, farmers and sustainable food systems advocates will gather on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus to celebrate an unusual group of honored guests: 29 new varieties of broccoli, celery, kale, quinoa and other vegetables and grains that are being publicly released using a novel form of ownership agreement known as the Open Source Seed Pledge.
The pledge, which was developed through a UW-Madison-led effort known as the Open Source Seed Initiative, is designed to keep the new seeds free for all people to grow, breed and share for perpetuity, with the goal of protecting the plants from patents and other restrictions down the line.
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Plant Breeders Release First ‘Open Source Seeds’
NPR version… some organic seed outfits are making these seeds available; unfortunately NPR doesn’t name them or provide any info on suppliers… which is typical of them
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Bundy’s an asshole and his supporters are morons
Here’s everything you should know about #BundyRanch. He’s no patriot and no hero. pic.twitter.com/6ALKLsRyHm
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Drought Map USA 20140408
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Invite pollinators to your neighborhood …
Invite pollinators to your neighborhood by planting a pollinator friendly habitat in your garden, farm, school, park or just about anywhere!
Starting on Page 16 of the planting guides you can find lists of plant names that will attract pollinators and help you build beautiful pollinator habitat!
Print these lists and bring them to your local native plant, garden center or nursery
These guides were funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the C.S. Fund, the Plant Conservation Alliance, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management with oversight by the Pollinator Partnership, in support of the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign. To learn more about why planting for pollinators is important, click here.
Selecting Plants for Pollinators http://www.pollinator.org/guides.htm
Our ecoregional planting guides are tailored to specific areas of the U.S. You can find out which ecoregion you live in by entering your zip code at link above.
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Wisconsin Historical Images for April 2014 Newsletter
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Go North
Nails for the coffins of climate change denialists from northern Ontario, 300~400 miles NE of Thunder Bay: “The warming trend goes back at least 30 years, and is exemplified by the increase in annual crop heat units (CHU) at Earlton from 1800 to 2300 CHU. This has had a major positive impact on crop production. For example, soybeans, corn grain and silage corn are now reliably grown in the Temiskaming region, while canola has supplemented the traditional barley, oat and wheat crops in the Cochrane-Kapuskasing area. Crop Yields in the Temiskaming District: Corn = 130 – 145 bu/ac, Soybeans = 50 – 60 bu/ac”
Northern Ontario Agriculture Facts and Figures in Brief
Climate change is having a global impact on agriculture, especially in Northeastern Ontario. What could this mean for the future of this region?
- 2,800 farms which return $190 million in agricultural farm cash receipt
- 700,000 acres of farmed land.
- It has been estimated that most districts in Northern Ontario can increase active agricultural lands from 20 to 50% by drawing idled private lands back into use.
- The Great Clay Belt (GCB) in Northeastern Ontario consists of 16 million acres of potentially fertile glaciolacustrine soils (Figure 1). This is double the amount of cropland currently being farmed in the province.
Figure 1. The Great Clay Belt
- To date only about 2 per cent of this land has been developed for agriculture .
- The GCB also stretches into Northwestern Quebec, which contains another 13 million acres.
- The Canada Land Inventory has identified 4.4 million acres of Ontario’s GCB as Class 2, 3 or 4, which are suitable for cultivation. The remainder has either not been classified or is unsuitable for agriculture.
- The main limitations to productivity are drainage and climate. Systematic tile drainage has been shown to address the first limitation, while long-term climate warming and the development of new crop varieties and agronomic techniques have revolutionized the crops which can be grown (Figure 2)
- The warming trend goes back at least 30 years, and is exemplified by the increase in annual crop heat units (CHU) at Earlton from 1800 to 2300 CHU. This has had a major positive impact on crop production. For example, soybeans, corn grain and silage corn are now reliably grown in the Temiskaming region, while canola has supplemented the traditional barley, oat and wheat crops in the Cochrane-Kapuskasing area.
2011 -2012 Crop Yields*
Temiskaming District
- Corn = 130 – 145 bu/ac
- Soybeans = 50 – 60 bu/ac
Cochrane District
- Canola = 1.45 tonnes/ac
Figure 2. Kapuskasing CHU trend
- In addition, these regions are well suited to forage production and are capable of supporting large herds of ruminant animals
- Development potential for the GCB in Ontario is shown by the degree to which agriculture in Northwestern Quebec has progressed (Figure 3)
Figure 3. Development differences between Northeastern Ontario (west or left of border) and Northwestern Quebec (right or east of the line) in the Great Clay Belt
References
2006 Census of Agriculture. Statistics Canada.
Chapman and Brown. The Canada Land Inventory. 1966.
Environment Canada Weather Station, Earlton Airport. Ontario Climate Center, Kapuskasing Data –
Environment Canada, 2012. http://www.climateontario.ca
2011 Census of Agriculture (Preliminary data). Statistics Canada.
For more information:
Toll Free: 1-877-424-1300
E-mail: ag.info.omafra
Author: | Tom Hamilton – Beef Cattle Production Systems Program Lead/OMAF and MRA |
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Creation Date: | 09 July 2013 |
Last Reviewed: | 09 July 2013 |
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Drought Map USA 20140325
How’s your greenhouse? Lettuce up yet?
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Drought Map USA 20140318
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