‘One of the scariest things I have ever been through’: Rare tick-borne disease on the rise in Ontario: Artist Alice Hinther’s high-energy life came to a screeching halt on July 6 when she suddenly began to feel sick with flu-like symptoms. When the fever, aches, sore throat, nausea and exhaustion continued, she dragged herself to Smiths Falls, near her cottage, for a COVID-19 test.

That test came back negative, but Hinther’s condition worsened.

She eventually ended up in isolation at the Kingston Health Sciences Centre, hooked up to oxygen and barely aware of her surroundings, while doctors tried to figure out what was making her so sick.

‘One of the scariest things I have ever been through’: Rare tick-borne disease on the rise in Ontario: Artist Alice Hinther’s high-energy life came to a screeching halt on July 6 when she suddenly began to feel sick with flu-like symptoms. When the fever, aches, sore throat, nausea and exhaustion continued, she dragged herself to Smiths Falls, near her cottage, for a COVID-19 test.That test came back negative, but Hinther’s condition worsened.She eventually ended up in isolation at the Kingston Health Sciences Centre, hooked up to oxygen and barely aware of her surroundings, while doctors tried to figure out what was making her so sick.Read More

Poison with your cereal, anyone?: Health Canada is proposing to more than double, triple and quadruple
the Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) – also known as parts per million –
in oats and bran, lentils, peas, and 25 types of beans such as
chickpeas, kidney beans, and pinto beans, as well as nuts such as
almonds, pecans and walnuts, mostly coming from the United States.
Glyphosate is already prevalent in the environment. There is
contamination in drift from the air or wind, dust, and
possibly in shipping containers. Residues of glyphosate are already
being found in children’s cereals and other products marketed to children.

If allowed by Health Canada, this increase in glyphosate levels in
field crops will also affect organic products, since it will legally
allow more of the glyphosate or Roundup residue in these products. And
if independent organic certification organizations limit the parts per
million allowed via certification, then it will mean that Canadian
organic farmers may have a difficult time getting some crops certified.
Either way – the outcome will affect our environment and hence organic
crops.

To be clear, in 2015, the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) identified glyphosate, the world’s most commonly used herbicide, as a probable human carcinogen.

Poison with your cereal, anyone?: Health Canada is proposing to more than double, triple and quadruple
the Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) – also known as parts per million –
in oats and bran, lentils, peas, and 25 types of beans such as
chickpeas, kidney beans, and pinto beans, as well as nuts such as
almonds, pecans and walnuts, mostly coming from the United States.
Glyphosate is already prevalent in the environment. There is
contamination in drift from the air or wind, dust, and
possibly in shipping containers. Residues of glyphosate are already
being found in children’s cereals and other products marketed to children.If allowed by Health Canada, this increase in glyphosate levels in
field crops will also affect organic products, since it will legally
allow more of the glyphosate or Roundup residue in these products. And
if independent organic certification organizations limit the parts per
million allowed via certification, then it will mean that Canadian
organic farmers may have a difficult time getting some crops certified.
Either way – the outcome will affect our environment and hence organic
crops.To be clear, in 2015, the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) identified glyphosate, the world’s most commonly used herbicide, as a probable human carcinogen.Read More

Two Manitoba Municipalities Declare Agriculture Disaster – The Energy Mix: The Western Producer reports that the federal government has now committed support for drought-stricken farmers through the AgriRecovery program as it waits for the provinces to accept the proposed changes to the AgriStability program.

As the various levels of government consider options for aid, the situation for farmers in the region is growing desperate, writes
CTV News. “We have three dugouts here and they’re all dry,” said John
Dyck, who raises 125 head of cattle west of Teulon. “When we get to the
yard, you can see the grass—it’s like pavement.”

Despite rainfall in early June, Manitoba’s Interlake region has seen as low as 40% of normal precipitation over the past month, writes
the Manitoba Drought Monitor. Reported yields for first-cut hay are 50
to 80% of normal, and the combination of heat and drought stress is
causing crops to mature faster than usual—likely leading to losses.

Two Manitoba Municipalities Declare Agriculture Disaster – The Energy Mix: The Western Producer reports that the federal government has now committed support for drought-stricken farmers through the AgriRecovery program as it waits for the provinces to accept the proposed changes to the AgriStability program.As the various levels of government consider options for aid, the situation for farmers in the region is growing desperate, writes
CTV News. “We have three dugouts here and they’re all dry,” said John
Dyck, who raises 125 head of cattle west of Teulon. “When we get to the
yard, you can see the grass—it’s like pavement.” Despite rainfall in early June, Manitoba’s Interlake region has seen as low as 40% of normal precipitation over the past month, writes
the Manitoba Drought Monitor. Reported yields for first-cut hay are 50
to 80% of normal, and the combination of heat and drought stress is
causing crops to mature faster than usual—likely leading to losses.Read More

As hazy skies clear in parts of Canada, a warning about what’s still to come:
In most parts of Canada where smoke and haze continued to fill the sky,
Environment Canada forecasts that conditions should clear by Thursday.

Phillips warned, however, that as long as fires continue to burn – 

there were nearly 900 of them across the country, as of Tuesday night – a
change in weather could bring the smoky conditions right back.

“There may be a reprieve in one day, or two days – but hey, it’s coming
back. You can’t extinguish those fires overnight,” he said.

As hazy skies clear in parts of Canada, a warning about what’s still to come:
In most parts of Canada where smoke and haze continued to fill the sky,
Environment Canada forecasts that conditions should clear by Thursday.
Phillips warned, however, that as long as fires continue to burn –
there were nearly 900 of them across the country, as of Tuesday night – a
change in weather could bring the smoky conditions right back.
“There may be a reprieve in one day, or two days – but hey, it’s coming
back. You can’t extinguish those fires overnight,” he said.Read More

At least 42 dead in Germany as heavy rains bring catastrophic flooding: At least 42 people have died and dozens more are missing in Germany after much of western Europe was inundated by record rainfall that brought devastating floods.

“Climate
change has arrived in Germany,” the environment minister said, as the
country reeled from the sight of destroyed buildings, upended cars and
people stranded on rooftops.

At least 42 dead in Germany as heavy rains bring catastrophic flooding: At least 42 people have died and dozens more are missing in Germany after much of western Europe was inundated by record rainfall that brought devastating floods.“Climate
change has arrived in Germany,” the environment minister said, as the
country reeled from the sight of destroyed buildings, upended cars and
people stranded on rooftops.Read More