Brett van Heyningen
@brettvhaafc.bsky.social
Communications Advisor with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada for PEI and Newfoundland and Labrador. Nova Scotia born, now residing on PEI. Borderline delusional Manchester United and Montreal Canadiens fan. Opinions are my own. Also on X: @BrettvhAAFC
To help farmers, Dr. Foster and his team have developed a web tool that tracks the risk of FHB based on crop, province or region, and weather. This helps reduce fungicide use, resulting in benefits to the environment, lower input costs, and a reduced risk of developing fungicide resistance. 5/
November 24, 2025 at 8:45 PM
To help farmers, Dr. Foster and his team have developed a web tool that tracks the risk of FHB based on crop, province or region, and weather. This helps reduce fungicide use, resulting in benefits to the environment, lower input costs, and a reduced risk of developing fungicide resistance. 5/
They also found that the severity of FHB could worsen with climate change, as warmer temperatures at night become more frequent in the Maritimes. 4/
November 24, 2025 at 8:44 PM
They also found that the severity of FHB could worsen with climate change, as warmer temperatures at night become more frequent in the Maritimes. 4/
That’s why Dr. Adam Foster is leading research to better understand FHB and how to manage it sustainably. 👨🔬 Testing wheat and barley FHB samples from 175 fields and 39 sites across NB, NS, and PEI, they found differences in fungicide resistance between provinces and disease populations. 3/
November 24, 2025 at 8:44 PM
That’s why Dr. Adam Foster is leading research to better understand FHB and how to manage it sustainably. 👨🔬 Testing wheat and barley FHB samples from 175 fields and 39 sites across NB, NS, and PEI, they found differences in fungicide resistance between provinces and disease populations. 3/
Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a serious fungal disease affecting cereal crops, like wheat and barley that reduces crop yield and quality.🌾 It is managed partially through fungicides but overusing them can have negative impacts – including resistance. 2/
November 24, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a serious fungal disease affecting cereal crops, like wheat and barley that reduces crop yield and quality.🌾 It is managed partially through fungicides but overusing them can have negative impacts – including resistance. 2/
Did you know that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) isn’t just a human or animal health issue, but it affects plants, too? 🦠🌱
AMR is when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites no longer respond to antimicrobial medicines, making infections hard to treat. It’s no different for agricultural crops. 1/
AMR is when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites no longer respond to antimicrobial medicines, making infections hard to treat. It’s no different for agricultural crops. 1/
November 24, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Did you know that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) isn’t just a human or animal health issue, but it affects plants, too? 🦠🌱
AMR is when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites no longer respond to antimicrobial medicines, making infections hard to treat. It’s no different for agricultural crops. 1/
AMR is when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites no longer respond to antimicrobial medicines, making infections hard to treat. It’s no different for agricultural crops. 1/
Sandy soils on PEI means farming practices can directly impact water. 🌱💧 #AgLivingLab Research from Dr. Yefang Jiang shows swapping red clover for soybeans in crop rotations can cut nitrogen in groundwater by 17%, in estuaries by 8%, and sea lettuce biomass by 24%.
Learn more: ow.ly/RJIT50XgtLe
Learn more: ow.ly/RJIT50XgtLe
October 22, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Sandy soils on PEI means farming practices can directly impact water. 🌱💧 #AgLivingLab Research from Dr. Yefang Jiang shows swapping red clover for soybeans in crop rotations can cut nitrogen in groundwater by 17%, in estuaries by 8%, and sea lettuce biomass by 24%.
Learn more: ow.ly/RJIT50XgtLe
Learn more: ow.ly/RJIT50XgtLe
Through the Yield Enhancement Network (YEN), grain and oilseed producers in #NB, #NS, and #PEI are celebrating their latest #CdnAg achievements in crop yield, soil health, and farm management: ow.ly/HTTs50X9JTW
October 10, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Through the Yield Enhancement Network (YEN), grain and oilseed producers in #NB, #NS, and #PEI are celebrating their latest #CdnAg achievements in crop yield, soil health, and farm management: ow.ly/HTTs50X9JTW
Soil and water are connected in #CdnAg. Inputs like fertilizer can impact the water ecosystems that we rely on every day.
For #ScienceLiteracyWeek, we celebrate the innovators with @AgMuseum who protect our ecosystems, like #PEI #GCAggie scientist, Dr. Yefang Jiang.
Learn more: ow.ly/CkW350X7Jkj
For #ScienceLiteracyWeek, we celebrate the innovators with @AgMuseum who protect our ecosystems, like #PEI #GCAggie scientist, Dr. Yefang Jiang.
Learn more: ow.ly/CkW350X7Jkj
October 7, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Soil and water are connected in #CdnAg. Inputs like fertilizer can impact the water ecosystems that we rely on every day.
For #ScienceLiteracyWeek, we celebrate the innovators with @AgMuseum who protect our ecosystems, like #PEI #GCAggie scientist, Dr. Yefang Jiang.
Learn more: ow.ly/CkW350X7Jkj
For #ScienceLiteracyWeek, we celebrate the innovators with @AgMuseum who protect our ecosystems, like #PEI #GCAggie scientist, Dr. Yefang Jiang.
Learn more: ow.ly/CkW350X7Jkj
We’ll be at Farm Day in the City with the East Prince Agri-Environment Association this Sunday, October 5, in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. Connect with us between 10 am- 4 pm (ADT) and learn about the roots of science that supports farmers across the Island and Canada.
October 3, 2025 at 4:57 PM
We’ll be at Farm Day in the City with the East Prince Agri-Environment Association this Sunday, October 5, in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. Connect with us between 10 am- 4 pm (ADT) and learn about the roots of science that supports farmers across the Island and Canada.
There’s something on #PEI that’s destroying weeds in a flash! 🗲 Our #GCAggie biologist Nicolle MacDonald is testing the Weed Zapper, which uses electricity to destroy weeds, on horticulture crops like blueberries, potatoes, carrots, and more. Learn more: agriculture.canada.ca/en/science/s...
September 18, 2025 at 2:49 PM
There’s something on #PEI that’s destroying weeds in a flash! 🗲 Our #GCAggie biologist Nicolle MacDonald is testing the Weed Zapper, which uses electricity to destroy weeds, on horticulture crops like blueberries, potatoes, carrots, and more. Learn more: agriculture.canada.ca/en/science/s...
Our researcher, Dr. Erin Smith, is collaborating with local farmers through #AgLivingLab #PEI to help develop other ways manure can be applied to boost yields and cut emissions. 💩
Dr. Smith is exploring injection and dribble bar that conserve nitrogen and reduce economic and environmental loss.
Dr. Smith is exploring injection and dribble bar that conserve nitrogen and reduce economic and environmental loss.
September 15, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Our researcher, Dr. Erin Smith, is collaborating with local farmers through #AgLivingLab #PEI to help develop other ways manure can be applied to boost yields and cut emissions. 💩
Dr. Smith is exploring injection and dribble bar that conserve nitrogen and reduce economic and environmental loss.
Dr. Smith is exploring injection and dribble bar that conserve nitrogen and reduce economic and environmental loss.
Attn: home gardeners📢! Our #GCAggie scientists discovered new late blight pathogen genotypes and producers need your help to protect their tomato and potato crops. Learn more: agriculture.canada.ca/en/science/s...
August 14, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Attn: home gardeners📢! Our #GCAggie scientists discovered new late blight pathogen genotypes and producers need your help to protect their tomato and potato crops. Learn more: agriculture.canada.ca/en/science/s...
Craig McCloskey, founder of Bluefield Seeding Solutions, developed his seed sensing technology that helps producers improve environmental performance, with support from our Agricultural Clean Technology Program. Learn more: agriculture.canada.ca/en/agri-info...
June 18, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Craig McCloskey, founder of Bluefield Seeding Solutions, developed his seed sensing technology that helps producers improve environmental performance, with support from our Agricultural Clean Technology Program. Learn more: agriculture.canada.ca/en/agri-info...
Brett Francis’ father was an early adopter of cover cropping, but now with help from the PEI Federation of Agriculture through our On-Farm Climate Action Fund, he was able to expand the practice. Hear from Brett on #TheFirstSixteen: ow.ly/7zuV50Wa4X8
June 16, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Brett Francis’ father was an early adopter of cover cropping, but now with help from the PEI Federation of Agriculture through our On-Farm Climate Action Fund, he was able to expand the practice. Hear from Brett on #TheFirstSixteen: ow.ly/7zuV50Wa4X8
Fusarium head blight is a scary disease for #CdnAg cereal grain farmers because it’s hard to detect. Thankfully, a new #GCAggie and @AtlanticGrain developed forecasting web tool is helping Maritime farmers remove the guesswork. Learn more: agriculture.canada.ca/en/science/s...
June 11, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Fusarium head blight is a scary disease for #CdnAg cereal grain farmers because it’s hard to detect. Thankfully, a new #GCAggie and @AtlanticGrain developed forecasting web tool is helping Maritime farmers remove the guesswork. Learn more: agriculture.canada.ca/en/science/s...
She found that these little critters can travel more than 60 metres into farm fields to search for other crop-attacking insects to eat and some even munch on pesky weed seeds. 2/
June 11, 2025 at 3:39 PM
She found that these little critters can travel more than 60 metres into farm fields to search for other crop-attacking insects to eat and some even munch on pesky weed seeds. 2/
Many pests are a nuisance to us and farmers, but did you know that some insects are pests to other insects and weeds? #GCAggie entomologist, Dr. Christine Noronha, studied several species of Carabid beetles, or ground beetles, on Prince Edward Island. 🪲 1/
June 11, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Many pests are a nuisance to us and farmers, but did you know that some insects are pests to other insects and weeds? #GCAggie entomologist, Dr. Christine Noronha, studied several species of Carabid beetles, or ground beetles, on Prince Edward Island. 🪲 1/
Long tubing is attached to the chamber, so that a greenhouse gas sample can be extracted using a syringe. Once captured, Dr. Murray and her team analyze the sample in their lab with more sophisticated equipment called a gas chromatographer. They analyze tens of thousands of samples each year! 5/
June 5, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Long tubing is attached to the chamber, so that a greenhouse gas sample can be extracted using a syringe. Once captured, Dr. Murray and her team analyze the sample in their lab with more sophisticated equipment called a gas chromatographer. They analyze tens of thousands of samples each year! 5/
The floating chamber is an insulated bucket with pool noodles attached, so it can float undisturbed on water in the wetland. It’s gently placed into the wetland with a long pole, as walking in during sampling can disturb soil around the chamber, forcing gases up leading to incorrect measurements. 4/
June 5, 2025 at 5:17 PM
The floating chamber is an insulated bucket with pool noodles attached, so it can float undisturbed on water in the wetland. It’s gently placed into the wetland with a long pole, as walking in during sampling can disturb soil around the chamber, forcing gases up leading to incorrect measurements. 4/
To understand the potential of wetlands to mitigate climate change, Dr. Murray and her team regularly measure greenhouse gas emissions in wetlands with a #ScienceMadeSimple, but clever device called a floating chamber. 3/
June 5, 2025 at 5:16 PM
To understand the potential of wetlands to mitigate climate change, Dr. Murray and her team regularly measure greenhouse gas emissions in wetlands with a #ScienceMadeSimple, but clever device called a floating chamber. 3/
That’s a question our water engineer, Dr. Audrey Murray, is hoping to answer through ongoing Living Lab-Prince Edward Island research to design wetlands that can capture more carbon than they release. 2/
June 5, 2025 at 5:16 PM
That’s a question our water engineer, Dr. Audrey Murray, is hoping to answer through ongoing Living Lab-Prince Edward Island research to design wetlands that can capture more carbon than they release. 2/
Happy #EnviroWeek! Constructed wetlands on farms provide ideal habitats for biodiversity and help with water quality. But can wetlands also capture carbon to reduce greenhouse gas emissions? 1/
June 5, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Happy #EnviroWeek! Constructed wetlands on farms provide ideal habitats for biodiversity and help with water quality. But can wetlands also capture carbon to reduce greenhouse gas emissions? 1/
New episode! 🎙️
Hear from #PEI producer Brett Francis, along with Kevin Budd #NB and Raphaël Beauchemin #QC, who have received #OFCAF funding to help them adopt beneficial management practices. #TheFirstSixteen has their stories: ow.ly/pUgI50W2T61
Hear from #PEI producer Brett Francis, along with Kevin Budd #NB and Raphaël Beauchemin #QC, who have received #OFCAF funding to help them adopt beneficial management practices. #TheFirstSixteen has their stories: ow.ly/pUgI50W2T61
June 3, 2025 at 3:09 PM
New episode! 🎙️
Hear from #PEI producer Brett Francis, along with Kevin Budd #NB and Raphaël Beauchemin #QC, who have received #OFCAF funding to help them adopt beneficial management practices. #TheFirstSixteen has their stories: ow.ly/pUgI50W2T61
Hear from #PEI producer Brett Francis, along with Kevin Budd #NB and Raphaël Beauchemin #QC, who have received #OFCAF funding to help them adopt beneficial management practices. #TheFirstSixteen has their stories: ow.ly/pUgI50W2T61
#GCAggie, @ualberta.bsky.social, and @uwaterloo.ca researchers are hoping that a nature-based solution will be an “udder” success for turning dairy farm wastewater into irrigation water for cattle feed crops on #ABAg dairy farms 🐮: agriculture.canada.ca/en/node/3936 #WorldMilkDay
June 2, 2025 at 6:30 PM
#GCAggie, @ualberta.bsky.social, and @uwaterloo.ca researchers are hoping that a nature-based solution will be an “udder” success for turning dairy farm wastewater into irrigation water for cattle feed crops on #ABAg dairy farms 🐮: agriculture.canada.ca/en/node/3936 #WorldMilkDay