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
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
The research of #GCAggie Dr. Andrew McKenzie-Gopsill on #PrinceEdwardIsland is helping farmers reduce weed germination by 60 to 95% by using the weed seed crusher during potato harvest: agriculture.canada.ca/en/science/s...
#InternationalDayOfPotato
#InternationalDayOfPotato
May 30, 2025 at 3:01 PM
The research of #GCAggie Dr. Andrew McKenzie-Gopsill on #PrinceEdwardIsland is helping farmers reduce weed germination by 60 to 95% by using the weed seed crusher during potato harvest: agriculture.canada.ca/en/science/s...
#InternationalDayOfPotato
#InternationalDayOfPotato
Extending the growing season is crucial for northern #CdnAg farmers. Our #GCAggie scientist, Dr. Julia Wheeler, discovered that “mini greenhouse” technology and alternative potato varieties can help! 🥔
Learn more: ow.ly/5Fex50VbfMi
Learn more: ow.ly/5Fex50VbfMi
March 5, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Extending the growing season is crucial for northern #CdnAg farmers. Our #GCAggie scientist, Dr. Julia Wheeler, discovered that “mini greenhouse” technology and alternative potato varieties can help! 🥔
Learn more: ow.ly/5Fex50VbfMi
Learn more: ow.ly/5Fex50VbfMi
#GCAggie scientists pinpoint important disease resistant genes in diploid potatoes (two sets of each chromosome), marking the first step toward breeding common scab resistant potato varieties for #CdnAg. Learn more: ow.ly/OLn350V7AwC 🥔
February 27, 2025 at 4:08 PM
#GCAggie scientists pinpoint important disease resistant genes in diploid potatoes (two sets of each chromosome), marking the first step toward breeding common scab resistant potato varieties for #CdnAg. Learn more: ow.ly/OLn350V7AwC 🥔
Did you know that #NL is home to the world’s only dedicated outdoor field research site for potato wart?
Across the country, our #GCAggie scientists are using modern genomics and potato breeding to combat this disease. 🥔🔬
Learn more: ow.ly/CZTX50UZkES
Across the country, our #GCAggie scientists are using modern genomics and potato breeding to combat this disease. 🥔🔬
Learn more: ow.ly/CZTX50UZkES
February 13, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Did you know that #NL is home to the world’s only dedicated outdoor field research site for potato wart?
Across the country, our #GCAggie scientists are using modern genomics and potato breeding to combat this disease. 🥔🔬
Learn more: ow.ly/CZTX50UZkES
Across the country, our #GCAggie scientists are using modern genomics and potato breeding to combat this disease. 🥔🔬
Learn more: ow.ly/CZTX50UZkES