Cigi staff evaluate wheat flour for use in oriental noodles. (Cigi photo)

‘New’ Cereals Canada names board, chair

The merged Cereals Canada/Cigi unit held its first annual meeting

Alberta farmer Todd Hames was elected Monday as the chair of the board for the recently reconstituted Cereals Canada, at its first-ever annual meeting. The ‘new’ Cereals Canada was created June 1 when it and the Canadian International Grains Institute (Cigi) amalgamated after two years of discussions and the approval of their respective boards April […] Read more


Barley. (Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Feed weekly outlook: Lower stocks support grain prices

Corn still 'competitively' priced

MarketsFarm — Feed grain prices in Western Canada have been strong lately, as old-crop supplies reach seasonal lows. “We’re getting to the bottom of old-crop stocks,” said Allen Pirness of Market Place Commodities in Lethbridge. However, he noted, growing conditions on the Prairies have been favourable, with no indication of a “drought-induced early harvest.” Old-crop […] Read more

File photo of a river container terminal facility at Liverpool, England. (DavidCPhotography/iStock/Getty Images)

U.K. aims to join Trans-Pacific Partnership

London | Reuters –– The United Kingdom announced on Wednesday it would pursue accession to a revamped version of the Trans-Pacific Partnership. “Today we’re announcing our intent to pursue accession to CPTPP, one of the world’s largest free trading areas,” Trade Secretary Liz Truss said. The British government said joining CPTPP would help the U.K. […] Read more


Fusarium rule change applauded

Fusarium rule change applauded

Reading Time: < 1 minute Cereal and seed organizations are hailing the province’s decision to remove fusarium graminearum from the Pest Nuisance Control Regulation of the Agricultural Pests Act. “This news has been a long time coming,” said Alberta Wheat chair Todd Hames. “FHB (fusarium head blight) is well established in Alberta and since it’s spread through airborne spores, we […] Read more

A stem infected by root rot shows signs of shredding, shattering and the development of a sclerotial body. The central cavity (pith tissue) has been destroyed, which is characteristic of stem rot.

A mix of pests and diseases on the roster for #crop2020

Wheat midge, wheat stem sawfly, net blotch and other things to look out for

Reading Time: 4 minutes There are several diseases and pests farmers might want to keep an eye out for this growing season. “It’s kind of a hodgepodge this year,” said Jeremy Boychyn, agronomy research extension specialist with Alberta Barley and Alberta Wheat. The southern part of the province has had consistent issues with grasshoppers because it has been so […] Read more


File photo of Cong Peiwu, China’s ambassador to Canada, speaking at the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa on Nov. 22, 2019. (Photo: Reuters/Blair Gable)

U.S. is ‘trouble maker’ in China-Canada relationship, envoy says

No word on whether China would retaliate against Canada over latest court decision

Ottawa | Reuters — The United States is using the case of a senior Chinese telecoms executive who was arrested in Vancouver on a U.S. warrant 18 months ago to create friction between China and Canada, China’s envoy to Canada said on Thursday. “The U.S. has been taking advantage of Canada, and the U.S. is […] Read more



“It’s not a matter of if your grain dryer catches on fire — it’s a matter of when,” says Richard Hoppins, Trochu’s fire chief and a producer himself.

Don’t let your grain dryer become a grain fryer

A few quick, simple measures can prevent your dryer — and your grain — from going up in smoke

Reading Time: 5 minutes Every harvest — and especially in recent years — grain dryers across Alberta are put into action. But the busy season doesn’t leave time for the care and maintenance to reduce the risk of fire when these units are working flat out. Although it’s impossible to completely eliminate fire risk with anything that creates heat, […] Read more