(Government of Alberta via Flickr)

Alta. to tweak farm worker bill for ‘clarity’

With consultations only just out of the gate and the legislation awaiting second reading, the Alberta government already plans to amend Bill 6, its farm and ranch worker protection bill, for “greater clarity.” While not mentioning recent vocal protests over the bill, provincial Labour Minister Lori Sigurdson announced Tuesday the bill will be amended to “make clear what […] Read more


Dried legumes and cereals on a white background

UN international year to showcase pulses

Chair of Alberta Pulse Growers says event will boost competition and prompt more research and breeding

Reading Time: 2 minutes The United Nations International Year of Pulses is underway, and that’s good news for the province’s pulse producers, says the chair of Alberta Pulse Growers. “As IYP draws attention to big global issues like nutrition, food security, and environmental sustainability, this crop — which is a Canadian success story — is only going to get […] Read more

Peace region MP Chris Warkentin, shown here in October 2011 at the Canadian Council for Aboroginal Business’ Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Conference in Ottawa, has been named as the Conservatives’ critic for agriculture and agri-food. (Entrepreneurship2011.indigenous.net)

Peace MP named Conservatives’ lead ag critic

A contractor turned politician from Alberta’s northwestern Peace region is the new ag critic in Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition. Chris Warkentin, the Conservatives’ MP for Peace River since 2006 and, as of last month, the MP for Grande Prairie-Mackenzie, was named Friday by interim leader Rona Ambrose as the critic for agriculture and agri-food, with […] Read more


Co-operator website earns national silvers

Co-operator website earns national silvers

The website for Manitoba’s farm newspaper of record has earned two silver medals from the Canadian Online Publishing Awards (COPAs). The Manitoba Co-operator’s website, ManitobaCooperator.ca, part of Glacier Media’s Farm Business Communications division in Winnipeg, won silver for Best Media Website, coming in second behind SalonMagazine.ca in the Blue division (scholarly, farm and B2B publishing). […] Read more

Agri-Trend CEO Rob Saik. (Jennifer Paige photo)

Trimble to buy consulting firm Agri-Trend

GPS and precision farming firm Trimble is set to buy the Canadian operator of North America’s largest network of independent agricultural consultants. Publicly traded, U.S.-based Trimble, which specializes in GPS and other location services, including the collection and management of on-farm data and services for precision farming, announced Tuesday it will buy Red Deer-based, privately-held […] Read more



PULSES: India throws cold water on US inspection proposal

PULSES: India throws cold water on US inspection proposal

Winnipeg, Oct 29. – Following are a few highlights in the Canadian and world pulse markets on Thursday morning, October 29. –   Prices for chickpeas in Northwestern India have risen to such high levels that they are starting to cut into planting areas traditionally reserved for rapeseed, according to reports out of the country. Temperatures […] Read more