Reading Time: < 1 minute Madden-area rancher Graeme Finn is the 2018 recipient of Alberta Forage Industry Network’s leadership award. It recognizes individuals showing leadership “in the areas of research, extension or promotion of the economic and environmental benefits of native rangeland, seeded pasture or hay land,” the forage network said in a press release. The organization cited Finn’s passion […] Read more
Innovative rancher recognized for leadership
Interest in soil health is growing, but testing still lags
It’s only a minority of producers who are soil sampling and that mystifies a provincial crop specialist
Reading Time: < 1 minute Some producers may be looking at soil health a little differently, but there are still not a lot of them taking soil samples, says a provincial crop specialist. “Soil sampling gives you an evaluation of the nutrient levels in your soil,” said Mark Cutts of Alberta Agriculture and Forestry’s Stettler office. “If you know that […] Read more
It’s a sure sign of spring — the ‘Blue Book’ is here
It’s 600 pages of info on pesticide products, and an invaluable guide for producers across the province
Reading Time: < 1 minute This year’s edition of the ‘Blue Book’ is now available. “An important part of the annual update includes newly registered pesticide products,” said crop specialist Mark Cutts, co-editor of the book, officially known as Crop Protection 2018. “This year’s edition includes new additions to the four main pesticide types: herbicides, insecticides, seed treatments, and foliar fungicides. […] Read more
U.S. optimistic about quick NAFTA deal, Canada more downbeat
Ottawa | Reuters — U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer on Wednesday expressed optimism that talks to modify NAFTA could be wrapped up quickly, but a top Canadian official was more downbeat, saying much work remained. The U.S. wants to speed up the slow pace of negotiations on the US$1.2 trillion North American Free Trade Agreement, […] Read more
Ontario power utilities offer farm water pump rebate
Ontario farmers buying certain types of high-efficiency water pumping systems for irrigation, horticulture or stock watering could now be up for rebates. Hydro One and Niagara Peninsula Energy (NPEI) on Friday announced the AgriPump rebate program, which the two electricity utilities described as the first plan of its kind in the province. For farmer customers […] Read more
Alberta names new deputy ag minister
Alberta’s deputy provincial environment minister, a civil engineer and 28-year veteran of the Canadian Forces, has been named the province’s new top agriculture bureaucrat. Premier Rachel Notley on Tuesday put through an order in council appointing Andre Corbould as Alberta’s deputy minister of agriculture and forestry effective Wednesday, replacing Beverly Yee. Corbould, the province’s deputy […] Read more
‘Clean’ tech adoption up for federal funding
Provinces and territories can apply starting April 1 for chunks of a three-year, $25 million federal fund to support programs that encourage on-farm adoption of precision ag tools or use of renewables from ag waste. Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay on Monday launched the fund, to flow through what’s dubbed the Agricultural Clean Technology (ACT) […] Read more
Feed weekly outlook: Grain supply starting to dry up
CNS Canada –– As the winter ends, supply is getting tight for feed grains in Lethbridge’s feedlot alley. “We’re seeing a little bit of a pullback on prices on most commodities in anticipation for making sure everything gets out before road bans,” said Brandon Motz, sales manager at CorNine Commodities at Lacombe, Alta. The feed […] Read more
Global fertilizer prices set to fall
CNS Canada — Global fertilizer demand has been higher, leading to increased prices, but with more capacity coming online prices should start to fall, according to an analyst. “Urea prices globally have moved a little higher over the past few months. They’ve been relatively volatile, that’s just kind of a function of some better than […] Read more
Bayer wins EU approval for Monsanto buy
Brussels | Reuters — German conglomerate Bayer won EU antitrust approval on Wednesday for its US$62.5 billion buy of U.S. peer Monsanto, the latest in a trio of mega-mergers that will reshape the agrochemicals industry. The tie-up is set to create a company with control of more than a quarter of the world’s seed and […] Read more
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