A vocal critic of the former Canadian Wheat Board single marketing desk for Prairie wheat and barley is now the lead agriculture critic in Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition. David Anderson, the MP for the southwestern Saskatchewan riding of Cypress Hills-Grasslands since 2000, was named Thursday as the Conservatives’ critic for agriculture and agri-food by interim Tory […] Read more
Anderson named federal Tories’ ag critic in shuffle
Alberta to back new renewable energy capacity
Reuters — The Alberta government said Tuesday it will support the creation of 5,000 megawatts of additional renewable energy capacity by 2030 to help achieve goals laid out in its climate plan last year. Shannon Phillips, Minister of Environment and Parks, said Alberta now has a firm target of 30 per cent of electricity used […] Read more
Bayer clinches Monsanto with raised US$66 billion bid
New York/Frankfurt | Reuters — German drugs and crop chemicals company Bayer has won over U.S. seeds firm Monsanto with an improved takeover offer of US$66 billion including debt, ending months of wrangling after increasing its bid for a third time. The $128 a share deal announced on Wednesday, up from Bayer’s previous offer of […] Read more
California first state to promise overtime to farmworkers
Sacramento | Reuters — California will become the first U.S. state to require farmers to pay overtime to field workers and fruit pickers under a bill signed Monday by Democratic Governor Jerry Brown. The bill would phase in overtime pay for farmworkers from 2019 to 2022. In an industry where a workweek during the harvest […] Read more
Wet weather slows harvest operations, halts some producers completely
Alberta crop conditions as of September 6
Reading Time: 2 minutes The wet weather over the past week slowed down or completely halted harvest operations in most areas across the province, especially the North East, North West and Peace Regions. The recent moisture will also have a potential impact on crop quality. Provincially, 16 per cent of the crop has been harvested (up seven per cent […] Read more
Wet weather continues to drag out harvest operations
Alberta crop conditions as of August 23
Reading Time: < 1 minute The wet weather pattern that has persisted throughout the entire growing season continued to affect the province this week with amounts varying from showers in the South to light rain in the Central and North East regions and heavy rain in the North West. Only the Peace received an extended period of dry weather which […] Read more
Fact sheet on balanced diets, cattle feeding available
Reading Time: < 1 minute The use of adequate, well-balanced diets can maximize profits — or minimize losses — in a feeding program. To help with this, Alberta Agriculture and Forestry has revised its Nutrients for Cattle fact sheet. It outlines the nutrients basics for good cattle nutrition and how well Alberta feeds succeed in supplying these nutrients. Topics covered include digestive […] Read more
Don’t spoil your hay — store it properly
Forage expert offers tips for reducing spoilage, and makes a pitch for having a hay shed
Reading Time: 2 minutes While hay quality varies across the province, how to store that hay for the best results doesn’t. “We’ve got a mixed bag this year,” said provincial beef and forage specialist Barry Yaremcio. “Some people cut their hay early, got caught with the rains and had it discolour before it even got into the bales. Others […] Read more
Inclement weather helps put harvest operations behind average
Alberta crop conditions as of August 16
Reading Time: 2 minutes Widespread showers and thunderstorms have continued to dominate weather patterns over the past several weeks. However, most areas across the province have also had some sunny and warm days to help mature crops. Provincially, crop growing conditions did not change from a week ago and are rated as 84 per cent good to excellent, compared […] Read more
After scorching heat, Earth likely to get respite in 2017
Oslo | Reuters — The Earth is likely to get relief in 2017 from record scorching temperatures that bolstered governments’ resolve last year in reaching a deal to combat climate change, scientists said Wednesday. July was the hottest single month since records began in the 19th century, driven by greenhouse gases and an El Nino […] Read more