Artist’s rendition of the planned Richardson Innovation Centre in Winnipeg. (Graphic courtesy Richardson International)

Richardson to take food innovation downtown

Canadian grain and agrifood firm Richardson International plans to marshal its food research and product development crews in a new downtown Winnipeg space. The privately-held, Winnipeg-based company announced Wednesday it will put up over $30 million to build what it calls the Richardson Innovation Centre, a four-story, 62,000-square foot facility to go up a block […] Read more

It’s a sure sign of spring — the ‘Blue Book’ is here

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


Get the lowdown on plant growth regulators and crop varieties

Get the lowdown on plant growth regulators and crop varieties

PGR fact sheet looks at lodging and staging while crop fact sheets examine performance in Alberta

Reading Time: 2 minutes New fact sheets on plant growth regulators and crop varieties are now available. Plant growth regulators (PGRs) are synthetic compounds that can modify plant growth and development by altering plant hormonal activity. While PGRs are popular in other regions of the world like Western Europe, their use in Western Canada is relatively new. “The plant […] Read more

This AGT Foods and Ingredients facility in Gibbons represents the current state of Western Canada’s pulse sector — which is largely about collecting the raw seed that will be cleaned, sorted, and exported. But the future lies in processing pulses for their protein, fibre, and starch, says Ron Styles, acting president of Protein Industries Canada.

Ottawa’s big cheque will pay even bigger dividends, says pulse group

But critics decry 
federal grants to 
next-gen industries

Reading Time: 4 minutes Critics are calling it “corporate welfare,” but the supporters of a protein supercluster say $150 million-plus in federal funding will turn pulses into the next canola. There’s never complete buy-in for this sort of government action, but projects like this typically aren’t possible without government funding, said Ron Styles, acting president of Protein Industries Canada. […] Read more


Checkoff tax credits available for farmers

Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Barley advises farmers that 17 per cent of their 2017 checkoff payment is eligible for the Scientific Research & Experimental Development (SR&ED) tax credit. Farmers must include Form T661 with their tax return along with either Form T2SCH31 (incorporated businesses) or Form T2038 (individuals). Farmers can learn more about the SR&ED program by visiting […] Read more



(Dave Bedard photo)

More canola, wheat acres expected at pulses’ expense

CNS Canada –– Canadian farmers will seed more wheat and canola in 2018 at the expense of pulse crops, according to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s latest supply/demand estimates that include their first projections for the upcoming 2018-19 crop year. Total canola acres in 2018 are forecast at 24 million by the government agency, which would […] Read more

Cash oats steady despite climb in futures

CNS Canada — Oats futures at the Chicago Board of Trade have posted solid gains over the past month, but the cash market in Western Canada remains steady overall. “It’s been a nice little rally up,” said Scott Shiels, grain procurement manager with Grain Millers Canada on the 35 U.S. cents per bushel rise in […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Feed weekly outlook: Prairie grains chopping around

CNS Canada — Dry subsoil moisture conditions and a lack of snow cover in southern Alberta and Saskatchewan continue to create worries for many farmers. Conditions range from abnormally dry in many areas to full-on droughts around Regina and some areas south of Calgary, according to Agriculture and Agri-food Canada. Feed barley bids in the […] Read more

Workshops are being held across the region to arm farmers with best practices for combating the devastating canola disease.

Peace Country farmers told the time to halt clubroot is now

Workshops are being held across the region to arm farmers with best practices for combating the devastating canola disease

Reading Time: 2 minutes Clubroot was found in the Peace last summer — and that’s prompted an all-out effort to mobilize the farm community to do everything possible to halt the spread of the disease. Officials from the ag research group SARDA and local municipalities along with ag fieldmen are hosting workshops at seven different locations so producers can […] Read more