Reading Time: 3 minutes Stay slow and steady, fertilize appropriately, and cut down on your harvest losses. These and other strategies can increase your canola yields, and help the Canola Council of Canada achieve its ambitious target of an average of 52 bushels per acre by 2025. “It’s not an easy target,” said Clint Jurke, the canola council’s agronomy […] Read more
Think big — as in ‘52 bushels of canola per acre’ big
Is a 50 per cent jump in canola yields by 2025 possible? The Canola Council of Canada says, ‘You bet’
Researchers join forces to dig deep into state of Prairie cow herd
The five-year project has researchers collecting hard data on topics such as antibiotic use, trace minerals, and Johne’s disease
Reading Time: 3 minutes Cattle in Western Canada tend to be deficient in copper, have a low incidence of Johne’s disease, and cow-calf producers don’t use antibiotics excessively. Those are three of the findings from the cattle health network, a five-year project begun in 2012, and based on the National Animal Health Monitoring System in the U.S. “This year […] Read more
Farm safety consultations get mixed reviews
AgCoalition is hopeful, safety expert is pleased, but at least one farm group says the entire process is another ‘slap in the face’
Reading Time: 4 minutes Take your pick: The Alberta government’s approach to consultations on workplace safety regulations are a “sham,” possibly OK, or just what’s needed. The provincial government has set up six working groups — each with 12 members plus an independent chair — to develop workplace safety rules on farms and ranches. Of the 78 members, 23 […] Read more
Coexistence plan for GM alfalfa won’t eliminate risk
Expert says stopping the spread of the glyphosate-tolerant trait is virtually impossible, but levels can be kept ‘very, very low’
Reading Time: 3 minutes The recently released “coexistence plan” for genetically modified alfalfa in Western Canada doesn’t offer any guarantees that conventional and organic crops won’t be contaminated, says an expert on gene transfer. “It really depends on what you’re trying to achieve,” said Rene Van Acker, a professor of plant science at the University of Guelph. “If it’s […] Read more
Cattle markets take a downturn
U.S. herd expansion and a rising dollar mean the Canadian cattle market is taking a hit, says Anne Wasko
Reading Time: 3 minutes Canadian cattle prices are headed for a downturn and they’re going to stay on the low side for the next two years. “The wheels are coming off the bus,” said Anne Wasko, market analyst with Gateway Livestock. The downturn is partially due to the recent increase of the Canadian dollar. “This isn’t a slow progression […] Read more
New mindset needed? Earls is just the ‘tip of the iceberg’
Consumers are starting to call the tune about how cattle are raised, and the sector needs to respond, say industry observers
Reading Time: 4 minutes Consumers are demanding sustainable beef and many want it sooner rather than later. That’s a key lesson from the Earls Restaurant controversy — and evidence producers need to change their thinking, say experts. “The first thing the cattle industry has to do is stop believing that there is no money to be made with niche […] Read more
Uncertain times prompt growers to take out more insurance
Reading Time: 3 minutes It’s an uncertain world out there, especially in farming — and that has more Alberta producers taking out crop insurance. “We’re seeing more acres being insured by Alberta producers on crops — last year we were close to about 78 per cent of acres insured,” said Merle Jacobson, acting president of the Agricultural Financial Services […] Read more
Bid to boost beef checkoffs remains stalled
Reading Time: 3 minutes There’s no resolution in sight on the issue of checkoffs, even though beef industry groups say research and marketing will suffer if the levies aren’t increased. “We need to invest more in marketing, research, and issues management,” said Rich Smith, executive director of Alberta Beef Producers (ABP). “We simply believe we need a higher level […] Read more
Horses and pets not forgotten in Fort McMurray rescue effort
There was an overwhelming effort to rescue and care for horses and pets in the wake of the devastating fire
Reading Time: 4 minutes The outpouring of support for people displaced by the Fort McMurray wildfire was overwhelming — and so was the effort to rescue and care for horses from the area. Krista Critch was one of many volunteers who dropped everything to help save horses and pets at the height of the crisis. She had driven up […] Read more
Family living on the land makes it through ‘starvation month’
Reading Time: 2 minutes Back in the pioneer days, April was known as “starvation month” because this was when food stores started to run out, and the new growing season hadn’t started yet. This isn’t a concern for most people today, unless you’re living off the land, like the Ruzicka family. The Ruzickas have pledged to spend a year […] Read more