Reading Time: 5 minutes Glacier FarmMedia – Canada has taken on a leading role in hemp production since the crop was legalized in 1998. Initially it was grain and products like hemp hearts and then nutraceuticals like cannabidiol. But now Canada is staking out a new leadership area in the hemp sector: genetics. It’s still comparatively early days for […] Read more
With new markets opening up, demand for new hemp varieties emerging
New uses mean a new spectrum of genetic traits for hemp breeders to tailor for
Walmart commits to sustainable beef in a ‘milestone moment’
Retail giant will buy 1.5 million pounds in the coming year and more in the years that follow
Reading Time: 3 minutes The effort to build production of certified sustainable beef in Canada is getting a major boost from Walmart. The retailing giant says its Canadian division will become a major buyer of beef certified by the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB). “This is the largest public commitment made by a single retailer to date: 1.5 […] Read more
Forecast, flea beetles complicate canola timing
Dry conditions make ideal seeding time difficult to peg
Drought conditions, and the odds of more to come, have some Prairie canola growers pondering when to roll the dice on seeding, if they want to do more than feed the flea beetles. Small-seeded crops, such as canola, have garnered particular concern from agronomists and producers worried about germination, given power dry topsoil across much […] Read more
Beef sector aims for new 2030 targets
Organizations involved in Canada's National Beef Strategy have announced new goals for the beef sector for the next decade
The Canadian beef industry has new benchmarks to reach for in the next decade. The organizations involved in Canada’s National Beef Strategy — the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, Canada Beef Breeds Council, Beef Cattle Research Council, Canada Beef, The National Cattle Feeders’ Association, Canadian Meat Council and Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef have announced new 2030 […] Read more
Auction marts urged to introduce social distance
Cattle are still flowing through auction marts as scheduled
The Livestock Markets Association of Canada wants to see more social distance at auction marts in the wake of COVID-19. The association has released an emergency response policy, asking its members to implement social distancing and prevention measures against the virus. “What we are looking at is trying to get a consistent message out to […] Read more
Manitoba puts $52 million in stewardship program — should Alberta be next?
More government funds for farms providing eco-services would be welcomed here — and put to good use
Reading Time: 3 minutes Is the idea of paying farmers for ‘ecological services’ finally ready for prime time? The Manitoba government is winning praise for setting up a $52-million endowment fund to create a province-wide version of a program that pays farmers for stewardship efforts such as protecting riparian areas and habitat restoration. The program will be based on […] Read more
Proposed EIA testing policy yields mixed views
Some fear mandatory testing for equine infectious anemia will be too costly for smaller equine events
Reading Time: 2 minutes New federal rules on horse movement and testing for equine infectious anemia could be challenging for some horse shows. “At that point, we can no longer feasibly budget a show at any kind of venue that would hold a larger group of horses,” said Cain Quam, owner and trainer at Quam Performance Horses in Kendal, Sask. […] Read more
Tick season now underway
Alberta isn’t yet a hot spot for ticks carrying Lyme disease, but they are here — and farmers should be on guard
Reading Time: 2 minutes Ticks may be unavoidable in farming, but getting bitten isn’t. The blacklegged tick, or deer tick, has become infamous for transmitting Lyme disease (which counts muscle aches, joint, heart and neurological problems and fatigue among its many symptoms), babesiosis (also causing flu-like symptoms and ramping up to anorexia, joint pain and a possible hospital visit), […] Read more
Refund scam flagged by Canadian beef breeders
Canadian cattle breeders should be on their guard after reports of an online scam. The Canadian Beef Breeds Council issued a warning after numerous producers reported fake emails looking to set up a sale, then requesting a refund before cheques clear. “It’s generally pretty high dollar values, so it gets the people excited that they’ve […] Read more
The guardian angels of the rodeo grounds
Retired Calgary firefighter says he's "living the dream"
Reading Time: 4 minutes Rodeo always has an element of unpredictability and danger and there’s nowhere that’s more evident that in bull riding. Typically the event kicks off with a sense of nervous anticipation, accompanied by pulse-quickening hard rock like AC/DC, and an excited announcer asking spectators, ‘Are you ready for some bull riding?’ The chute opens and everyone […] Read more