Reading Time: 4 minutes In what many believe will be a turning point for agriculture here, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has legalized the growth and marketing of crop varieties developed with gene editing. That has fired up Jason Lenz’s imagination about the technology’s impact on food waste and food security — and also on flea beetles. “Food security […] Read more
Green light for gene editing heralds new age in farming
New guidance from Ottawa puts gene-edited varieties on par with their conventionally bred cousins
Cash advance applications soar along with interest rate
With the interest-free portion being upped to $350,000, producers would save thousands — or even invest it
Reading Time: 5 minutes There’s been a surge in the number of farmers seeking cash advances thanks to soaring interest rates and a big increase in the interest-free portion of the loan. And the deal might even be tempting farmers who don’t need an operating loan. On April 3, the opening day of the 2023 program, the Canadian Canola […] Read more
Don’t fear El Niño, says climate expert
The planet may set an all-time heat record thanks to the weather phenomenon, but probably not here
Reading Time: 3 minutes El Niño is coming but don’t worry. It doesn’t mean this summer will be a blast furnace, say experts. The weather phenomenon caused by a warming of ocean waters brings hotter weather, and many climate experts predict its return will result in all-time global heat records. But there are a few things working against El […] Read more
STRIP TILL: It’s new, it’s tricky and you can’t ask the neighbours for advice
On paper, strip-till is an excellent way to reduce erosion and improve soil health, but there’s a learning curve
Reading Time: 4 minutes Being a pioneer isn’t easy, but sometimes it can pay off. Or at least that’s what John Kolk hopes. Over the past few years the southern Alberta farmer has been using strip tillage on row crops such as dry beans, corn and soybeans. Although the system hasn’t been a big earner in terms of dollars […] Read more
Proposed Canadian grain code morphs into sustainability ‘tool’
Group revamps controversial code after extensive consultations with buyers and farmers
Reading Time: 3 minutes After four years and considerable controversy, Canada’s grain industry has revamped its proposed code of practice by turning it into a sustainability “tool.” A cross-Canada working group developed the guide, which is focused on practices already widely employed by farmers and on raising awareness of that stewardship, said the Alberta producer who chairs the Canadian […] Read more
Farmers being asked to show their 4R bona-fides
A huge number of acres are farmed the 4R way, but fewer than half have the paperwork to prove it, says Fertilizer Canada
Reading Time: 3 minutes Dean Hubbard found the process of getting his 4R designation was pretty easy. The secret? He was already using all the recommended practices for making the most effective use of fertilizer while minimizing environmental impact. “I ran down a checklist and they said I had my 4R designation,” said the Claresholm farmer. “I didn’t even […] Read more
Few winners despite big jump in cattle prices
While prices are the highest in eight years, it’s a different story when it comes to margins
Reading Time: 3 minutes Cattle prices are the highest in years, with record production despite a contracting national herd. These should be signs of health in Canada’s beef sector, but instead there’s pain throughout the value chain, says an industry expert. “The number of winners in an inflationary price environment are actually few and far between because all of […] Read more
Could the next green revolution already be underway here?
Green-on-green spraying isn’t officially available here yet but it’s close
Reading Time: 5 minutes It wasn’t long ago that sprayers able to distinguish weeds in a growing crop were in the ‘maybe someday’ file. But that has changed, and a new green revolution may already be underway. Some Prairie farmers have bought and are using green-on-green sprayers, even though the company involved is still adapting the software to Canadian […] Read more
Mixed forecast for soil moisture conditions this spring
Once again, timely rains in the early growing season will be crucial for Alberta
Reading Time: 3 minutes Alberta producers could be facing a mixed bag of soil conditions this year, depending on where they farm and who they ask. Although it’s still hard to tell due to a long winter and extended snow cover, Laura Richard said the province’s southern region will likely be in the best shape thanks to winter precipitation. […] Read more
Indoor ‘mega-farm’ in Calgary getting even bigger
While the facility is the same size, the growing area is being increased by a third and production doubled
Reading Time: 3 minutes An indoor mega-farm set to produce microgreens and baby greens just got even more mega. The facility that will house the “vertical farm” now under construction in southeast Calgary isn’t getting bigger but the growing space inside is jumping to 100,000 square feet from 74,000 previously. “We found, through further engineering, ways of further squeezing […] Read more
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