Reading Time: 4 minutes Biofuels aren’t the only clean energy game in town, and a hoped-for boost for canola as a biofuel feedstock might be tempered by a surge in demand for electric vehicles. In December, the federal government released details of its Clean Fuel Standard, which ups the amount of biofuel in diesel. That prompted predictions it could […] Read more
Will the future be electric or driven by canola?
New fuel standard will give canola a major boost, but electric vehicles are a rival
Average year expected for insect pests in Alberta
But as usual, local conditions mean producers need to ‘scout, scout, and scout’
Reading Time: 3 minutes Insect pressure dropped in 2020, and Alberta producers can expect much the same for 2021. “In general, 2020 wasn’t really a big insect year, especially compared to past years,” said Boyd Mori, an assistant professor of agricultural and ecological entomology at the University of Alberta. “We had flea beetle pressure like we always do, but a lot […] Read more
Being prepared has proven its worth — but there’s more to be done
Opportunity awaits, but farmers need to focus on three key areas, says ag lender
Reading Time: 3 minutes Supply shortages. Conflicting information. Ever-changing rules and regulations. Financial insecurity. Uncertainty plagued the early days of the pandemic, but Canadian farmers just kept rolling with the punches. “If I look back, I think the industry showed a lot of resiliency,” said Ryan Riese, national director of agriculture for RBC. “It showed that it was prepared […] Read more
Pork producers eye an average year — which would mean more losses
Barns are already being shut down, and this exodus will accelerate, says industry veteran
Reading Time: 3 minutes The past year hammered the already struggling hog industry — but is there hope on the horizon for 2021? “I don’t want to be doom and gloom, but I have to say no,” said Brent Bushell, general manager of Western Hog Exchange. “In Western Canada, on average, producers haven’t made money since about 2015. Guys […] Read more
Big crop insurance premium cut may last for years, says AFSC
Barring a big crop wreck, this year’s 20-per-cent cut in premiums will continue for five years, says CEO
Reading Time: 5 minutes Alberta farmers will see a 20 per cent cut to crop insurance premiums this year — and if all goes well, those savings could continue over the next five years. “We’re providing a premium break right now that will lower the cost to producers in the program — (but) even doing that, we still find […] Read more
Virtual tours gather global audience for Vermilion farm
"We're letting people into our way of life"
Reading Time: 3 minutes Chatsworth Farm is a long way from Scotland and even farther from Nigeria. But that hasn’t stopped the Vermilion-area farm from welcoming tour groups from these countries half a world away — virtually, that is. “I started doing tours in March as soon as our first lockdown came into place,” said Charlotte Wasylik, who operates […] Read more
There’s still a high bar on workplace safety for farm employers, says expert
Farmers with non-family employees need to understand their obligations, says lawyer
Reading Time: 4 minutes The farm safety legislation that sparked a political firestorm in 2015 may be gone — but not entirely. “They say Bill 6 has been repealed, but here’s the thing: It wasn’t a clean break,” said Christopher Spasoff of F2 Legal Counsel, who defends those facing occupational health and safety (OHS) charges. “It wasn’t a full […] Read more
Grain prices reach near-record highs with no end in sight
They could go higher yet, but take advantage now to lock in some of next year’s crop, say experts
Reading Time: 4 minutes The best cure for high prices is prices — as the old saying goes — but Canadian grain producers may be able to ride the current highs for a little longer yet. “We’re approaching all-time highs in a number of commodities right now, and historically, the faster things go up, the faster they inevitably go […] Read more
Proposed grain code suddenly getting noticed
Some farmers are wondering why they’ve just heard of it, but it’s been in the works for a while
Reading Time: 4 minutes A new proposed grain code of practice has left some Alberta growers scratching their heads about where it came from, who’s behind it, and why they haven’t heard about it until now. But that’s not for lack of trying on the part of the group who developed the draft Responsible Grain code of practice. “Those […] Read more
Here’s the beef — it’s on Costco shelves in Madrid and that’s a big win
A Canadian beef deal in Spain raises hope the battle for European access is paying off
Reading Time: 5 minutes You might expect to pay $30 for a steak at a restaurant. But at the supermarket meat counter? Not so much. However, Costco customers in Madrid haven’t balked at paying those sorts of prices since the chain began carrying Canada AAA rib-eyes in November. “As a Canadian consumer walking into the grocery store, I don’t […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
