Reading Time: 4 minutes Cold, wet conditions through the fall and winter were the right recipe for winterkill in alfalfa pastures across the Prairies. “With climate change, the risk of forage stands being injured or killed by environmental stresses is predicted to increase,” said Bill Thomas, owner of BT Agronomy in Truro, Nova Scotia. “Just in the last month, […] Read more
Many pastures took a beating this winter, so scout early
Conduct plant counts as soon as pastures and hayfields start to green up, say forage experts
Grain is moving but it will take months to catch up
Canada’s reputation as a reliable grain supplier has taken a hit
Reading Time: 4 minutes There won’t be a quick fix for a ‘perfect storm’ that has set grain movement back by at least three months. The problems started with the late harvest across the Prairies followed by the week-long CN Rail strike in November and then cold weather and mudslides. By the time the anti-pipeline rail blockades hit in […] Read more
2018 cash advance deadline extended on pandemic concerns
Western Canadian farmers had more than $100 million coming due this month
Reading Time: 3 minutes Grain and livestock producers with a cash advance from 2018 will have until September to pay back their loan. “Hopefully, this will give them enough time to get it paid down so that we’re not forcing them into a default situation,” said Rick White, president and CEO of the Canadian Canola Growers Association, one of […] Read more
Safety protocols in place for farmers’ grain deliveries
Grain moving as normal, but farmers need to practice social distancing when delivering to elevators
Grain deliveries to country elevators should continue without any disruptions, the executive director of the Western Grain Elevator Association says. “All of the members of the Western Grain Elevator Association are doing everything in their power to keep the grain supply chain functioning” during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, Wade Sobkowich said Tuesday. “That means we’ll […] Read more
It might seem far off — but a bright new future is before us
Country’s top bank says there’s ‘a historic opportunity’ ahead — and Alberta ag colleges are preparing for it
Reading Time: 5 minutes Although no one can say how much devastation will be caused by COVID-19, experts in both disease outbreaks and economics all agree on one point — this crisis will pass. And if the country’s biggest bank and the province’s leading ag colleges are right, the future will be bright. “Technology is disrupting sectors across the […] Read more
When times get tough, toughing it out may not be the answer
Some farmers are way more profitable than others — so do what they do, says farm finance expert
Reading Time: 4 minutes These are difficult days for farmers — but also a time to look at what you can do differently. “If you’re not a top performer, you’re likely not consistently profitable, you’re going to be susceptible to those market fluctuations, and you’re probably unable to consistently invest in your business,” said Connie Adam, associate partner at […] Read more
No delays expected in fertilizer distribution
National fertilizer association doesn't expect any disruptions to deliveries
Should farmers expect delays to fertilizer deliveries heading into spring seeding? “Not if we can help it,” Fertilizer Canada CEO Garth Whyte said Thursday.”We’ve weathered all the rail system disruptions that we had over the last six months, and now, with COVID-19, we’re doing OK. “We’ve put contingency plans in at our manufacturing plants, at […] Read more
No Prairie farm fuel shortages expected in pandemic
Continuity plans in place to keep fuel moving
Prairie farmers shouldn’t see a disruption to their farm fuel distribution as a result of COVID-19 safety measures. “Our members are committed to minimizing disruptions to the Canadian fuel supply as a result of the pandemic response,” Canadian Fuels Association spokesperson Jason Vaillant said in an email. “Our members are working tirelessly to maintain operations […] Read more
GxExM: A new approach to juggling crop production variables
Understanding how genetics, environment and management all play off each other can boost the bottom line
Reading Time: 3 minutes There are a whole bunch of variables that can affect yield — and farmers have to be constantly adjusting their plans as conditions change in their fields. But it’s also easy to fall into the trap of assuming what you’ve always done will get you the results you want. And that’s why some experts advocate […] Read more
Seed supplies are strong, no delivery problems expected
But order seed by phone or online, and keep your distance during delivery
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta farmers shouldn’t face any challenges finding seed as the pandemic plays out over the next few weeks — but stick to phone calls and online orders when working with your seed supplier. “To my knowledge, there shouldn’t be a lot of problems (with seed supply),” said Kelly Chambers, executive director of Alberta Seed Growers. […] Read more
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