Reading Time: 4 minutes The timing couldn’t be better. Tariffs on Canadian canola oil into Asia could be scrapped as early as January if the new Trans-Pacific trade deal goes into effect. And that’s good news as canola growers seem poised to boost acreage this coming spring. Canada ratified the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) late […] Read more
Trade agreement a big deal for canola growers
Trans-Pacific Partnership trade accord comes as canola acreage poised to grow once again
Virtual reality shows real-world implications of land management on flooding
A new computer simulation tool shows how healthier soils can reduce run-off on the landscape
Reading Time: 3 minutes Virtual reality isn’t all fun and games. It’s also helping with flood mitigation. “We’ve built this tool that can characterize the risks around flooding and the influence that good management practices within the agricultural landscape can have on flood resiliency downstream,” said Steven Frey, a senior scientist at Aquanty Inc. The company, a research spinoff […] Read more
The birds and the beef: The facts of grasslands conservation
Grassland bird populations down dramatically, but farmers often don’t appreciate their value
Reading Time: 3 minutes Birds are struggling to survive on Prairie grasslands — but they’re not the only ones in trouble. “The biggest species at risk in Manitoba is beef producers,” said Curtis Hullick, field manager for the Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation. “It’s important to have large blocks of habitat for the birds. But with the economic pressures of […] Read more
Regenerative agriculture: A better way to farm?
Modern version of mixed farming model is attracting producers focused on ‘the long game’
Reading Time: 4 minutes Twelve years ago, Ryan Boyd faced a wreck that changed the way he farms today. “I had big plans,” said Boyd, who farms with his wife and parents north of Brandon, Man. “We had a nice crop coming, and then the weather went against us and the markets dropped. “The long and short of it […] Read more
Horrible harvest could impact fertilizer prices
Prices are already rising, but the late harvest is limiting the ability to apply or buy fertilizer now
Reading Time: 4 minutes Poor harvest conditions this fall could drive up fertilizer prices next spring. “For many producers right now in Alberta, fertilizer isn’t top of mind. They’re focused on getting the harvest off,” said Craig Klemmer, principal agriculture economist at Farm Credit Canada. “So when we look at the pricing side of things, demand wasn’t as strong […] Read more
Propane demand for grain dryers surges amidst wet harvest
Use is 2-1/2 times higher than normal as producers struggle to dry their high-moisture grain
Reading Time: 2 minutes This year’s wet harvest is driving up demand for propane needed to run grain dryers. “Normally the propane sector is totally able to meet the demand but this year, the demand is 2-1/2 times what it usually is in the fall,” said Nathalie St-Pierre, president of the Canadian Propane Association. “There’s a lot of pressure […] Read more
Bull test changes a sign of the times
Bull testing has changed — shifting from selecting for size to selecting for feed efficiency
Reading Time: 4 minutes Manitoba’s lone multi-breed bull test station is the last of a dying breed. In its early days, the Manitoba Bull Test Station was a way for cattle producers to evaluate their genetics before genetic testing became de rigueur in the livestock industry. Opened in 1963 near Douglas, just east of Brandon, the Sire Indexing Centre […] Read more
USMCA fallout: Some milk producers looking to exit
Dairy leaders looking for a ‘way forward’ but many are questioning their future in the sector
Reading Time: 6 minutes Dairy farmers in Alberta and across Canada are considering whether there’s a future in their sector — or if they should get out of the business, say farm leaders. Some may do that before the year is out, said David Wiens, vice-president of Dairy Farmers of Canada. “Over the next few months as we look […] Read more
The stars (unfortunately) aligned for kochia this summer
This could be the year that triple-resistant kochia is confirmed in Alberta
Reading Time: 4 minutes Farmers never really stood a chance against kochia this year. First, it was a dry year following a dry year, and kochia thrives in dry conditions. Then those dry conditions drew salts in the soil toward the surface — and kochia loves saline soils. And finally, those saline soils delayed emergence in kochia, so any […] Read more
The face of agriculture needs to change
The growing shortage of workers will produce a much more diverse workforce, say experts
Reading Time: 3 minutes The face of Canadian agriculture is changing, and farmers will need to change with it if they hope to survive. That’s a familiar message but when Janice Goldsborough delivers it, she’s not talking about consumers — but farmers themselves. “We have an aging population,” said Goldsborough, who helps small and medium-size businesses with their human […] Read more
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