Reading Time: 4 minutes Spencer Hilton has seen the business of farming change drastically during the decades he’s spent on his fifth-generation grain operation. “In the day and age that we’re farming in right now, we’re dealing with the ‘Walmart effect,’” said the Strathmore-area farmer. “There’s a real advantage to economies of scale and size. It’s not for everybody, […] Read more
Big farms equal big headaches — but will you pay for an adviser?
Farmers like Spencer Hilton say hiring was the best-ever investment, but management advice can seem ‘namby-pamby’
Root rot risk analysis tool could come online by next year
There are few things that pulse producers can do to manage root rots in their fields — but a new risk assessment tool could help
Reading Time: 3 minutes A new screening tool that will tell producers the risk of a root rot infection in their pulse crops could be available as early as next year. “At the moment, if producers are concerned about whether they have root rot in their field, they can take their soil to a commercial testing lab to determine […] Read more
Proper grain storage pays off
Getting grain to proper temperature and moisture levels is just the first step — constant monitoring is also vital
Reading Time: 4 minutes A grain producer’s hard work doesn’t end at harvest. “A tremendous amount of work goes into getting that crop to the point where you can actually put it in storage,” said Brent Elliott, infestation control and sanitation officer at the Canadian Grain Commission. “And once they’ve put it in storage, the common thought is, ‘OK, […] Read more
Worried about federal tax changes? There’s an alternative, say experts
Federal Liberal bid to close ‘loopholes’ will increase taxes on most farm corporations, but there’s a way to avoid that hit
Reading Time: 3 minutes Proposed federal tax changes aimed at ‘income sprinkling’ and other tax reduction measures used by corporations — including those owned by farmers — have ignited a storm of controversy. But there are “a lot of other tax strategies” that farmers can use, say financial planning experts. In July, federal finance officials announced proposed changes to […] Read more
Prepare this fall to manage blackleg in canola next spring
A new diagnostic test will make it easier for producers to match the right kind of blackleg-resistant seed to the specific race in their fields
Reading Time: 3 minutes There are things you can do this fall to reduce your risk of blackleg next spring — and the first step is to scout for it. “The more you can identify it, the more you’re going to know whether you’re successful at controlling it,” said Clint Jurke, agronomy director for the Canola Council of Canada. […] Read more
Donation will spark conservation projects across southern Alberta
A $500,000 gift from philanthropist David Bissett will fund 186 projects on 39 farms and ranches
Reading Time: 3 minutes A$500,000 donation will create almost 1,000 additional acres of conservation land in southern Alberta. “This funding pretty clearly identifies ALUS’s niche,” said Bryan Gilvesy, CEO of ALUS Canada, the organization receiving the donation. “This program isn’t about the traditional environmental ethics of protecting existing features. This harnesses the skills and energy of farmers and ranchers […] Read more
Imagine you couldn’t grow canola, warns farm leader
Clubroot’s arrival in the Peace isn’t a shocker, but it’s another sign farmers are flirting with disaster, say canola experts
Reading Time: 5 minutes In the war between canola producers and clubroot, clubroot is winning. “The clubroot-infested area is spreading at roughly about 30 kilometres a year, and we’re only managing it at 20 kilometres a year,” said Dan Orchard, agronomy specialist for the Canola Council of Canada. “We got an appreciation this year for just how fast it […] Read more
Forestburg 4-H club lets members clown around
Reading Time: 4 minutes Not many people can say they just clown around when volunteering, but 4-H leader Caroline Boddy does just that, thanks (in part) to her willingness to say yes. “I am notorious for just saying yes to absolutely everything,” Boddy said with a laugh. “That seems to work really, really well for me — it opens […] Read more
Biosecurity proves its worth in PEDv fight
Rather than slaughter recovered pigs, authorities move them to clean barns and then closely monitor them
Reading Time: 3 minutes Manitoba hog producers battling porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDv) aren’t out of the woods yet — but the situation has shown that biosecurity measures are effective. “We had not had any positive cases since July 14, but yesterday, one infected premises was confirmed positive based on samples collected from pigs,” Manitoba’s acting chief veterinary officer […] Read more
New technology poised to give barley a boost
Researchers aim to breed barley tailored to very specific needs
Reading Time: 5 minutes There’s a bright future for boring old barley. Aside from malt, barley doesn’t generate a lot of excitement for Prairie grain growers — something you can see in acreage figures (which have fallen by more than a third in Alberta and by nearly half in Western Canada during the past decade). But new technology is […] Read more
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