More ranchers in five provinces may now be able to defer some of their taxable income from their livestock sales in 2016 due to drought. The federal government on Aug. 4 announced its final list of drought-designated regions where the livestock tax deferral provision will be allowed for the 2016 tax year, and has included […] Read more
Drought-related livestock tax deferral zones widen again
Deal on new ag funding framework
Reading Time: < 1 minute The federal and provincial ag ministers have agreed on the “key elements” of a five-year, $3-billion framework. The Canadian Agricultural Partnership is the successor to Growing Forward 2, which expires at the end of March. Read more: Ministers agree on new ag funding framework Business risk management is one of six focus areas, particularly AgriStability. […] Read more
DuPont to buy up farm software firm Granular
A San Francisco company providing farm management software to growers in four provinces and about three dozen states is poised to join the digital arm of DuPont and Dow’s merged agribusiness. DuPont — which as of last week had all regulatory approvals and clearances lined up to complete its merger with Dow Chemical — announced […] Read more
Newfoundland seeks beef cattle breeder
The Newfoundland and Labrador government’s plan to build up cattle breeding within the province is advancing a step as the province seeks a farmer to mind a small Hereford herd. The province on Tuesday put out a call for proposals from farmers to take on a five-year contract handling a herd of five breeding cows […] Read more
CN conductors ratify labour deal
An 11th-hour labour deal that averted a strike in late May by conductors and yard crews for Canadian National Railway has been ratified. Members of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference’s Conductors, Trainpersons and Yardpersons union (TCRC-CTY) have voted in favour of a three-year agreement retroactive to July 23, 2016, CN said Tuesday. The deal “provides […] Read more
More choices than ever at Open Farm Days
Open Farm Days runs Aug. 19-20
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Open Farm Days continues to grow and this year has reached triple digits. More than 100 farms, ranches, and other operations with a connection to agriculture will be opening their doors to the public on Aug. 19-20. Visiting farms is free and a complete list can be found at www.albertafarmdays.com. The website also has […] Read more
Alberta Pork website gets a revamp
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Pork has launched a new version of its website. In addition to information and recipes for consumers, the website offers answers to questions such as, ‘Why are most pigs raised indoors?’ and whether added hormones are found in pork. It has also numerous resources for producers. This includes information on animal care, traceability, biosecurity, […] Read more
It’s time for Canadians to dig up their undies
It’s time for Canadians to grab their shovels, head into their gardens, flowerbeds or fields and reveal their underwear. Part 2 of the Soil Conservation Council of Canada’s (SCCC) experiment to help gauge the health of soils has come to an end, and if you buried a pair of cotton briefs, now is the time to retrieve them. “The Council was […] Read more
Grain grading changes for Western Canada
The Canadian Grain Commission has announced several grain grading changes for the 2017 to 2018 crop year in Western Canada that will take effect August 1, 2017: It has added an ergot tolerance of 0.05 per cent in all grades of fababeans and chickpeas; Changed the tolerance for grasshopper and army worm damage from eight […] Read more
Livestock premises ID participation strengthens Canadian agriculture
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is considering changes to the Health of Animals Regulations for livestock traceability, the agency announced during PremisesIDWeek July 26, a federal release says. The changes would require all Canadian operators of premises where livestock may be loaded or unloaded from a vehicle to have a valid premises identification number for […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
