(WSask.ca)

Saskatchewan approves largest multi-farm drainage plan

Saskatchewan’s provincial Water Security Agency has signed off on what it describes as the largest single agricultural drainage project in the province’s history, with more projects of a similar scale to come. The province announced Thursday it has issued a single approval for 73 landowners in the province’s southeast to set up an “organized and […] Read more

Researchers in Newfoundland harvested the province’s first-ever canola field in September 2016. (Gov.NL.ca)

Newfoundland expands Crown land base for farming

CORRECTED, Feb. 28, 2017 — The Newfoundland and Labrador government plans to boost the amount of land available to the province’s farmers by allocating more Crown land for development. The province’s Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agrifoods announced Thursday it has now identified 62 “agriculture areas of interest” to date, totalling about 158,150 acres. The […] Read more


Young Albertans put their 4-H pride out there

Reading Time: < 1 minute Two Alberta entries were among the 10 national winners in the Proud to Bee a 4-H’er video contest. In his video, Colton Skori lists four reasons why he loves belonging to the Irma 4-H Beef Club, including his beef project, all the friends he makes, and serving the community. “And last but not least, I […] Read more



(Dave Bedard photo)

FCC launches new loan for young agri-businesspeople

Canada’s federal farm lending agency is expanding its loan offerings in agribusiness and agrifood with a new program aimed at young businesspeople. Farm Credit Canada’s Young Entrepreneur Loan, launched Thursday in Ottawa during Canada Agriculture Day celebrations, will offer financing of up to $1 million per qualified applicant under age 40, at closed variable rates […] Read more

 D’Arcy Hilgartner


Hilgartner new chair of Alberta Pulse Growers

Kevin Auch and Greg Sears re-elected as commission chairs as farm groups welcome new directors

Reading Time: 2 minutes D’Arcy Hilgartner is the new chair of the Alberta Pulse Growers. Hilgartner farms 8,000 acres near Camrose with wife Lori, his brother, and their families. Hilgartner has grown pulses for more than 25 years; participated in research plots and demonstration trials; and represented Alberta Pulse Growers at a variety of international events, including most recently […] Read more



(CNW Group/A+W Food Services of Canada Inc.)

A+W books sales growth despite Prairie ‘challenges’

Canadian burger and root beer chain A+W has chalked up another year of same-store sales growth despite “economic challenges” in the Alberta and Saskatchewan markets. Posting its year-end results on Tuesday, A+W’s Vancouver-based income fund reported same-store sales growth of 3.4 per cent in 2016 over 2015, down from a 7.6 per cent sales growth […] Read more


Syngenta’s headquarters in Basel, Switzerland. (Photo courtesy Syngenta)

Canada’s competition watchdog clears Syngenta takeover

Canada’s farmers aren’t likely to see less competition for their crop chemical dollars if the owner of Adama Canada buys Syngenta, the Canadian antitrust watchdog has ruled. The Competition Bureau on Tuesday issued a “no action” letter for the takeover of Syngenta by China National Chemical Corp. (ChemChina), saying the deal is “unlikely to result […] Read more

Vegreville’s giant pysanka is a well known landmark in eastern Alberta. (Vegreville.com)

Viterra plans new eastern Alberta elevator

Glencore’s Prairie grain handling arm Viterra plans to stake a new claim in the northeastern Alberta market with a new high-throughput elevator at Vegreville. The company announced Monday it has picked up the necessary regulatory approvals and expects to start construction along Canadian National Railway (CN) track this spring. The elevator is expected to have […] Read more