Memorial services are to be held Thursday at Sherwood Park, Alta. for University of Alberta entomologist and researcher Lloyd Dosdall, hailed especially in the Prairie canola industry for his work against the crop’s insect pests. Dosdall, who’d been undergoing treatments for cancer over the past two years, died last Thursday at age 61. Born and […] Read more
Canola pest expert Lloyd Dosdall, 61
New clubroot pathotype confirmed, can stump resistant canolas
A second round of tests on a clubroot pathotype found in the Edmonton area confirms it’s a new type that can beat canola varieties bred for clubroot resistance. “This is a different pathotype that none of the commercially available clubroot-resistant varieties in Western Canada are effective at managing,” plant pathologist Stephen Strelkov of the University […] Read more
PotashCorp to keep N.B. mine running, for now
“Ongoing tightness” in the granular potash market will keep a New Brunswick mine staffed and operating past its scheduled closing date. Fertilizer giant PotashCorp announced Monday it has “rescinded” the layoff notices for about 50 employees at its Penobsquis mine at Sussex, N.B. The layoffs had been issued in the wake of cost-cutting measures the Saskatoon […] Read more
Bloc ag critic’s leadership bid comes up short
Andre Bellavance, the Bloc Quebecois’ critic for agriculture, agri-food and international and interprovincial trade, finished second Saturday in a two-man race for the federal party’s leadership. Mario Beaulieu, head of the pro-sovereignty Societe Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Montreal from 2009 until this year, was elected Saturday as the Bloc’s new leader. He replaces Daniel Paille, who stepped […] Read more
Program offers free egg quota
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Egg Farmers of Alberta is now accepting applications under the New Entrant Program, which offers quota at no cost. Quota will be issued in lots of up to 1,500 birds. If there are more qualified candidates than available lots, a draw will be held. Applicants must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents, reside in Alberta, […] Read more
Replacement named for retiring Farm Credit chief
The federal government will promote from within to replace the retiring chief executive at its ag lending agency. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz on Monday announced Michael Hoffort, executive vice-president and chief risk officer of Farm Credit Canada, will be the lender’s new president and CEO for a five-year term starting July 1, replacing the retiring […] Read more
Livestock, grain groups hail step forward on Korea trade deal
For groups hoping to maintain access to South Korea’s markets for meat and crops, the Canadian government’s move to get its free trade pact with Korea before the House of Commons couldn’t come soon enough. International Trade Minister Ed Fast on Thursday tabled the text of the Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement, briefly noting the deal’s […] Read more
Anti-spam rules to weigh on all commercial email
Farmers who market their wares directly to customers by email will need to rethink their efforts come July 1, as new federal anti-spam legislation takes effect. If you’re already on a company or ag association’s email list for newsletters or promotions, you’ve likely had email lately asking you to provide consent to continue to receive […] Read more
FCC giving out $1 million to community groups
Reading Time: < 1 minute Rural community groups are invited to apply to the FCC AgriSpirit Fund. Farm Credit Canada will give a total of $1 million to rural community groups across Canada for capital projects. Registered charities and non-profit organizations interested in obtaining funding this year are encouraged to visit www.fccagrispiritfund.ca for eligibility requirements and to apply online. Every […] Read more
New app for price forecasts
Reading Time: < 1 minute Canfax has created a new, free app to forecast market prices. By using historical Canfax data, CFXPro helps project, from current market conditions, what calf prices might look like in the fall. Included in this guide are prices of calves, a break-even calculator, futures market information and daily updates on the new price insurance numbers […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
