Reading Time: < 1 minute A failure of airbrakes may have been the cause of a grain train derailment that killed three crew members near Field, B.C. on Feb. 4. A new crew had boarded the train, which had been stopped at the entrance to the Upper Spiral Tunnel for about two hours with airbrakes on, the Transportation Safety Board […] Read more
Three killed in grain train derailment in B.C.
Train had been parked with air brakes when it ‘began to move on its own’
What’s in the beef research pipeline?
Reading Time: < 1 minute An increase in the national beef checkoff (from $1 to $2.50 per head in most provinces) has increased the Beef Cattle Research Council’s research budget to about 75 cents per head (versus 15 cents previously). Under the new Beef Science Cluster III program — which runs until March 31, 2023 — $21 million will go […] Read more
Southern Alberta suffering from lack of precipitation this winter
While much of the province has seen average snowfall, the south has been below or well-below average
Reading Time: < 1 minute It’s a mixed bag when it comes to the soil moisture situation in the province. Most of the area north of Calgary has “experienced at least near-normal precipitation accumulations,” said Ralph Wright, manager of the agro-meteorological applications and modelling section with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. “In contrast, throughout much of southern Alberta, accumulations have been […] Read more
Get the lowdown on new beef yield grades
Reading Time: < 1 minute Canada’s beef yield grade standards have now changed to mirror U.S. ones, with five yield classes replacing the former three classes. The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association has several resources on its website outlining the changes and what it means to producers. This includes a brief on the five most commonly asked questions of the Canadian Beef […] Read more
A plateful of advice offered in new national food guide
But that plate has less meat, more plant-based protein, and water is the ‘drink of choice’
Reading Time: 3 minutes “Don’t see a lot of meat or dairy!” That tweet from a University of Guelph food expert summed up the reaction of many farm groups in the country following the unveiling of the revamped Canada’s Food Guide. As expected, Health Canada’s new edition of the guide — last revised in 2007 — recommends Canadians eat […] Read more
Get the lowdown on growing and selling durum
New Sask Wheat manual covers everything from selecting varieties to long-term profitability
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission has released a new manual for durum wheat growers. “The purpose of the durum production manual is to promote sustainable production of durum wheat on the Canadian Prairies and enable Canada to provide a consistent and increased supply of durum wheat with high quality to international and domestic markets,” the […] Read more
It doesn’t hurt to check, says grain commission
Only licensed grain companies are required to post security that ensures farmers are paid for deliveries
Reading Time: 2 minutes The Canadian Grain Commission is reminding producers that only licensed grain companies provide security that ensures farmers are paid when they deliver grain. “Do you know if the company you’re delivering to is licensed?” the commission asked in a recent tweet. A complete list can be found under ‘Licensed grain companies’ at the Canadian Grain […] Read more
Classroom Agriculture Program still looking for volunteers
Reading Time: < 1 minute There’s still time to sign up as a volunteer for the Classroom Agriculture Program. For more than 30 years, volunteers across Alberta have taught Grade 4 students about the importance of agriculture in their daily lives. The program offers a free, one-hour-long, hands-on presentation about agriculture. About five hours are required for volunteers (which includes training, […] Read more
Edmonton’s Delta Genomics sold to U.S. company
Newly named Neogen Canada focuses on the use and application of genomic data, says company
Reading Time: 2 minutes Edmonton’s Delta Genomics has been sold to Neogen Corporation, an American company with locations in the U.S., Scotland, Brazil, and Australia. “The biggest visible change will be the logo,” Michelle Miller, Delta’s CEO who is now general manager of Neogen Canada, said in an e-newsletter from Livestock Genetic. “Even though the testing will be done […] Read more
Fortunately there’s a better way to thresh
Reading Time: < 1 minute They claimed they were going for a Guinness world record, but it was all just in fun — which was a good thing considering the results. Organizers of the recent Farming Smarter conference urged attendees to set a record for ‘hand-threshing’ wheat in 60 seconds. The exercise was eye-opening: This group rubbing the chaff off […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
