The federal government has invested over $5 million to spur growth and resilience in the barley sector.  Photo: InnaTarasenko/iStock/Getty Images Plus

Funding boost announced for barley research in Western Canada

The federal government has invested over $5 million into the barley sector, aimed at creating more resilient varieties that can handle climate change. Federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Lawrence MacAulay on June 12 announced $5,257,073 earmarked for the Canadian Barley Research Coalition. The funding echoes similar announcements for research clusters dedicated to commodities like canola […] Read more









Producers sought for wheat, barley trials

Producers sought for wheat, barley trials

Reading Time: < 1 minute For the past four growing seasons, Alberta Grains’ Plot2Farm has collected data from on-farm research trials that test specific agronomic questions. In 2023, there was research at eight sites on increased wheat seeding rates, increased N on barley, plant growth regulators on wheat, wheat variety trials and enhanced-efficiency fertilizers. Alberta Grains is seeking producers interested […] Read more


Bacterial leaf streak is often confused for stripe rust, but without the orange spores.

Bacterial leaf streak in 2023

Reading Time: < 1 minute Bacterial leaf streak is an emerging disease in the Prairies. In 2023, Michael Harding’s provincial team conducted a province-wide survey to see where it is being found. Most of the infections were in Vulcan, Taber and Newell counties. However, one positive field was found at a more northern location, in Athabasca County. If the survey […] Read more

A slim and disappearing snowpack has been a familiar sight this winter.

Conditions ripe for winter cereal wreck

Lack of snow cover, up-and-down temperatures and pooling and freezing all potential problems

Reading Time: 4 minutes Glacier FarmMedia – Minimal snow cover, frigid temperatures in mid-January and above-average temperatures after that may have set the stage for winterkill in winter crops. The risk is high enough to cause concern among crop specialists. “The eastern Prairies are in a little bit better shape than (Saskatchewan and Alberta) but there’s huge swaths that […] Read more