Hong Kong/Beijing | Reuters — China National Chemical Corp (ChemChina) and Swiss pesticides and seeds group Syngenta have proposed remedies to the European Union’s competition watchdog to address concerns over their US$43 billion merger agreement. The European Commission’s website showed “commitments” submitted on Monday, which typically means the parties have proposed remedies such as asset […] Read more
Syngenta, ChemChina submit remedy proposals to EU
Apprenticeships available for aspiring organic farmers
Application deadline is Jan. 31
Reading Time: < 1 minute Young Agrarians, a program of Organic Alberta, is growing the next generation of farmers through a new apprenticeship program in 2017. The program is intended to help aspiring farmers gain skills and insight from experienced producers willing to share their knowledge and expertise. Four host farms have been selected in central and northern Alberta. Core activities […] Read more
Historic research ranches won’t be riding off into the sunset
The future of Onefour and Stavely ranches has been secured by the province and the University of Alberta
Reading Time: 2 minutes Decades of grassland research in southern Alberta will be preserved thanks to a deal between the province and the University of Alberta. The agreement will ensure rangeland studies continue at the historic research ranches of Stavely and Onefour. In 2013, the future of both sites was thrown up in the air when the federal government […] Read more
Choirs can raise funds to combat global hunger
Reading Time: < 1 minute Choirs are invited to sing, celebrate, and raise funds to help put an end to global hunger as part of Common Vision, a do-it-yourself free concert package from Canadian Foodgrains Bank. Funds raised from this year’s concerts will go to support people affected by conflict and natural disaster in places such as Syria and Haiti. […] Read more
Lots on offer at agronomy update
Early-bird registration until Jan. 6
Reading Time: < 1 minute Weather and new varieties will be in the spotlight at 2017 Agronomy Update in Lethbridge on Jan. 17-18. “New varieties are always showing up with different growing seasons,” said provincial crop specialist Harry Brook. “We’ve got producers in the south who are successfully growing soybeans. There is new information every year when it comes to […] Read more
Want to keep those resolutions? This young man knows the secret
Future paleontologist Holden Heppler has the recipe for achieving goals: purpose, passion, and a community of supporters
Reading Time: 3 minutes With holiday dinners behind us and a fresh year ahead, our minds often turn toward our New Year’s resolutions — those promises we make (and just as quickly break) to do better this year. Well, 16-year-old Holden Heppler has a surefire way to stick to those resolutions. “There’s one road to success, and that road […] Read more
This is not good — triple-resistant kochia has entered Alberta
Glyphosate-resistant kochia was bad but there’s a new strain that’s much worse
Reading Time: 3 minutes Kochia, one of Western Canada’s most abundant and economically devastating weed species, has won another major battle in overcoming herbicide. This summer, the first known Group 4 herbicide-resistant kochia was identified in a durum wheat field in southwestern Saskatchewan. And samples currently being tested from a farm in southern Alberta are also suspected to be […] Read more
It likely wasn’t your greatest year, but 2016 was definitely eventful
Weather was the big story but it was also a year when pulses took centre stage, farm groups came together like never before, and sustainable beef hit a milestone
Reading Time: 9 minutes Stepping back and looking at the year gone past is a great way to prepare for the one ahead. For most producers, 2016 was a grind with a distinct shortage of highlight reel moments. But the world always moves forward and there were many significant changes that took place over the last 12 months. Here […] Read more
Small indulgences — the experience of food can be priceless
In the food business, less can be more if you understand your customer and the emotional side of food buying
Reading Time: 3 minutes I remember a story from years ago about a family-owned ice-cream shop in a small town. Folks came from long distances for ice cream because it was so delicious. Yet, the customer had one constant complaint — there was too much ice cream in the cone! The owners of that shop decided to listen to […] Read more
EU regulators delay ChemChina/Syngenta decision
Brussels | Reuters — European Union antitrust regulators have extended the deadline for a decision on ChemChina’s proposed buy of Swiss pesticides and seeds group Syngenta by 10 working days, to April 12. Syngenta said in a statement the two companies had asked for the extension to allow “sufficient time for the discussion of remedy […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
