Sao Paulo | Reuters — Brazilian federal prosecutors have demanded civil aviation authorities change regulations to increase oversight of agriculture airplanes such as crop dusters, which they claim can be used to smuggle drugs and agro-chemicals. Prosecutors are calling for the mandatory introduction of a transponder equipment to monitor such planes, and have suggested new […] Read more
Brazil cracking down on unmonitored agriculture planes
Invasive perennial grass threatens irrigation systems
Officials aren’t sure how Phragmites arrived in the province but are urgently trying to eradicate it
Reading Time: 2 minutes Phragmites is an invasive perennial grass that can reach heights up to four metres tall and likes to grow in low lying areas with water. When invasive Phragmites is introduced to natural areas, it spreads rapidly, via rhizomes, and can be difficult to control once established. “It has harmful effects on native species and aquatic […] Read more
Canada prepares for legal pot with new license class, labels
Toronto | Reuters –– Canada’s health regulator on Monday set out thresholds for a new class of cannabis cultivation and processing licenses, and outlined strict requirements for the packaging and labeling of recreational marijuana ahead of its legalization this year. The proposals were published in a document released by Health Canada, taking into account feedback […] Read more
U.S. rail regulator tackles railroads over customer complaints
Reuters — The top U.S. rail regulator has asked major railroads for information on service levels before meeting disgruntled shippers and other customers over complaints about service delays and higher costs. In letters to the CEOs of the railroads, dated Friday and posted Monday on the U.S. Surface Transportation Board’s (STB) website, the regulator requested […] Read more
Walmart patents hint at future where its drones tend the farms
New York/Chicago | Reuters — Walmart’s patent filings hint that it may see a future where farmers use its drones to not only spot crop problems but selectively apply chemicals or even disperse pollen to bring shoppers the freshest and cheapest food possible. The world’s largest retailer applied for six patents last year on drones […] Read more
Enjoy stable diesel market while you can, analyst says
CNS Canada — The short-term outlook for the diesel market in North America calls for current prices to remain largely untouched through spring planting — but it could change drastically after that. According to Tom Kloza of the Oil Price Information Service in New Jersey, prices for diesel could even get higher than crude oil. […] Read more
China conditionally approves Bayer’s Monsanto deal
Beijing | Reuters — Bayer on Tuesday secured conditional approval from China’s commerce ministry for its planned acquisition of the world No. 1 seed company Monsanto, chalking up a victory in an onerous struggle to win over watchdogs across the globe. The ministry also ordered the German drug and crop chemicals maker to spin off […] Read more
Survey on Alberta’s agriculture priorities
Survey open until March 18
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Agriculture and Forestry has developed a short online survey for input on the program concepts for the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (the successor to Growing Forward 2), which is set to begin in April. Input provided will equip provincial staff to provide programming that meets the needs and priorities of Alberta’s industry. The five priority […] Read more
Mushroom grower Highline expands westward reach
Canada’s biggest mushroom grower is set to further expand its market space in Western Canada with a deal for a West Coast competitor. Highline Mushrooms of Leamington, Ont. announced Wednesday it will buy Prairie Mushrooms of Langley, B.C. for an undisclosed sum. Highline, which has operated since 1961 and was taken over in 2016 by […] Read more
Kirriemuir producers named top young farmers
Reading Time: 2 minutes Alberta’s newest Outstanding Young Farmers don’t really see themselves as special. They see themselves as lucky. “We’re not extraordinary by any means,” said Craig Ference of Double F Farms near Kirriemuir. “We’re just doing what we love. We’re very fortunate to be Alberta farmers.” But luck had nothing to do with the Ferences’ recent win […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
