Reading Time: 2 minutes D’Arcy Hilgartner is the new chair of the Alberta Pulse Growers. Hilgartner farms 8,000 acres near Camrose with wife Lori, his brother, and their families. Hilgartner has grown pulses for more than 25 years; participated in research plots and demonstration trials; and represented Alberta Pulse Growers at a variety of international events, including most recently […] Read more

Hilgartner new chair of Alberta Pulse Growers
Kevin Auch and Greg Sears re-elected as commission chairs as farm groups welcome new directors

Producers could score big in pulse industry
Murad Al-Katib says Alberta has it all — good growing conditions, port access, and containers
Reading Time: 3 minutes Alberta has a huge opportunity in the pulse sector — and that’s just to meet demand already out there. That was only part of the good-news message that Murad Al-Katib brought to this year’s FarmTech. The future looks even brighter, said the president and CEO of AGT Foods in Regina. “Meeting the demand and supply […] Read more

Pulse Canada sets ambitious target to expand markets
The goal is to find new uses for 25 per cent of the industry’s production by the year 2025
Reading Time: 2 minutes Pulse Canada is aiming to find new uses for up to 25 per cent of the industry’s production by the year 2025. The recently approved “25 by 2025” target was set as part of the organization’s long-term planning process and will give the whole industry a target to strive for. The industry will marshal its […] Read more

Eight things to look for in your soil test report
When you understand your soil reports, you’re in a better position to develop fertilizer plans with your agronomist. All soil testing labs report the same basic information, but each lab has its own unique format. No matter what your report looks like, first, check the information at the top: your name, address, field name, etc.[...]
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Top three marketing resolutions for 2017
This year, instead of making a New Year’s resolution to lose some weight or save some money, consider resolving to improve your marketing plan. PI Financial’s David Derwin has three simple marketing resolutions to get you started.

Four steps to a fair land rental agreement
As land values increase, so do land rental rates, but commodity prices don’t always follow the same trajectory, although input costs might. So how do you come to an arrangement to rent land that is fair and profitable for both parties, because that’s the number one consideration if both want a stable, long-term deal. “Communication[...]
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Seven steps to accurate soil testing
Many Prairie farmers spend $250,000 or more on fertilizer each year. Are you getting your moneys worth? Applying fertilizer nutrient that is not needed is a waste of money. If you don’t apply a needed fertilizer, you’ll see a loss in yield and revenue. Soil testing can provide an excellent picture of the nutrient levels[...]
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7 tips for on-farm research tests
Is that shiny new product likely to work on your farm? To separate the heifer dust from the cream of the crop, farmers need to take a hard look at the research behind the marketing claims. John Heard, soil fertility specialist with Manitoba Agriculture, says the best way to learn about good research “is to[...]
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Pulses stranded at sea as shipping company flounders
CNS Canada — The bankruptcy of a major Korean shipping company has raised some concerns for Canadian pulse crops moving by container, but any disruptions to movement will likely be minor, according to an industry analyst. Hanjin Shipping Co., the world’s seventh-largest container shipping company, declared bankruptcy on Aug. 31, leaving more than half of[...]
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Hail, flooding damage some crops, but most ‘good to excellent’
Alberta crop conditions as of August 2
Reading Time: < 1 minute Over the past week, rainfall activity has been convective in nature, with heavy downpours leading to localized flooding, and in some cases damaging hail across the province. This has maintained soil moisture levels, but slowed haying progress and reduced hay quality. In cases where crops are not performing well, it is largely due to excessive[...]
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