Gerry Ritz was on hand at Richardson's Kelburn Farms, just south of Winnipeg, today to announce a federal government commitment of $15 million to the canola industry. This funding, through Growing Forward 2, will be leveraged to bump that total to more than $20 million, says Patti Miller, president of the Canola Council of Canada... Read More
Category: News
With concerns around climate change, the availability of non-renewable resources, and increasing the sustainability of industries as a whole, it is not surprising that organizations like the Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute (PAMI) are looking at ways to harness energy that is otherwise wasted. I recently spoke to Joy Agnew, project manager at PAMI, about their... Read More
A total of 28 research projects focused on expanding or improving barley's use as feed, food and malt will receive funding under a new Barley National Research Cluster, spearheaded by the Alberta Barley Commission. Newly re-appointed federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz was on hand last week to make the $8 million announcement. “This is a... Read More
If you live on the Prairies, chances are you’ve seen numerous thunderstorms develop. You already know they typically form on hot, humid days. This is because thunderstorms require moisture, a force to move that moisture and an unstable air mass to develop. You’ve also seen the cumulus stage of thunderstorms developing on the horizon, no... Read More
Prime Minister Stephen Harper shuffled his Conservative government's cabinet yesterday and, drum roll please...not much, if anything, will change for the agriculture industry. Gerry Ritz remains as Agriculture Minister and Ed Fast stays on as Minister of Trade. There are a few new names in the agriculture fold, as Maxime Bernier takes on the role... Read More
In what is being described as a “momentous occasion” by its chairperson, the Board of Directors of Cigi (Canadian International Grains Institute) has approved a new governance model for the institute, according to a press release. The change, approved at its annual general meeting on June 18, will see board membership expand to include representation... Read More
Pollinators, including honeybees, are essential to food production all over the world. It's why farmers are always encouraged to chose insecticides that are as pest-specific as possible and to avoid applying them when pollinators are flying. Pollinators are not just good for bumping yields, they are necessary for some crops to even set seed. Recent... Read More
In a move that's sure to make manufacturers of organic pesticides very happy, the Manitoba government has announced its plan to introduce legislation that will ban the use of non-organic pesticides for lawns and common areas of the province. Citing health concerns for pets and children, the government plans to begin to ban the sale... Read More
Bill C-52, the Fair Rail Freight Service Act, received Royal Assent on June 26, fulfilling the Government’s commitment to bring forward legislation aimed at improving rail service for industries that rely on it to transport their product, including agriculture. The canola industry, like many other crop types, relies on rail service to move large quantities... Read More
The University of Guelph is on the hunt for a new winter wheat breeder following a major announcement this week. Grain Farmers of Ontario, SeCan and the university have partnered to create a new tenure-track position to focus on the crop, Ontario's third largest acreage crop after corn and soy. In this interview, Bern Tobin,... Read More