Unlike biodiesel, renewable diesel is chemically the same as petroleum-derived diesel. That means, renewable diesel is a one-to-one swap out for diesel and is a low-carbon fuel option. That matters, especially as the Canadian government pushes for continued lowering of emissions and is providing incentives for biofuel, including renewable diesel. To explore how renewable diesel... Read More
Category: Western Canada
The Canadian government is contributing up to $100 million to minimize the carbon emissions from BHP's new $7.5 billion potash mine at Jansen, Saskatchewan. The federal contribution from the Strategic Innovation Fund was announced by François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, and Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, alongside BHP's CEO Mike... Read More
Poet. Cowboy. Comedian. Musician. Author. Whatever role he was in, Baxter Black did it with good humour and stage-presence. Instantly recognizable by his bushy moustache, silk neck tie, and cowboy hat, Black was well-loved and well-respected throughout the North American farm and ranch community. He passed away late last week, at the age of 77.... Read More
After a dreary few weeks, we're starting this episode of the Beef Market Update on a positive note. Anne Wasko, of the Gateway Livestock Exchange, says on her ranch in southwest Saskatchewan, they got some rain, and hey, the markets are on the way up. The markets started out this week slow, but quickly picked... Read More
Discussions are underway on whether or not a new beef packing facility would be viable in Saskatchewan. The industry has sustained healthy margins over the past two-and-a-half years and with Saskatchewan being the literal breeding ground for upwards of one million cows, it's no wonder the province is up for consideration. Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association... Read More
Validating economic thresholds for flea beetles can be tricky — especially when we know the damage the insect can do to the canola crop. Héctor Cárcamo, research scientist at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) at Lethbridge, Alta., recently completed a study that confirms an economic threshold. The team at AAFC found that 25 per cent... Read More
Picture this: You're driving down a backroad and a vehicle approaches. You glance at your hand on the steering wheel. What happens next? Does one finger move up with a nod of recognition? Do you give a two finger salute? Maybe you give an entire hand wave? Or, if you're like me, sometimes the wave... Read More
From drought conditions, poor market prices, high input costs, and on-going costs for health maintenance, many western Canadian cattle producers are starting to question how much longer they can stay afloat. Some producers who are in drought-ridden areas are looking at selling off a portion of their herd out of necessity as their pastureland can... Read More
Although ground meat, such as beef or pork, is a single-ingredient food product, proposed regulation changes by Health Canada could require front-of-package labelling warning of the food's saturated fat content. Single-ingredient foods, such as eggs, vegetables, and fruit, are usually exempt from some labelling requirements, under Health Canada. Other countries that have implemented front-of-package regulations... Read More
If you're the happiest farmer in the world right now, you might be in Alberta, or maybe Ontario, as both regions got some much needed and timely rain respectively. For southern Manitoba and eastern Ontario, however, conditions are either get-the-seeder-stuck wet or make-the-wheat-pink wet. Early heat this season is pushing some insect populations higher than... Read More