B.C. wine of a 2024 vintage is going to be hard to find in the coming years, as vineyards and fruit producers in much of southern B.C. are reeling from a cold snap in January — the latest in a series of major challenges for the high value crops grown in the region. "I'm hearing... Read More
Category: Western Canada
Several of the crop pest species farmers grapple with in a season aren't actually native to the area. Pea leaf weevil, cabbage seedpod weevil, and wheat midge all came from other geographies before setting up shop on the Canadian Prairies. Still more insect pests could find their way here — or could be here already... Read More
The Manitoba government is maintaining a 50 per cent school tax rebate for farm properties, while planning to collect an additional $148 million in school taxes from commercial and residential property owners. On Tuesday, Premier Wab Kinew's NDP government unveiled its first budget since being elected. The budget forecasts a provincial deficit of $2 billion... Read More
A fruit tree orchard can be viable for many, many years, but it also means that establishing an orchard requires significant investment. That investment should pay off in the years of harvesting the fruit, but as many in B.C. are struggling with, severe weather can cut yield potential weeks before the trees begin their spring... Read More
Have you ever attended a protest? Would you? If you've ever had a chance to tour downtown Ottawa, you'll know that peaceful protests on Parliament Hill are a daily expectation. At any one time, there could be two or three or more groups on the Hill holding signs and trying to bring awareness to a... Read More
There's no better place to conduct practical agronomic research than in the real world, under the same conditions, using the same equipment and management practices. That's the premise underlying the Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers' On-Farm Network, a farmer-driven research program that was officially launched 10 years ago, in 2014. "We really saw a need... Read More
Cattle markets reacted negatively to the news earlier this week of dairy cows testing positive for HPAI in Texas and Kansas. As Anne Wasko of the Gateway Livestock Exchange explains, it's unfortunate but not unexpected to see a downward dip in futures when uncertainty creeps in to the marketplace. Cash trade in the U.S. was... Read More
We know what the seasons are like for cattle and grain farmers, but have you ever wondered what a typical season is like for a bee keeper or what challenges they might experience? Joining me, Paige Warner, in my first time as a podcast host is Brennen Smith, manager and co-owner of Baconian Bee Farm.... Read More
The Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) has revoked the grain dealer and primary elevator licences for Zeghers Seed Inc., based at Holland, Manitoba. The company, which also operates as Zeghers Canada, is no longer licensed as of March 25, as it did not meet the requirements of the CGC's producer payment security program. If a producer... Read More
Southern Alberta has been in a multi-year drought, so when the most substantial snowfall in, well, years, fell last week, there's been plenty of talk of how to keep the snow where it is in hopes it percolates in to the soil. There's also been action, and one farmer's innovative approach to water conservation has... Read More