Is your farm family ag safe? It's Canadian Ag Safety Week, and the Canadian Agriculture Safety Association has once again teamed up with the Canadian Federation of Agriculture for the third year of its three-year campaign helping families farm safe. Each of the three years focused on a different generation of the family farm. This... Read More
Category: Western Canada
The Canadian Federation of Agriculture held its annual general meeting recently at Ottawa, where farmers from across the country brought forward no fewer than 45 resolutions. From lobbying efforts surrounding the carbon economy and recognizing farmers' good work on carbon sequestration, to sorting out the current railway backlog, and on to holding firm on supply... Read More
Researchers with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada at Saskatoon have developed a lab test for identifying blackleg disease races in canola that complements the new blackleg resistance-gene labels on canola seed. Knowing both factors — the blackleg races present in a field and the disease packages available in seed — will allow farmers to select varieties... Read More
Soybean cyst nematode (SCN) is the crop's number one yield-robbing pest, and the problem is only going to get worse as the pest continues to breakdown the defence provided by SCN-resistant soybean varieties. It really is a case of the pest becoming "resistant to the resistance," says Iowa State nematologist Greg Tylka. About 95 percent... Read More
Three transition experts share their advice on the best way for the next generation to start the farm transition conversation. Show them you mean business Since any successful inter-generational transition must become a business transaction, I’ve found that young people who begin with a business approach tend to be taken more seriously. What’s this look... Read More
If the very idea of a digital currency makes you blank out, worry not — there are very few out there who would argue that Bitcoin has a large role to play in agriculture. If you've lumped the blockchain concept in with Bitcoin, that's where you need to pause and investigate further. Because, while the... Read More
Statistics Canada has confirmed once again that Canadian cattle producers are not following their American counterparts in expanding the beef herd. The federal agency published its January 1, 2018, inventory report this week, and Anne Wasko, of Gateway Livestock, walks us through the numbers in this Beef Market Update. First of all, for the not-so-analytical... Read More
Following this week's speech from the throne, the Alberta government today announced an investment of $10 million in the fight against rural crime. "Today in Alberta, especially in rural areas, people are concerned for the safety of their homes, their property, and the well-being of those they love," said Her Honour, Lois Mitchell, Lieutenant Governor... Read More
Canada and ten other Pacific countries are officially signing the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) this afternoon in Santiago, Chile. This isn't the first time Canada has signed a deal with the words "Trans-Pacific Partnership" in the name. The Liberal government also signed the original TPP in New Zealand in February 2016,... Read More
No one loves red tape, but rules and regulations are necessary. That said, rules and regulations should evolve alongside the advancement of an industry to best meet the needs, demands, and challenges of the value chain. The Canadian Grain Commission is working at doing exactly that, says chief commissioner, Patti Miller. Just over a year... Read More