On Friday, Statistics Canada released its third-quarter economic report, which included an update on gross domestic product and job growth. With the Canadian government boasting a strong economy and North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) negotiations in an arguably precarious situation, many experts are watching the domestic economic climate very closely. Some of the highlights... Read More
Category: Western Canada
Farmers from Saskatchewan and Quebec were named Canada's Outstanding Young Farmers for 2017 during the national OYF program in Penticton, BC this past weekend. Derek and Tannis Axten and Véronique Bouchard and Francois Handfield received the national recognition on Friday night. The Axtens operate a no-till grain farm with a unique emphasis on soil health... Read More
The Chinese government could move forward on allowing imports of three canola traits that have been awaiting Chinese approval for five years during Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's visit this week, according to a report from Global News. However, some canola seed industry stakeholders are skeptical that full approvals will be announced in the next few... Read More
With 1.38 billion people and a growing economy, it's impossible to ignore the opportunity in exporting to China. But the opportunity is not without obstacles, with concerns about the communist country's process for regulatory approval, human rights, and lack of accountability in protecting intellectual property rights. The Hon. Stockwell Day was Canada's Minister of International... Read More
The University of Saskatchewan announced a $5-million donation on Friday from A&W to support the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence (LFCE). “A&W is deeply committed to the Canadian beef and forage industry,” said Jefferson Mooney, chairman emeritus, A&W. “Our investment is an investment in the future of Canadian food and best practices to make... Read More
The results have been announced for the highly-competitive SaskWheat director election. 10 farmers were vying for four board seats in the organization's first election where online voting was an option. 3,266 ballots were verified and counted, with farmers selecting up to four candidates. Less than 300 votes separated first from seventh — an indication of... Read More
Manitoba's Progressive Conservative government introduced new legislation on Thursday aimed at protecting wetlands, while simplifying minor drainage maintenance. The Sustainable Watersheds Act also lays the foundation for an ecological goods and services program that would see farmers receive incentives for implementing best management practices that are in the public good, such as grassland and wetland... Read More
There are many ways to harvest crops, from pick-up to straight-cut headers. But, have you ever considered a stripper header? Designed largely for cereals, grass seed and rice farming, a stripper header has rotating teeth that lift the grain into the combine, essentially leaving everything else in the field. This has multiple potential benefits: The... Read More
From automated tractors to precision sprayers that spray only weeds, new technology is creating a buzz in the farming community. But let's not forget about satellite technology, which is now poised to make a tremendous impact on crop production. That's the message Patrick Crampton from Farmers Edge shared during a technology discussion panel at the... Read More
For as long as we have a supply management system, there will be debates about whether or not we should keep it. The line between for and against is predictable: dairy, egg, chicken, and turkey farmers and those with collective-leaning politics want to keep it, non-supply-managed farmers and free-market thinkers want it gone. Or so... Read More