"15 to 20 years ago it made me nervous to drive past a canola field waiting to be straight cut. But now...our genetics have improved, our ability to handle that crop, and the size of our combines and ability to handle that crop and harvest it in a timely fashion has gotten much better." This... Read More
Category: Western Canada
Farmers invest a lot to produce a crop, from before the seed hits the ground through to the harvest. With all the investment and technology that goes into producing a crop, why stop short when the grain hits the bin? Some of the most successful farmers are using technology to ensure they have the information... Read More
In this week's episode of Wheat Pete's Word, RealAg agronomist Peter Johnson is still floored by the amount of insects he is seeing this year. He offers some quick updates on alfalfa, some important tips on fertility, and since he apparently didn't get a chance to talk about it last week, he gives some updates... Read More
With the two week countdown on ahead of NAFTA negotiations, the Canadian government is bolstering its team in Washington and establishing a council to provide advice to Canadian negotiators. Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland announced Wednesday that she's sending Canada's chief negotiator in the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations to Washington as a deputy ambassador. Kirsten Hillman,... Read More
As a farmer, you take care of our crops all year, pouring thousands of dollars into making sure the final product is up to the standards you expected. So why would you let all that time and money spent go down the drain when you lose a good portion of your crop to harvest loss?... Read More
As harvest begins, the goal is always to get the crop off in the condition that maximizes its value to buyers. In the case of malt barley, there's a list of specs that maltsters are looking at, starting with protein level and kernel plumpness, explains Kevin Sich, supply chain director for Rahr Malting at Alix,... Read More
Farmers across Western Canada celebrated on Tuesday as it was the fifth anniversary of farmers gaining marketing freedom for wheat and barley, formerly known as 'board grains'. On August 1, 2012 farmers were given control of marketing their own farm production. Wheat and barley no longer had to be sold through the Canadian Wheat Board's... Read More
Canada's dairy processors and producers say the federal government has "failed to adequately support its dairy sector" after announcing plans for the allocation of cheese import licenses through the Canada-European Union trade deal (CETA). Canada agreed to tariff rate quotas for nearly 18 million kilograms of annual cheese imports in CETA under two categories: 16... Read More
The end of the Canadian Wheat Board as a single desk marketer of Canadian wheat and barley five years ago triggered a number of major changes in Canada's cereal crop industry. Most of the dust stirred up by dismantling the CWB has settled, but there's potential for more change. Recognizing gaps left by the end... Read More
At some point you have to say goodbye to your favourite variety. We all have our favourites for different crops. Some varieties last one year and others have more staying power based on a wider geographical fit or superior agronomic profile. In canola, Bayer’s Invigor 5440 has been one of the varieties that has been... Read More