Pretty field pictures and awesome harvest videos aside, drones, or UAVs, are proving their worth on the farm through field scouting and development of management zones for precision farming applications. But there are many that see drones as an overblown camera or a fun toy, not fully recognizing the present usefulness and future potential of... Read More
Category: Western Canada
Brad Wall's Saskatchewan government rolled out its 2017-18 cost-cutting budget yesterday, and there's something for everyone to pick on. Affecting all sectors, Wall is increasing the provincial sales tax (PST) from five to six per cent, and has re-written what goods and services are no longer PST-exempt. Specific for farmers, beginning April 1, 2017, fuel... Read More
Will Canadians see a renegotiated North American Free Trade Agreement any time soon? Don't bet on it, says political commentator David Frum. Earlier this week, the editor of The Atlantic and former speech writer for George W. Bush, shared his thoughts on the Donald Trump presidency and possible NAFTA renegotiation at the Grain Farmers of... Read More
Ladies and gentlemen, farmers and agronomists, we've hit triple digits! That's right, this week's episode of Wheat Pete's Word is number 100, and from all of us here at RealAgriculture thank you for following along and making this podcast a huge success in a short time. Host Peter Johnson has made the most of this... Read More
There's a reluctance among the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) signatories to walk away from all the progress made with the deal, even though the United States has withdrawn its involvement with the deal. And while Claire Citeau, with the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance, is disappointed with the TPP deal proper being hamstrung, she says last week's... Read More
When it comes to mating horses, there’s a lot at stake. Stud fees can soar into the tens and even hundreds of thousands of dollars. And likewise, offspring from a particularly promising pairing can be extremely valuable. These animals could be the start of a new line, and lead to generations of prime performers. But... Read More
Recently, the federal government released "emergency" rules regarding recreational use of drones (UAVs), significantly restricting where and when drones could be used. Citing a 200% increase in commercial flight incidents with drones in just two years, the transport minister says the new rules begin immediately, with fines of up to $3,000 for violations. Commercial drone... Read More
The Canadian Seed Growers’ Association (CSGA) has a long track record of providing leadership for the seed industry – from setting national standards for seed purity, to managing the seed certification process, and advocating for its seed-growing members. But the seed industry’s regulatory and certification programs are about to undergo some changes. Two years ago... Read More
The Canadian Grain Commission has begun a consultation on its proposal to introduce a new eastern wheat class. Wheat industry stakeholders including grain handlers, processors, marketers, breeders and producers are invited to provide their input until May 20, 2017. The Canadian Grain Commission is proposing to develop a Canada Eastern Special Purpose class. This class... Read More
Kemptville College's agriculture programming hasn't been gone all that long, but already agriculture, farm, and equine businesses within the Ottawa Valley and surrounding areas are feeling the absence. Mark Nelson, with the Ontario Equestrian Federation, says that within the equine community alone they've already noticed a lack of candidates to fill trainee and employee roles,... Read More