Here's a fun fact: not all weevils are pests. Unfortunately, as fun as that fact may be, the reality is several weevil species are damaging pests, and their range is expanding in Alberta. Alfalfa weevil, pea leaf weevil, and cabbage seedpod weevil have all shown an expanded range in the province, and, as Scott Meers,... Read More
Category: Western Canada
Shaun Haney is in Germany this week as a guest of Bayer, celebrating 20 years of the company’s InVigor brand. The world is big place, sure, but when it comes to agriculture, it's actually quite small. As people move up the ladder within companies, they frequently get to spend time in other countries to build... Read More
The Grain Growers of Canada chose today, the inaugural Canada's Agriculture Day, to launch its new logo and to unveil a completely re-designed website. The Grain Growers of Canada represents 50,000 active grain, oilseed and pulse producers through its 12 provincial and regional grower groups. Its mission and mandate are to pursue a policy environment... Read More
After a week away, Peter Johnson is back for this edition of Wheat Pete's Word. Maybe it's the now-on-sale chocolate talking, but this week's edition is just a little wild, tackling everything from crazy strips, to peduncles, to robot sprayers, to shedding buckwheat, and much more. Learn why you've just got to stop seeding wheat... Read More
Recent positive rabies cases on a few farms in Ontario's Perth County are a stark reminder of this ever-present, reportable disease in livestock. While livestock cases of rabies are rare, it's safe to assume the virus circulates in wildlife nearly constantly, albeit at a low level. Exposed livestock, likely from a bite, tend to exhibit... Read More
Calling this week's meeting between Prime Minister Trudeau and President Trump a "pre-arranged first date in an organized marriage," Conservative trade portfolio critic Gerry Ritz possibly came as close as we've heard to complementing the Prime Minister. "The first rule is 'do no harm,' and I think that's exactly what happened. Nothing got done, but... Read More
The inaugural "Canada's Agriculture Day" is slated for Thursday, with celebrations of Canadian agriculture planned in communities across the country. In Alberta, organizers of an event called "Meet in the Middle" are bringing together 150 millennials for a five-course meal and conversation about food in the Willow Lane Barn near Olds. As Terry Andryo, ATB... Read More
Developing a new crop trait requires capital, time, and most of all a vision. All great new traits start with an idea or vision of trying to make a difference in the marketplace for farmers or end users. Dr. Bart Lambert and his colleagues had a vision, a canola seed trait that allows for producers... Read More
The process of transitioning a farm business from one generation to the next is often filled with obstacles and patches where progress seemingly bogs down in the mud. Generally, the stickiest areas are the ones that come with the potential for conflict, explains farm family business coach Elaine Froese, in the interview below. "The two... Read More
Both Viterra and GrainsConnect have announced plans over the last two weeks to build new high throughput grain elevators in the Vegreville, Alberta area. Viterra confirmed yesterday that it has received all necessary regulatory approvals, with construction expected to begin this spring. “We have a long and successful history in this area of Alberta, so... Read More