Transport Canada has launched a new drone safety campaign, while at the same time working on simplifying regulations to focus on minimizing the risks with unmanned aerial vehicles. Marc Garneau, Minister of Transportation, was joined by representatives from law enforcement and the aviation industry at the Ottawa Airport on Monday to unveil the initiative —... Read More
Category: Western Canada
The House of Commons has approved a one year extension to grain transportation rules implemented in 2014 to move grain during the rail backlog in Western Canada. Several provisions that were part of Bill C-30, the Fair Rail for Grain Farmers Act, were scheduled to be repealed on August 1, 2016. MPs unanimously voted in... Read More
Verified Beef Production (VBP) took a highly anticipated step today, with the official launch of Verified Beef Production Plus (VBP+). The refreshed program now includes training and auditing for animal care, biosecurity and environmental stewardship as well as the original on-farm food safety practices, in both the cow-calf and feedlot sectors. “VBP+ is a straightforward,... Read More
It's the Year of No Forgiveness. Apologies to those who didn't get that "perfect rain" and are still hoping for more. As for that slow-growing alfalfa stand: have you checked for weevils? And how about your canola? Have you scouted for cabbage seedpod weevils yet? Peter Johnson, resident agronomist for RealAgriculture, stresses the importance of... Read More
A new Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Hatching Eggs, Breeders, Chickens and Turkeys was released today, replacing a 2003 version published by the Canadian Agri-Food Research Council. "The Code of Practice supports the sustainability of Canadian poultry industries and the success of farmers," said Vernon Froese, poultry farmer and chair of... Read More
A Western Canadian equipment manufacturer is taking the land-roller, increasingly used to push stones into the ground and flatten soil ridges to make harvest easier, and adding several other functions to accomplish more with each pass. Ag Shield Manufacturing added a leveling blade on the front of its roller for removing mole hills and small... Read More
A group in Alberta is hoping to determine how prepared farmers are to meet internationally recognized sustainability standards. "The Alberta Farm Sustainability Extension Working Group is a very new project, and its continuing on the work from the Alberta Crops Sustainability Certification Pilot project that was completed in the spring of 2015," says Jolene Noble,... Read More
The Canadian government says it's following the situation surrounding the European Union's looming deadline for glyphosate. The EU's authorization for the herbicide is set to expire on June 30th, with member states so far unable to come to an agreement to approve a new license. Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland was not available for an interview,... Read More
The last five years I have been very fortunate to moderate the Saskatchewan Stock Growers annual meeting. Over the years I have heard some great presentations and have gained a very strong connection with the ranching roots of the organization. In my time hosting the meeting I have seen freakish snow storms in the Cypress... Read More
If you have been to an agricultural meeting in the last seven years you have likely heard a presentation on advocacy. In both the US and Canada, advocacy has become a call to action for farmers, ranchers, dairymen, etc. Organizations like Ag More Than Ever were founded to focus on advocacy and enabling producers to... Read More