A shortage of workers is limiting Canada's economic potential, especially in agriculture. Annual farm cash receipt losses to Canadian producers due to job vacancies are $1.5 billion, according to a report released this week. Postmedia columnist Andrew Coyne was the opening keynote speaker at the "Growing the AgriWorkforce Summit" in Winnipeg and he joins us... Read More
Category: Western Canada
Last month, I stopped in for the annual Organic Alberta Conference in Olds to hear what's new in the world of organics. I was a little later than I intended, but happened to sneak into the first concurrent session of the day just in time to hear Blake Hall of Prairie Gold Meats addressing an... Read More
Krone's Premos 5000 won an innovation gold at Agritechnica this year. It's the world's first mobile pellet harvester, and, according to Krone, it uses just half the energy of its stationary counterparts. Pellets can be made of straw or forage crops, and can be used in bedding, as part of a total mixed ration, or... Read More
"I don't need to exercise because I work outside." "I am farming — I have no time to eat right or exercise." Are these quotes from you? Do you make time for healthy eating and exercise during the week? Back in the 1930's you needed to have a strong back to be a farmer. The... Read More
Keeping kids safe on farms is the theme for this year's Canadian Ag Safety Week, which runs March 13th to 19th. One incident involving children is too many, and yet we continue to hear tragic stories. In support of the Canadian Ag Safety Association's Ag Safety Week, Dow AgroSciences developed this "Stop & Ask" video,... Read More
Another Word from the road! This week, Peter Johnson is hitting the stage in Saskatoon and Brandon, as part of the TechTourLIVE traveling roadshow. In this episode, Johnson covers these crazy spring conditions, weed control, "the crop of all crops," and roasting soybean. Have a question for Wheat Pete? Call 1-888-746-3311, send him a tweet... Read More
Since A&W launched its raised without hormones campaign, many farmers and ranchers have expressed displeasure about the marketing tactics of A&W. The most popular post in the the life of RealAgriculture is Andrew Campbell's column entitled I'm Done With Fearing Food and Done with A&W. The anger has extended to the ranchers and feedyards participating... Read More
As soybeans are introduced and grown more frequently in rotations that already include canola in Western Canada, growers may find their soil bank accounts for phosphorus and potassium running low. Both canola and soybeans are heavy users/removers of P and K, explains Laryssa Grenkow of Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers in this Canola School episode,... Read More
Fertilizer Canada and the Canadian Association of Agri-Retailers (CAAR) launched a new online anhydrous ammonia safety course for farmers in conjunction with the kickoff of Canadian Ag Safety Week. The official launch for CASW, which runs March 13-19, was held in Vineland Station, Ontario on Tuesday. "Fertilizer Canada is taking significant steps to manage the... Read More
A cow-calf producer from apple country in southeastern Ontario is the new president of the Canadian Cattlemen's Association. Dan Darling and David Haywood-Farmer of BC were elected by acclamation as president and vice president, respectively, at the Canadian Cattlemen's Association's annual general meeting in Ottawa this past weekend. Darling, who served as vice president for... Read More