Plans have been announced for a $1.9 billion sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production facility to be built west of Portage la Prairie, Man. The facility that Azure Sustainable Fuels Corp. intends to build is projected to produce one billion litres of SAF annually, with canola or soybeans as feedstock. It would be the first of... Read More
Category: Western Canada
There's plenty to learn from early scouting trips across the field, including seed survival, seeding depth, and evaluating the effectiveness of inputs so far. One of those key early inputs includes a seed treatment, and one of the most common uses for insecticidal seed treatments on canola is to fight flea beetles. Because feeding on... Read More
There are a few different scenarios to look at when it comes to deciding whether or not to spray a fungicide on wheat. Jeremy Boychyn, agronomy research extension manager with the Alberta Wheat and Barley Commissions, says there are four key times that producers are either already going over the field, or there is potential... Read More
Tidewater Renewables has completed construction on Canada's first stand-alone renewable diesel refinery. The company says production will begin at the Prince George, B.C., facility "soon." British Columbia's government and Tidewater announced the completion of the project on Friday, June 16, 2023. The plant is expected to produce more than 3,000 barrels of fuel a day,... Read More
When you imagine rice production, chances are you picture growth outside of North America and not in Southern Alberta. When Michele Konschuh of the University of Lethbridge approached Farming Smarter about examining the potential for rice to be a value-added crop in this region, they jumped on the opportunity to give it a try. With... Read More
When's the best time to control cutworms in canola? For growers wanting to take out the pest it's best to put away the sun glasses and reach for the night vision goggles. On this episode of the RealAgriculture Canola School, BASF agronomist Leighton Blashko walks a field of canola near Sherwood Park, Alta., and tells... Read More
Heading out to the field within a few weeks of canola emergence is a great way to fully assess seeder performance, stand establishment and uniformity, and identify early insect pressure. When assessing plant establishment, it's important to distinguish between a seedling that is intended and one that's perhaps a holdover volunteer from a past crop.... Read More
The results of the Canadian Farmer Sentiment Index for May 2023 have revealed a concerning trend of negative sentiment among farmers. From financial performance to government support to crop marketing, there has been a noticeable slide towards pessimism. While the decline in market prices explains much of this sentiment, there are underlying factors that should... Read More
The Government of Canada has formally responded to the U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service's proposal to change its Product of U.S.A. labeling requirements. The proposed rule changes stipulate an animal must be born, raised, and processed in the U.S. to carry the Product of U.S.A. label. Though voluntary, there are concerns in Canada that... Read More
Saving honey bees from ongoing population declines will be the focus of the new Luckevich Pinchin Honey Bee Research Centre, set to open at the University of Guelph in 2025. A groundbreaking ceremony was held this week to kick off construction of the $16-million centre. The new facility is billed as an upgrade to the... Read More