The Canadian Forage & Grassland Association (CFGA) has named Cedric MacLeod, of Fredericton, New Brunswick, as the group's executive director, effective June, 2015. "(Cedric) brings a strong background in forages, and experience working in organizations to successfully advance their goals and agendas. We look forward to his leadership as we promote the forage and grassland... Read More
Category: Western Canada
Years of financial and regulatory challenges have taken a toll on pork production in Manitoba, to the point where the province’s largest hog processing facility now needs around 175 new barns built to operate at full capacity, according to the company’s president and CEO. Speaking at the Manitoba Pork Council annual meeting in Winnipeg on... Read More
Cattle markets typically have seasonal high and lows that you can track and capitalize on...except in the last while, when it seems the markets haven't stayed true to the more predictable pattern we've come to expect. With the first quarter of 2015 behind us, cattle markets are flirting with and surpassing record highs, but April... Read More
With corn planting season around the corner, the annual routine of getting planting units ready for a new growing season is well underway. The planter setup and calibration process should account for the size of corn seed going through the planter, notes Dieter Schwarz of Pride Seeds in this latest Corn School episode. "Look at... Read More
Just like NHL players have to step their game up for the playoffs, it’s a “pitter, patter, let’s get at ‘er” kind of feeling in the agricultural industry. We’ re hitting that time of the year where field activity is picking up steam. The most recent USDA crop progress report shows that seeding in the... Read More
The 4th annual Canadian Dairy Xpo will be held the first week of April, 2016, a departure from the early February date of the first three iterations of the Stratford, Ont., show. The Stratford Rotary Complex venue will host the Xpo Wednesday April 6th and Thursday April 7th, 2016, the show organizers say. Check out... Read More
Western Canadian farm groups are generally welcoming the increased competition that should result from turning the (incapacitated?) Canadian Wheat Board into a private grain company controlled by Bunge and a Saudi investment company, but producer groups are still seeking answers about the farmer ownership part of the deal. The agreement announced this week will see... Read More
Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz has announced the government’s commitment to “streamline and modernize” the way crop varieties are registered in Canada. These proposed changes will now enter into a consultation period ahead of the actual regulatory changes being drafted. Most major field crops grown in Canada are subject to Variety Registration, such as wheat, canola,... Read More
The playoffs are always a thrilling time of year for hockey fans, but this year there seems to be some extra excitement about post-season hockey, especially for fans of the five Canadian teams that begin their quest for Lord Stanley this week. Among the many storylines heading into the 2015 playoffs is the return of... Read More
CN Rail on Thursday announced a multi-year program to spend around $500 million to improve its feeder rail lines in Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. A news release from the company does not mention grain, but indicates the upgrades will occur on lines "handling rising volumes of industrial products, natural resources and energy-related commodities." Approximately $100... Read More