Category: Western Canada

Seed companies have big plans for the expansion of corn acres in Western Canada, but whether farmers plant more corn will depend on two key factors: maturity and yield. Monsanto Canada announced just over a year ago that it's spending more than $100 million over 10 years on developing varieties suitable for the Canadian prairies.... Read More

Hog prices have dropped sharply since hitting record highs in the middle of July. It turns out PED (porcine epidemic diarrhea) virus took a smaller toll on U.S. hog supplies than was expected, explains Tyler Fulton, director of risk management for Manitoba-based Hams Marketing Services, in the interview below. Fulton says traders were expecting an... Read More

As we close the month of August, the harvest itch was replaced in most areas with frustration as most of the U.S. Midwest and Canadian Prairies got hit with some untimely, heavy rains. The recent rains were seen as positive for both sides of the cornbelt with Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, & Nebraska all getting a... Read More

If you support research-based solutions to agricultural challenges, rejoice. A new report from a group called the Council of Canadian Academies says Canadians have the lowest level of reservation toward science among 17 countries considered. That's heartening for the pro-science crowd. It runs counter to the growing belief that precaution is prevailing among Canadians, rather... Read More

Following a report that says the World Trade Organization has sided with Canada and Mexico in the dispute over U.S. country of origin labelling rules, a coalition of American food and agriculture organizations is urging Congress and U.S. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack to immediately suspend COOL if the WTO rules against the U.S. Although the... Read More

If your tractor cab is beginning to look more like NASA's launch station, you're not alone. With a monitor for this and a monitor for that, plus your own phone or tablet to track what you're doing (or stay entertained listening to a machinery podcast or two), before long, you're out of room or frustrated... Read More

The largest outdoor farm equipment show in the U.S. — the Farm Progress Show — took place Tuesday and Wednesday in Boone, Iowa (Day 3 was cancelled due to rain and lightning risk.) Among the thousands of visitors was RealAg’s Bern Tobin. In the fourth episode of the Kickin’ Tires machinery podcast, Bern and Kelvin... Read More

With the canola crop maturing later than normal in parts of Western Canada, there’s some concern about frost hurting the crop. Temperatures dipped close to freezing in some parts of the Prairies earlier this week, with reports of light frost in northern Alberta. In this Canola School, Warren Ward, agronomy specialist for Eastern Saskatchewan with... Read More

It may have an ominous sounding name, but black chaff is rarely a cause for major concern in wheat, says a crop pathologist with Manitoba Agriculture. Black chaff is one of several wheat disorders that will catch a grower’s eye at harvest due to the dark colour and discolouration that appears on wheat heads. As... Read More

A better understanding of soil properties like electrical conductivity, organic matter and pH levels can go a long way in precision agriculture applications. As Veris Technologies president Eric Lund explains in the following video, mapping these properties is useful in variable rate fertilizer application, as well as for site-specific management when seeding, applying lime or... Read More