The federal government can do something to help Ontario's $900-million mushroom sector — that is, extend or change the temporary foreign worker program. Such a change might help other agri-food sectors too and give new skilled Canadians a productive place in our society. The agri-food sector's struggle with labour is widely known. Canadians like to... Read More
Category: Western Canada
One nozzle type rarely does all jobs well, and it’s tempting to find one or two general purpose nozzles and switch them out between jobs. Hypro has a better idea, and is rolling out its Duo React nozzle body that allows farmers to choose — automatically — up to three configurations from one nozzle body.... Read More
Winners have been announced in the Farm & Food Care Foundation’s inaugural Farm Photo Contest. The contest which ran from early May until the end of June gave photographers the chance to enter their farm photography in six categories – All About Animals, Canadian Farm Scenes, Crazy About Crops, Farm Faces, Farm Fun and Farm... Read More
With flash flooding and saturated soils affecting much of the prairie provinces this year, it's no wonder producers are finding pea crops with serious symptom development. Unfortunately, distinguishing nutrient deficiencies, nodulation issues (read more: Nodulation No-Show? Tips for a Rescue N App) and disease presence from other stress-inducing factors can be incredibly difficult. A few... Read More
When warm air is cooled, it loses some of its moisture-holding capabilities. This change often occurs at night, when plants (and other objects) cool. Once the temperature of the surface of the leaves, for example, drops below the dewpoint, it causes water to condense, forming the shiny dew that causes so many to question early... Read More
The persistent buzz and tickle of tiny feet on my face early this morning as the sun rose reminded me that fly season has reached our part of the country once again. Hopefully, most of you will have started your fly management activities months ago, but for those a little slow off the bat, or... Read More
Cereal leaf beetle was first discovered in Alberta in 2005, with Saskatchewan and Manitoba finding populations shortly thereafter. As its name suggests, the insect prefers to feed on cereals, though it may extend its host range to grasses, even occasionally feeding on corn. Both adults and larvae feed on the leaves in strips between veins,... Read More
The corn borer is a relatively low-level pest in much of the corn crop in Western Canada, but it certainly poses a risk. What's more, just because you planted a corn borer-resistant variety doesn't mean you get out of scouting — every farmer who grows corn should be scouting for the pest, says John Gavloski,... Read More
Consumers are farmers' customers...eventually. But in between the farmer and the consumer is an entire supply chain, from processor, to transporter, to wholesaler and retailer, each taking their pound of flesh. Yet, if consumers demand certain items, production systems or products, it's largely farmers, not the entire supply chain, that must adapt and shoulder much... Read More
Since being found in Ontario in 2000, swede midge has had a rather hasty spread, with adults being found as early as 2007 in some areas in Saskatchewan. Until the past couple of years, however, western Canadian farmers reported finding few symptoms of swede midge damage, which can include anything from fused flower petals to... Read More