It was great to be at the opening night of CropSphere 2014 in Saskatoon. The room was full of agricultural dignitaries and stakeholders so what better way to "set the mood" than Canadian sports broadcasting and podcast legends, Jay Onrait and Dan O'Toole. Always known for their edgy humor and crazy antics, Jay and Dan... Read More
Category: Western Canada
Do what you do best and hire the rest, the saying goes. Agronomy, crop scouting and field diagnostics are a keen interest of many farmers, sure, but not everyone has the Guide to Crop Protection memorized. What's more, field scouting takes time to do properly and typically needs to be done in a tight window.... Read More
New Holland is unveiling its new 2014 Speedrowers, replacing the H8000 series, including the 130, 200 and 240 models. The changes in the new series are wide-ranging, but not unlike most new models, there is a heavy focus on operator comfort and user-friendly features. See more: How do I know when to swath canola? Still... Read More
Bigger is sometimes better, but everything comes at a cost. Choosing bigger tractors and wider implements may mean a faster planting season, but can the farm shoulder the cost? The idea of finding the right size of machinery for your farm was tackled by John Molenhuis, business analysis and cost of production program lead, with... Read More
This week the Canola Council of Canada released its long term objectives for 2025. The Canola Council of Canada was bold in its plans to set the clear objectives for the industry. Is 22 million acres at a yield of 52 bushels/acre producing 26 million tonnes crazy? Is it too lofty? Is it out of... Read More
By Rob Wallbridge, Songberry Farm, Bristol, Quebec Originally posted on his blog: The Fanning Mill This is a story of two talks, both of which are almost identical. It’s also the story of two people, both of whom are also the same person. What separates both are a couple of years, perspective gained, and perspective... Read More
By April 1st of 2014, four diseases that affect cattle will be moved from "reportable" to "immediately notifiable" under the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. The change is significant in a few ways, most notably that once a disease is no longer reportable, any financial assistance in managing the disease evaporates. The four diseases are: Chronic... Read More
"It's an atrocity to block the humanitarian gesture of improved nutrition," says Kevin Folta, scientist and associate professor at the University of Florida, referring to opposition towards Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). We saw incredible public interest in food in 2013, with polarizing discussions often centred around biotechnology. Many, including Folta, argue the current debates are... Read More
While many of us industry types were getting back into routine this week, the bad weather hangover in Ontario was still raging. Our own Shaun Haney got hung up in Las Vegas while trying to get to the Southwest Agricultural Conference (SWAC), and even Bern Tobin, our Ontario field editor missed the first day do... Read More
Most farmers know which crops are their best money makers. Naming your most productive field is likely pretty easy, too. But do you know how profitable each field or area of a field is? If you could create a profit map by field zone, would it change the way you farm? You likely would, and,... Read More