Let's just call 2013 the year of the soybean in Western Canada and be done with it, OK? It would seem each of the Prairie Provinces has fallen in love with the crop and, if the spring weather permits, there will be a large increase in acres this year. But should there be? There are…Read More
Category: Western Canada
Canada is no longer an Atlantic nation, it is a Pacific nation, and we're all better off if we keep that in mind when it comes to trade, policy and politics. That's according to John Ibbitson, Globe & Mail Ottawa bureau chief, and guest speaker at last week's Canola Council of Canada convention held at…Read More
Farmers do an amazing job of keeping current on the latest agronomy findings, and many are keen to work on new and improved practices each year. But not everyone loves biology — some prefer the business side of farming and enjoy the time spent analyzing markets and setting up a hedging strategy. Each crop type…Read More
It is among the most infamous of alcohols and depending on your "interactions" with it, the mere mention of the name can turn your stomach and make you crawl under your bed in shame. For others who can exercise a bit more restraint, it's a more unique experience closer to scotch than it is to…Read More
Acidosis, a severe drop in pH in a cow's rumen due to a change in feed, isn't just an issue in feedlots. Cattle being moved from low quality to very lush pastures are also at risk, for example. Not managing for acidosis can lead to cattle that reduce their feed intake and are slow to…Read More
Attendees of the Canola Council of Canada's convention held last week in Vancouver, B.C., were treated to a short video that highlighted all the hard work that council agronomists do in a year. From field days and field calls, to feeding information and images to the Canola Watch, to events like CanoLAB, council agronomist are…Read More
In part one of this cereal seeding piece, I discussed a few important things to keep in mind before letting the drills hit the dirt. It included the importance of starting with quality seed that has been tested and applying a registered seed treatment along with a properly done thousand kernel weight assessment to target... Read More
Pure seed is pure seed, right? Well, yes and no. When it comes to seed testing, purity can take on a few different meanings. Some of the distinctions are set out by CFIA, but other tests are used to confirm the presence or absence of a trait or gene. There are actually four different types…Read More
If you cannot see the embedded audio player above, CLICK HERE Farmers in Canada are buying tractors and combines at a much stronger pace than last year at this time. According to a report published by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), tractor unit sales were up 36% during February 2013 in comparison to February... Read More
As farmers scratch out last minute changes to seeding plans, economic factors always weigh in. Pulses, like red and green lentils or peas, all have the advantage of nitrogen fixation, making them an attractive crop rotation choice. But pulses are also smaller acreage crops and the marketing dynamics of each crop type can cause some…Read More