Nothing ventured, nothing gained, but how do you manage to tip the chance of gain in your favour? In agriculture there are many variables that are well out of our control — whether it be ranching, farming or anywhere in between, producers deal with volatile input prices, commodity price fluctuations, and, of course, the weather.... Read More
Category: Western Canada
More than three years ago, the federal government initiated a process to "transform" aspects of Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency. Focused on four main pillars — transparency, real-world data, modernization, and targeted reviews — the process has included convening working groups and holding consultations. CropLife Canada has been part of these working groups and... Read More
The unpredictability of what's going to happen on the tariff front has put Canadian businesses and government officials in a situation where it's difficult to know what, if any, steps can be taken to alleviate the uncertainty around U.S. business in the immediate future. With so much up in the air, maintaining cross-border communication is... Read More
Weather for the last half of this winter will likely be much different than what farmers and ranchers experienced in 2024. That's because the pattern has flipped from the El Nino-influenced conditions of 2024 to a La Nina influence for 2025, says Matt Makens of Makens Weather. In this report, he shares his take on... Read More
Even the highest quality equipment begins to wear down over time. Fixing and eventually replacing that equipment can be expensive and difficult on farms and ranches. The same is true for non-profit agricultural research and extension organizations. In February of 2024 the province of Alberta announced a capital grant as part of the spring budget... Read More
Farms and ranches cannot operate without water. While having access to water seems like it should be quite straight forward, navigating government framework around access to water might not be. Team Alberta Crops and the Intensive Livestock Working Group in Alberta have been working to ensure that the provincial government had the opportunity to hear... Read More
The Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) has reinstated livestock grain feeding use for insecticides containing lambda-cyhalothrin. A regulatory announcement in late 2022 changed the labeled approvals for crops treated with lambda-cy products, and resulted in two growing seasons with restricted use and access for growers. Syngenta shared the reinstatement news today, noting that a label... Read More
The Alberta Agriculture Hall of Fame, now with a permanent installation at the Reynolds Museum in Wetaskiwin, has inducted three new members, including Dr. Kee Jim. The Alberta Agriculture Hall of Fame inducts up to three Albertans every two years. The 2024 inductees are being honoured for their advocacy, leadership and pioneering spirit in advancing... Read More
The Canadian Wheat Research Coalition has signed a new five-year, $11.8 million agreement to continue wheat breeding programs at the University of Saskatchewan's Crop Development Centre (CDC) through 2029. The coalition is a collaboration between the Manitoba Crop Alliance, the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission and Alberta Grains. The funding for 2025 through 2029 will support... Read More
After its official launch last August, SaskOilseeds now has a new brand look and identity for the organization formed from the amalgamation of SaskCanola and SaskFlax. After the Saskatchewan Crops Forum earlier this month, SaskOilseeds executive director Tracy Broughton sat down with RealAgriculture's Shaun Haney to discuss the organizational changes with the merger of Sask... Read More