Mike Raine, The Western Producer’s managing editor, monitors trends in the North American and global agricultural markets and leads our staff markets coverage. Each week he also hosts a market video. The video is designed to help viewers understand the forces responsible for changes in the trade. If agricultural markets are important to you, we […] Read more
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VIDEO: Markets Moment – February 23, 2018
VIDEO: Former PM urges Ottawa to take tough stance with NAFTA
Know what’s in your grain contracts and make sure they protect and reward you as much as they protect and reward the buyer. That was advice from a seasoned sunflower marketer, speaking at CropConnect, to farmers thinking about contracting the crop. It makes a lot of sense because farmers can end up on the delivery […] Read more
VIDEO: Craft brewers tap rural roots
The Moen and Pederson families have been farming in the area around Cabri, Sask., for more than 100 years. During that time, the two families have developed a bond — people who can be counted on to work together and lend a hand when it’s needed. Based on that, it probably didn’t come as a […] Read more
VIDEO: World doesn’t end after fusarium, clean it
BRANDON — It’s easy to throw in the towel when looking at a bin of grain heavily damaged by fusarium. However, feed scientist Rex Newkirk says farmers can salvage “significant value” from grain they are assuming has little. “There’s lots of value to be had,” Newkirk, a University of Saskatchewan researcher, said after a presentation at […] Read more
Canada taps into Chinese barley demand
Global demand for top quality malting barley continues to grow
Annual barley plantings in Western Canada continued their downward trend in 2017, slipping to roughly 5.44 million acres — the crop’s smallest seeded acreage in more than a decade. Nonetheless, there is cause for optimism, according to the head of the Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre. Despite reduced acreage and relatively tight margins, global demand […] Read more
High-yielding canola farmer shares his secrets
He favours split nitrogen application and avoids fall application
BRANDON — If you’re willing to work for it, you can get huge canola yields, says a Saskatchewan farmer who averaged more than 70 bushels per acre in 2017. “The most yield potential (comes from) doing that extra work, that extra labour, that extra pass,” said Florian Hagmann, a Birch Hills farmer who spoke to farmers […] Read more
VIDEO: Parks receive failing grade in education
The former superintendent of Banff National Park says national, provincial and municipal parks protect nature to some extent but generally fail in the more important goal of educating and connecting people with the natural world around them. A park boundary is not a halo, said Kevin Van Tighem. “We’re doing parks wrong in many cases. […] Read more
VIDEO: Farmer advocates for gay rights, rural lifestyle
STEINBACH, Man. — Farming, singing and travel. Those are Chris Plett’s favourite things. And being a farmer, a singer and an airline employee is how Chris automatically describes himself. But the warm, affable man is defined by many other people in many other ways, and that’s just a reality he accepts about his situation. “The […] Read more
VIDEO: Crowd-funding helps greenhouse adopt hydroponics
BRUDERHEIM, Alta. — An Alberta ornamental plant greenhouse operator has received crowd funding of almost $30,000 to help diversify into vegetables. Nadine Stielow, owner of Thiel’s Greenhouses in Bruderheim, Alta., raised the money through the Alberta Treasury Branch’s BoostR program, a platform that encourages the public to fund ideas developed by local entrepreneurs. Stielow said […] Read more
VIDEO: Alberta ag minister focuses on innovation
Oneil Carlier talks about further tapping into food processing sector as well as new farm safety rules
Alberta Agriculture Minister Oneil Carlier sees greater use of green technologies and boosting the food processing sector as important factors in the future success of the agricultural sector. Carlier spoke with The Western Producer about his vision and what producers can expect in 2018, during a recent year-end interview. He said Alberta saw big investments […] Read more
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