Farmers called for more government support for small acreage crops research during Keystone Agricultural Producers annual meeting. “This is where we’ve seen a real lack of commitment,” said Paul Gregory, a forage seed grower in Manitoba’s Interlake region. In two resolutions from the Manitoba Oat Growers Association, the federal government was encouraged to fund more […] Read more
Flax
Crop insurance announcement eagerly awaited
Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corp. is expected to announce program details for 2022 before the end of February. Given last year’s crop disaster and record high yield loss payments, producers are anxious to know what their coverage will look like for the year ahead. Of most interest will be the price levels set for the various […] Read more
Flax processing plant opens in Sask.
Scoular Canada has opened a flax processing plant at its site just east of Regina in Richardson, Sask. The high-speed processing facility is the first new flax plant in Western Canada in nearly 10 years, according to the company. Jeff Vipond, vice-president and general manager for pulses, seeds, distilling and milling, said Scoular is targeting […] Read more
Governments fund Sask. ag research
Agricultural researchers will receive more than $9.1 million in government funding this year through Saskatchewan’s Agriculture Development Fund. David Marit, the province’s agriculture minister, made the announcement Jan. 11 during Saskatchewan’s Crop Production Week events in Saskatoon. The funding, which includes commitments from the federal and Saskatchewan governments, will support 55 crop-related agricultural research projects […] Read more
Good value available on old, new crop canola: analyst
Growers should seriously consider selling old crop canola and locking up some new crop production at today’s values, says an analyst. Marlene Boersch, managing partner of Mercantile Consulting Venture, said $23.50 to $24 f.o.b. the farm for old crop canola and $17.50 to $18 for new crop are good values depending on location. “These are […] Read more
Pet boom prompts pulse demand surge
Pet food manufacturers in the United States are buying more pulses from Canada as more people buy pets during COVID
Millions of lonely and isolated people have been seeking companionship during the COVID-19 pandemic, spurring a huge increase in pet ownership and pet food demand, says a grain industry executive. An estimated 10 million new pets have been added to North American households during the pandemic, said Jeff Vipond, vice-president and general manager of pulses, […] Read more
Seed quality looks good despite drought
Germination and vigour scores have not been negatively affected in cereal crops, but mechanical damage is high in pulses
If early indications hold true, there’s good news and bad news about the quality of Western Canada’s seed inventory heading into the 2022 planting season. First the good news. Despite widespread drought and extreme heat last summer, the quality of seed for cereal crops appears to be quite good, according to seed analysts. As of […] Read moreThere are lessons for farmers to learn from 2021
This year, more than ever, financial returns are going to be highly variable for prairie grain farmers and this will influence decision making for 2022. Farmer A: Yields were very poor due to drought and heat. There is no crop insurance because they believed it highly unlikely that they would ever grow such a small […] Read more
Pedigreed seed supplies run short following drought year
Yields are low but high grain prices are also luring larger than normal amounts of pedigreed seed into commercial system
Farmers who are still looking for supplies of pedigreed seed for next spring should start their search soon, says the president of the Saskatchewan Seed Growers’ Association. That’s because pedigreed seed supplies of many crop types and varieties are in short supply this winter due to low yields and strong market demand for commercial grain. […] Read more
Brain health: food’s next frontier
Canada’s Food Guide is the federal government’s go-to resource on what Canadians should and should not eat. Health Canada spends years researching and consulting with experts before it publishes an update of the guide. That’s because, as noted on the food guide website, it can help Canadians choose foods that improve health, meet nutritional needs […] Read more
