A flax-processing plant in southern Manitoba will shut its doors at the end of 2021. Schweitzer Maudit, SVM, a materials company that manufactures papers, adhesive tapes, resins, nets and other products, has operated its Manitoba plant since 1985. A company representative confirmed it will close in four months. “We have made the decision to close […] Read more
Flax
Harvest estimates paint a gloomy picture
Harvest has begun in Western Canada and along with it speculation about the size of this year’s crop, particularly in Western Canada. Last week, Farmers Business Network Inc. (FBN), offered an inkling of farmer insight on what this year’s crop might look like in Western Canada with a survey. They asked growers in Canada’s three […] Read more
Engineering crop seeds to resist drought
With persistent global warming and heatwaves threatening to be more intense and more frequent, many arid regions and areas experiencing significantly less rainfall will be under increasing agricultural stress. The shifting balance between water supply and demand will be one of the biggest challenges facing farmers in the years to come. To counteract the impact […] Read more
Intercropping lowers use of chemicals
Southeast Research Farm manager says farmers can often reduce nitrogen fertilizer if legumes are included in the mix
Intercropping is an important part of the research carried out at the South East Research Farm in Redvers, Sask. Intercropping often leads to a decrease in the amount of chemicals needed, which can have many positive impacts. “If you can grow some peas together and get a good pea crop and kind of a bonus […] Read more
Drought 2021
These are trying times for many Prairie producers, with withered crops and parched pastures across wide swaths of the growing region. To help keep you informed about the issue this page will be continually updated with the latest drought-related news and solutions you can use, produced by The Western Producer’s team of professional reporters and […] Read more
Irrigation pivots work overtime this summer
Most irrigators have had adequate access to water during the drought, and many say their crops remain in good shape
Pivots have run nearly non-stop this summer on the portion of Anthony Eliason’s farm near Outlook, Sask., that is irrigated. About a quarter of Golden Dee Farms, or 1,250 acres, is irrigated and typically canola, dry beans, flax, fababeans and wheat are planted on that land. This year, Eliason said he seeded higher value crops […] Read more
Crop residue may be turned into decomposable straws
Researcher receives $150,000 grant for work on pulping flax straw and turning it into drinking straws that can decompose
When Denise Stilling grew up on a farm, she saw what it meant to reuse materials in a way that isn’t done anywhere else. “I remember as a kid, we reused that plastic twine and that hemp twine and we’d make hammocks for us to play on,” Stilling said. “So I kind of grew up […] Read more
Farmers renew call for more comprehensive market data
Federal government asked to establish an Export Sales Reporting Program to improve market transparency for producers
Farm groups in Saskatchewan have renewed calls for better grain markets and export information. Last week, a coalition of farmer-directed organizations including the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission (SaskWheat), the Saskatchewan Barley Development Commission, SaskCanola, SaskFlax, SaskOats, Saskatchewan Pulse Growers, and the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) called on the federal government to establish an […] Read more
Strong prices prompt recovery in barley acres
Analysts think some acres were lost to canola this spring, but seeded area for the crop still higher than it has been for years
Barley acres in Canada will top eight million in 2021, the first time barley has reached that level since 2009. Statistics Canada, in its June forecast, pegged Canadian barley acres at 8.3 million. That’s up 10 percent from last year and an increase of 45 percent from 2017, when acres sank to a low of […] Read more
Foreign subsidies: Canadian agriculture needs protections
A federal International Trade committee recommends Canada implement special measures to protect farmers. In its latest report, MPs on the committee released a list of recommendations and priorities for reforming the World Trade Organization. During witness testimony, members from the major parties heard about challenges experienced at the WTO. Officials from Global Affairs said agricultural […] Read more
