Allyl isothiocyanate has been used as pesticide for years, but company says new product more applicable to broad-acre crops
A Saskatchewan-based company uses the same burning sensation you get from a healthy heaping of wasabi or horseradish to fight crop diseases including clubroot and aphanomyces. All brassica species, including broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, and mustard produce a chemical called allyl isothiocyanate that causes the burning sensation. The toxicity of allyl isothiocyanate is low, and […] Read more
Hemp pulled in different directions
Western Canada is the country’s most important hemp production region, accounting for 60 percent of Canada’s 1,100 cultivation licences as of 2020, according to Health Canada. But while there are more products on store shelves, more cultivars than ever before and high prices for the crop, demand for hemp has been mixed. “I think the […] Read more
Alta. sees hemp investment
Two companies will receive a maximum of $900,000 to transform Alberta’s hemp industry. “I really mean it when I say I think we really are witnessing the birth of a vertically integrated industrial hemp supercluster,” said David Saltman, chair and chief executive officer of Inca Renewtech. “And I think we can together really help this […] Read more
Knowing glyphosate well puts money to the bottom line
I recall Roundup herbicide being sold for $60 per litre. It was a celebrated win when the price dropped to $40 and then $30 per litre. This was the 360 grams per litre formulation. It was a déjà vu moment when I began hearing of $16 a litre of Roundup Transorb. A quick conversion to […] Read more
U.S. hemp reaches $824M
CHICAGO, Ill. (Reuters) — Farmers in the United States produced US$824 million worth of industrial hemp in 2021, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a survey-based report last month. Some farmers looked at growing more hemp when commodity crop prices were low during a grain glut and a trade war with China, but prices […] 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
Bio-economy needs workers
Western Canadian companies that produce biofuel, make nutritional supplements or process hemp fibres into kitty litter have the same problem as hundreds of other businesses on the Prairies — a lack of workers. A Dec. 6 report from BioTalent Canada, a firm that studies the labour market in the bio-economy, says the industry will need […] Read more
Researchers improve understanding of hemp
The data that is being collected in Manitoba is intended to create a base line and help producers select the best varieties
The Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance hosted its annual conference online Nov. 16-18, where participants discussed the growing role of hemp. James Frey, a diversification specialist with Manitoba Agriculture, reported on research being carried out in Manitoba. “The research of all the crops including hemp is meant to provide base line data for hemp producers as […] Read more
Drought helps farm measure water impact
Improving the Prairie: Research helps Man. potato farm compare conventional and organic effects on soil and water
Editor’s note: This story is part of an ongoing series that looks at how many farmers are attempting to preserve their soil while increasing profits. Farmers are always running real-world experiments. In crop production systems where a complex rotation, customized management, volatile prairie weather and changing technology are constantly challenging farmers, nobody is short on […] Read more
Hemp processor proposed for Alta.
Proponents of a new business venture want to use western Canadian hemp production to build more environmentally friendly panelling for a range of products. Inca Renewable Technologies Inc. is developing its hemp-based panelling aimed at the RV industry. David Saltman, Inca’s chief executive officer, said the company has secured a deal with Genesis Products, based […] Read more
