Senator Pat Duncan has championed farming in the territory, arguing the sector has improved food self-sufficiency
WHITEHORSE — Senator Pat Duncan was on the Senate agriculture committee for only a short time but made sure she used it to put the Yukon on the agenda. The committee was studying soils at the time and released its report, Critical Ground, in June. “My contribution there was ensuring that there was an awareness […] Read more
Yukon farming expands despite challenges
Small farms provide local food to residents of the territory through grocery stores, farmers markets and the farmgate
WHITEHORSE — Farming in the Yukon is filled with obstacles and opportunities, says territorial agriculture minister John Streicker. People are increasingly giving it a try, clearing land to plant vegetables or establish livestock operations. He told the Canadian Federation of Agriculture summer board meeting that farm capital has risen by 30 per cent in the […] Read more
Demand continues to soften for organic food
WINNIPEG — Canada’s organic industry struggled over the last couple of years, with the volume of sales dropping for the first time in many years. Fresh organic fruit, for instance, saw a 43 per cent decline in sale volumes from 2021 to 2023. Other categories of organic had more success, but COVID-19 and the post-pandemic […] Read more
Wireworms remain persistent pest for producers
Nestled in the soil and hard to kill, this insect is a constant headache for growers across Western Canada
Glacier FarmMedia – They’ll survive things that would kill other crop pests. Some species will eat each other. If food is scarce, they might reverse molt to become smaller and harder to starve. They’ll go after grain crops, potatoes, onions, carrots, strawberries or almost any other field crop. Their tendency to feast on germinating seeds […] Read more
Alta. potato growers recognized for production prowess
The Nakamuras say commitment to sustainability and efficient practices gives them an edge in a crowded marketplace
At Nakamura Farms, potatoes are what they do best. In fact, it’s what the family has always done. Now that dedication has been recognized with a major award from Hostess-Frito Lay. The southern Alberta farm is in its fourth generation, operated by brothers Ryland and Lyndon Nakamura. As they head into the growing season, they’re […] Read more
Making potatoes friendly to soil health
Manitoba farms try new minimal soil disturbance strategies to improve the relationship between soil health and the potato sector
Glacier FarmMedia – Potatoes are a high-value crop and one of the world’s most important dietary staples. But when it comes to sustainability, they’ve got a hurdle to clear because there’s no escaping some level of soil disturbance when growing and harvesting. Soil health and minimized soil disturbance are major pillars in the push toward […] Read more
In-field tissue test now available for use in corn crops
The Leaf-Evaluated-Nutrient System from Picketa Systems provides immediate analysis for 13 nutrients
Glacier FarmMedia – A nutrient testing system first used in potatoes is now moving into corn. The Leaf-Evaluated-Nutrient System (LENS) unit from Picketa Systems, based in Fredericton, N.B., is promising growers and crop advisers a new, efficient and cost-effective testing method for nutrients. The technology has been used in potato crops for the past three growing […] Read more
Seed potatoes early to avoid verticillium
Pushing a problem field to the front of the planting queue may reduce infection pressure later in the season
Verticillium wilt is a problem for a lot of crops in Manitoba, including canola, sunflowers and alfalfa. In potatoes, the fungus Verticillium dahlia is the main cause of potato early die complex. In a 2021 interview with the Co-operator, Mario Tenuta, University of Manitoba soil scientist and main investigator with the Canadian Potato Early Dying […] Read more
Potato growers set up for fertigation success
Glacier FarmMedia – Potato producer Sheldon Wiebe, who farms near MacGregor, Man., can wax poetic about how production has evolved on his operation, J.P. Wiebe Ltd., since its inception in the mid-1960s. Like other Manitoba potato farmers, the introduction of irrigation is part of that story, but today the practice is about more than just […] Read more
Corporate Canada moves ahead on sustainability
Companies such as McCain and McDonald’s aren’t waiting for consumers to catch up as they develop a new food system
OTTAWA — The public might not be there yet, but some major buyers of farmers’ products are beginning to develop a “sustainable” food system. “Consumers, they don’t get it. They don’t. They will, eventually, but we’re not going to wait,” Matt Kohler, McCain Foods Canada’s managing director, said at the Future of Food conference. “Our assumption […] Read more
