Five to 15-fold increase sought | Agrisoma says carinata-based biofuel passed aviation tests ‘with flying colours’
MEDICINE HAT, Alta. — It’s hardier and more drought tolerant than canola and this year was worth $12.50 per bushel plus a grower bonus of $40 per acre. Those kinds of credentials might prompt prairie farmers to sign up for Resonance carinata contracts next year, although details are still being developed. Agrisoma Biosciences contracted 6,700 […] Read more
Barb Glen
Stories by Barb Glen
Tubers tested for ability to tap nutrients, aerate soil
Deep tap roots increase available nutrients for next year
MEDICINE HAT, Alta. — Scott Lehr is trying to solve a soil compaction problem. He’s experimenting with tillage radishes to see if that problem can be solved without dragging out the iron. Lehr, who farms north of Medicine Hat, planted 300 acres of tillage radishes this year along with winter wheat and triticale. “Because we’re […] Read moreThe prescription for disease: rest
Soil-borne disease tough to control | Stagger crop rotations with cereals to combat disease
As a consistent high profit generator, canola-seeded area has doubled in the past 10 years, mostly by reducing rotations from once every three or four years to once every other year or continuous. However, short rotations encourage development of fungi and weeds able to overcome disease resistance in crops and herbicides. With the right weather […] Read more
Grow more canola? Not so fast
Short rotations | Crop disease such as blackleg and clubroot show the folly of ignoring agronomics
As a consistent high profit generator, canola-seeded area has doubled in the past 10 years, mostly by reducing rotations from once every three or four years to once every other year or continuous. However, short rotations encourage development of fungi and weeds able to overcome disease resistance in crops and herbicides. With the right weather […] Read more
Want to know what weather to expect? Read tree rings
Interpreting weather cycles | Data gleaned from historical reports and tree rings show we’re in for some moist years
MEDICINE HAT, Alta. — Prairie farmers can expect another 25 years of wetter weather conditions like those seen since 2008. More or less. Dave Sauchyn, senior research scientist with the Prairie Adaptation Research Collaborative, said data he has collected by studying tree rings shows an approximate 60-year weather cycle on the Prairies, with 30 of […] Read moreE. coli illnesses linked to recalled beef products
A link has been established between several cases of human illness and consumption of Butcher’s Choice burgers from Ontario-based Cardinal Meat Specialists. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency confirmed the link in a Dec. 17 news release, connecting “a small cluster of illnesses” in Ontario and Alberta to products that came from the plant. Five illnesses […] Read more
XL Foods plant gets green light to ship to U.S.
Exporting again | Brooks, Alta., plant begins shipping product following the largest beef recall in Canadian history
The XL Foods plant in Brooks, Alta., received clearance Dec. 7 to resume shipping product to the United States. That is a relief to Canadian cattle producers and to JBS, the multinational packing company that is operating the plant and has an option to buy it and other XL Foods assets. Exports from Alberta’s second […] Read moreThe secret lives of prairie rodents
Population control | Although the Richardson’s ground squirrel can cause havoc, researcher stresses humane control
She is in the mood for love for only two hours on one afternoon of one day per year. That is the surprising biology of the female Richardson’s ground squirrel. The male’s sexual lot is only slightly better: he produces sperm for four weeks of the year and must time his mating activities with those […] Read more
Enthusiasm oozes from couple eager to expand
Jake Meyer seems just the kind of rancher that the Cattlemen’s Young Leaders program is looking for. He’s young, involved in the beef industry and has plans for the future that include a larger ranch and a larger herd. And he is currently enrolled in the CYL program, which is organized through Canada Beef and […] Read more
New animal care program to keep producers informed
There’s no shortage of information and misinformation about livestock production and welfare. Alberta Farm Animal Care wants to ensure transmission of the former rather than the latter. AFAC launched a farm animal care leadership initiative called NewStream Farm Animal Care last month that is designed to provide livestock producers with verified information about animal welfare […] Read more
