Farmers are likely to see bulk grain shipments increase considerably over the next few weeks as railroading conditions improve, but available space in Western Canada’s country elevator system remains extremely tight. Canada’s largest railway companies are continuing to work through stockpiles of grain waiting to be delivered to port facilities in Vancouver, Prince Rupert and […] Read more
Author Archives
Farm groups welcome short-term debt relief
The federal government announced a pair of financial measures last week aimed at providing temporary financial relief to Canadian farmers who are facing economic hardships stemming from the global COVID-19 pandemic. On March 23, Ottawa announced that Farm Credit Canada (FCC) will receive an extra $5 billion in lending capacity. The additional credit will be […] Read more
Sask. farmer happy that flood years in past
On the Farm: Nearly a third of cultivated acres on farm near Peterson, Sask., lost over a five-year period
Slowly but surely, Saskatchewan farmer Jason Basset is reclaiming the farmland that he lost during “the wet years.” Between 2010 and 2014, Basset’s farm, located an hour’s drive east of Saskatoon, was swamped by excess rainfall. In 2010 alone, the area received more than 40 inches of rain, ranking it as the wettest year in […] Read more
Book addresses myths to cultivate mental well-being
Prairie farmers invest a great deal of time and energy each year into sustainable food production. But is all that effort and investment taking a toll on their well-being? How much time and energy do farmers invest into sustaining their own mental health? These are questions that Allan Kehler wants to address. Kehler, an author […] Read more
Private member’s bills provide glimmer of hope
Prairie grain farmers opposed to the federal carbon tax are hoping that a pair of private member’s bills will result in a carbon tax exemption on natural gas and propane that’s used to dry grain and heat farm buildings. But it remains to be seen how quickly either bill could become law, particularly now that […] Read more
Private members bills provide glimmer of hope to tax-weary farmers
Prairie grain farmers opposed to the federal carbon tax are hoping that a pair of private member’s bills will result in a carbon tax exemption on natural gas and propane that’s used to dry grain and heat farm buildings. But it remains to be seen how quickly either bill could become law, particularly now that […] Read more
Feds have no plans to resume seed royalty consultations
Officials with the federal agriculture department were in Vancouver last week where they shared details of a long-awaited economic analysis on proposed seed royalty collection models. But details of the economic analysis have not yet been made public and it remains to be seen if Agriculture Canada will share its findings with other stakeholders in […] Read more
Survey will map spring canola harvest strategy
Similar work from three years ago found quality of spring harvested canola deteriorated further after going into storage
If you’re a western Canadian grain farmer who still has unharvested canola in the field, then the Canadian Grain Commission wants to hear from you. For the second time in the past four years, the grain commission is conducting research on spring-harvested oilseeds. It is asking growers to submit samples of spring harvested canola and […] Read more
New approach taken to cold-tolerant research
Screening genotypes to identify germplasm that is more tolerant of cold soil conditions allows growth earlier in the spring
Scientists at the Global Institute for Food Security in Saskatoon hope to find ways to squeeze more production out of Western Canada’s short and frost-prone growing seasons. Earlier this year, GIFS researchers Joanne Ernest and Leon Kochian received a $600,000 research grant through the province of Saskatchewan’s Agriculture Development Fund. The funding will be used […] Read moreSeed royalty plan alarms growers
Wheat and barley commissions across Western Canada expressed disappointment and concern last week following an announcement that the Canadian seed trade is moving ahead with a new seed royalty collection system. Wheat and barley commissions in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba contacted federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau to express “serious concerns” about a seed royalty pilot […] Read more
