A Canadian wildlife organization is raising questions about the future of an iconic Canadian bird, linking pollution to the declining reproductive success of the common loon. In a document published last month, Bird Studies Canada reports that while the population of loons on Canadian lakes remained stable between 1992-2010, the number of young raised to […] Read more
Stories by Dan Yates
Non traditional sales swells revenue at Alliance Grain
Increased purchases of pulses from India and Turkey during a non-traditional period have helped boost earnings at Alliance Grain Traders, says the president and CEO of Alliance Grain Trader. On Monday, the company announced revenue of $246.7 million for the second quarter of 2013 — a period ending in June — up 22 percent from […] Read more
Need a new gear by noon? Get it printed
Greg Thorstad can imagine a day when farmers will be able to order and receive parts for broken machinery in a matter of hours. His vision looks something like this: A farmer walks into a shop, looking for a hard to find item, for example an old model gasket or gear. Staff receive the order, […] Read more
Breeder welcomes growing interest in forages
Beef sector support | Researcher pleased that forage research may get the attention it has long deserved
LANIGAN, Sask. — The number of forage breeders in Saskatchewan is poised to increase to three from two now that new funding has been secured from the provincial and federal governments. The funding will allow the University of Saskatchewan to fill a recently announced forage research chair position. “I’m getting a little older now and […] Read more
Sainfoin trial results puzzling
Mountainview variety | Plots near Lanigan, Sask., didn’t perform as well as those in Lethbridge
LANIGAN, Sask. — Officials testing the performance of new sainfoin lines say the forage plots on the Termuende Research Ranch near Lanigan are in stark contrast to those in other parts of the Prairies. After a long winter, researchers have observed fewer plants and a reduction in growth from lines that have shown the greatest […] Read moreB.C. conglomerate offers to purchase all shares of publicly traded Sun-Rype Products
Board members of a major western Canadian fruit processor have struck a committee to consider an offer that would turn the company private. Sun-Rype Products of Kelowna, B.C., said June 28 that Great Pacific Industries, part of the Jim Pattison Group that includes grocery and auto sales companies, has offered to buy all issued common […] Read more
Sask. road repair slow going
After a large spring runoff and a rainy start to the summer, crews in the Rural Municipality of Nipawin are starting to make fixes to rural roads. There, as in many parts of the province, officials are feeling the affects of multiple wet years, said Mark Knox, reeve of the RM in northeastern Sask-atchewan. “On […] Read more
Waterfowl habitat conservation efforts paying off
State of the World’s Birds report says Canada is doing a good job
An abundance of water has helped bolster prairie waterfowl populations in recent years, but long-term growth is being linked to effective conservation and biodiversity. The number of birds in Canada has dropped by 12 percent since 1970, said Jon McCracken, director of national programs for Bird Studies Canada, citing research from his organization. Grassland birds […] Read moreExperts map genome of pathogen responsible for potato famine
Researchers studying the spread of late blight say a recent discovery is important, even if they’re more than 150 years late. In a paper published last month, an international team of researchers identified a new strain of Phytophthora infestans, the pathogen that causes the disease in potato crops around the world, which they believe to […] Read more
Spray operations begin in most areas of Prairies
ALBERTA Seeding is almost complete across the province with rains at the end of May and start of June helping boost soil moisture, which is adequate in most areas. An area northwest of Edmonton is expected to be among the one percent of acres left unseeded this year. Major crops like canola, wheat and peas […] Read more
