Canola pioneer Keith Downey has a lengthy resume and an impressive list of accomplishments. Heralded as the “father of canola,” he’s the breeder or co-breeder of 13 rapeseed/canola varieties, receiving no shortage of acclaim, including nods from the American Oil Chemists, Agricultural Institute of Canada and inductions into the Saskatchewan and Canadian Agricultural Halls of […] Read more
Stories by Dan Yates
Sask. ag policies foster sector concentration: authors
A University of Saskatchewan professor says premier Brad Wall’s Saskatchewan Party government can do more to enshrine “sustainable” and “socially just” agricultural practices in policy. Darrell McLaughlin said “a public presence in agriculture policies” has been dismantled and concentration through the global food supply chain has been increased in the last generation, starting with Allan […] Read more
New credit insurance program protects against non-payment
A new credit insurance program is the first of its kind for Canadian producers, providing a service previously available only to large grain companies, says the group behind Market Power Assurance. The program, which is a partnership between Farmers of North America, Atradius Credit Insurance NV and Pangaea Global Risk Management, hopes to attract producers […] Read more
Survey shows farming optimism
Looking up | FCC survey shows 80 percent of farmers think they’ll be better off within five years
Canadian agricultural producers are optimistic about their future, with many looking to expand, according to the results of a Farm Credit Canada survey released last week. The survey, conducted last fall, found that 80 percent of respondents expect their farm or business will be better off in five years. That’s up four percent from last […] Read moreLink between bacteria, better yields studied
Some crops play better hosts to micro-organisms
Everyday a battle is waged in the field. “(It’s) a tale of lords, vassals, cheaters and knights,” Agriculture Canada researcher Chantal Hamel said about the positive and negative influences on plant life in the biosphere. She said it’s a subject of interest to scientists who seek to better understand the relationship between plants, their environment […] Read more
Medical invention a legacy
Cobalt machine | The betatron, dubbed The Bomb, zaps cancerous tumours
Harold Johns and Allan Blair dropped in unannounced one day in 1946 to visit Saskatchewan premier Tommy Douglas. They had a proposal. Johns, a physicist at the University of Saskatchewan who supervised radium and X-ray therapy equipment, and Blair, director of Saskatchewan Cancer Services, were pioneering new radiation therapies. They needed permission to buy a […] Read more
Tips on tapping tourists
Fruit grower says to make the visit an experience for the whole family
Agritourism can add value to a fruit growers’ farm, but it’s a long-term proposition. Adding a fish pond, building a cafe and growing a corn maze can all help bring people onto a producer’s farm, U-pick or orchard, but they require cash upfront and returns are slow. It’s not for everyone, G2S Pickin Patch owner […] Read moreLong-term research has benefits when studying sustainability
Patience is a virtue for scientists and producers as they search for ways to farm sustainably. Agriculture Canada scientist Reynald Lemke told the Saskatchewan Soil Conservation Association meeting at Crop Production Week in Saskatoon that sustainability isn’t a new concept. He said scientists in Western Canada have been wrestling with sustainable agriculture since sod was […] Read more
Guidelines address dangers
Manufacturers of portable augers have a new set of guidelines from the Canadian Standards Association. The safety standards address specific concerns, including areas around the auger intake and driveline. Statistics show augers are second only to tractors in their involvement in machinery-related injuries on the farm. The new standard was developed by the CSA’s agricultural […] Read more
Information flows at coinciding crop events
Warm weather helped organizers set a new attendance record at the Western Canadian Crop Production Show. Almost 20,000 people walked through the doors at the four-day event held at Prairieland Park in Saskatoon. The 19,948 total is a 15.8 percent increase over 2011. A total of 306 companies showcased technology services and products at the […] Read more
