Falling crude oil prices have pushed fuel costs at Canadian pumps to their lowest levels since 2011, but the cost of farm diesel is stable. At around $1 per litre, farm diesel prices are down from recent weeks, but farmers saw even lower prices this fall at 90 cents, said Chris Adair of Rack Petroleum […] Read more
Stories by Dan Yates
Saskatchewan farmland attracts outside interest
New players | Researchers say nearly 800,000 acres are owned by out-of-province investors
A former Manitoba businessperson who now resides in Alberta has taken a major interest in Saskatchewan. Robert Andjelic said his portfolio of Saskatchewan farmland has grown to 180,000 acres over the past four years. “I’ve been studying the market for a lot longer,” said Andjelic, who previously owned industrial warehousing. “I got bored with retirement […] Read moreRealized net income grew only 1.1 percent in 2013
Higher interest rates a concern | Farms with high debt could become non-viable
Statistics Canada’s final tally of 2013 farm income tells a story familiar to western Canadian farmers. Total net income increased to $12 billion last year, according to the agency’s report released last week, but a good portion of it was sitting in on-farm stocks at the end of the year. Almost all of the $5.7 […] Read more
Hog producers see profits, but tougher times ahead
U.S. production rebounding after PED | Analysts tell producers to increase management efficiency and prepare for tighter margins next year
Lower feed costs and higher hog prices mean this year should be one for the record books, says an industry official. However, there are signs that smaller margins are on the horizon. “I’ve been in the industry since 1975 and this is far and away the most profitable year we’ve had over that time period,” […] Read morePig profit can survive use of pain control: vet
New regulations to provide pain control when castrating and tail docking piglets shouldn’t hamper production, says a University of Guelph veterinarian. The new rules under the country’s pig code of practice come into effect July 1, 2016. Robert Friendship, a researcher who works in hog health and disease surveillance, said studies show that the added […] Read more
Vet applauds new traceability for PED
PigTrace Canada | The federally enforceable program is intended to help investigate outbreaks and prevent disease spread
A Manitoba veterinarian who has worked with two hog operations that tested positive for porcine epidemic diarrhea virus is vouching for Canada’s nascent pig traceability program. “I’ll (give) a big plug for PigTrace for PED,” Brad Chappel, a veterinarian from Steinbach, Man., told the Saskatchewan Pork Industry Symposium in Saskatoon last week. Since July, pork […] Read moreDiesel prices remain stable, despite crude oil decline
Falling crude oil prices have pushed fuel costs at Canadian pumps to the lowest levels in recent memory, but the cost of farm diesel remains stable. At around $1 per litre, prices are down from recent weeks, but farmers were making purchases at 90 cents this fall, said Chris Adair of Rack Petroleum in Biggar, […] Read more
Identifying cutworm species key to effective control
DNA identification | Different species feed at different times so proper insecticide timing is critical
At a glance, it can be difficult to distinguish one species of cutworm from another. It’s why researchers have been taking a closer look at the insect pest, all the way down to its DNA. A laboratory test can now use DNA markers to quickly identify five species of cutworms, which feed on canola, forage […] Read moreChemical concerns spur microbial based ag products
Plant stimulant | Inocucor Technologies claims its microbial product can boost crop yields by 10 to 15 percent
A Montreal-based manufacturer of “yeast and bacteria” believes its biological product can make the leap to large-scale agriculture. Inocucor Technologies announced last month a partnership with McGill University researchers to develop products for commercial crops such as soybeans, canola and wheat that use microbes to stimulate plant growth. The initiative adds to a growing list […] Read moreCutworms take slice out of Sask. canola yields
Numbers up after wet springs | Farmers urged to scout fields in spring when young larvae are most damaging
After years of declining numbers, cutworms once again reared their heads in Saskatchewan this year, forcing producers to take control efforts. According to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s Crop Production News publication, populations in extreme cases were more than 30 acres in size. Populations were below levels seen in the late 2000s, when the cutworm was identified as […] Read more
