Most crops have gone into the bin across the Prairies, although work continues on late-stage crops such as corn and flax
Ron Krahn, a Manitoba canola farmer, beat the rain last week as he finished up his last few acres and called harvest 2023 officially over. He described the season as better than expected with yields tied for best ever on his farm near Rivers, Man. “We had some substantial hail this year on about half […] Read moreStories by Freelance writer
Pumpkin field provides orange entertainment
Whether it’s picking out the perfect pumpkin or carving a jack-o’-lantern, there’s plenty to do at this British Columbia farm
For 34 years, Clarence and Judy Glaicar have delighted thousands of visitors a year to their Pumpkin Patch near Armstrong, B.C., including school bus loads of kids and vans full of seniors. The Glaicars raise about 15 acres of pumpkins and squash, plus decorative corn and gourds. Visitors can carve a jack-o’-lanterns and purchase pumpkins […] Read more
Individualism found harmful to crop productivity
Better understanding how plants compete with each other under high-density cropping conditions may help boost yields
Plants in a field are thought of as all the same throughout their sprouting, growing and maturing stages. But in a field where plants grow in high density and vie for light, an individual plant’s social behaviour can be competitive. According to researchers at the Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research in […] Read more
System measures grass from space
Two Irish technology companies use satellite imagery to help livestock producers track how well their grass is growing
Grassland farming has taken on a whole new dimension with a technology that accurately measures the height of grass from space. The innovation was developed in Ireland earlier this year by two technology companies, Origin Enterprises and Aspia Space. The goal was to find ways to increase farm productivity, operational efficiency and profitability. “At Origin […] Read more
ESG: love it or leave it?
Ag industry players argue environmental, social and governance reporting standards are coming and urge producers to be ready for them; others aren’t so sure
Canadian farmers might want to brush up on their report-writing skills. Environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting standards are going to affect the agriculture industry sooner than you might think, says Canada’s largest landowner. “No loans or mortgages will be available from the major lenders unless certain ESG standards and carbon footprint is identified,” said […] Read more
Harvest mostly done; some wait on maturity
Wide variety of yields and crop quality seen across the Prairies this season, reflecting differences in weather conditions
Variation in yield and quality of crops across the Prairies is the hallmark of this harvest season. Farmers in southern and eastern Alberta seeded in the dust, said Jesse Cole, manager of insurance products and product innovation with Agriculture Financial Services Corporation. Yield loss started in the spring for some. “Even areas that got some […] Read more
Bountiful harvest always produced the fall carrot crunch
Growing carrots has always been a challenge. In years gone by, I had to watch my husband like a hawk or he would plant several rows of the things just because they produced so well. No amount of arguing could convince him that, come September, there was always a glut of carrots on the market. […] Read more
Fear of farming shares common roots
Researcher says fostering direct, personal links among producers and consumers can help develop comfort and trust
Why do some people embrace misinformation and conspiracy theories about farming and food production and others do not? A team of American and Canadian researchers dug into this question by looking at 170 studies involving more than 158,000 participants. Their meta-analysis found that people vulnerable to misinformation and conspiracy theories share three traits. They tend […] Read more
Prairie harvest stays ahead of five-year average
Dry conditions across the region continue to leave many producers without adequate soil moisture as harvest wraps up
Harvest continues across the Prairies with completion rates continuing to surpass provincial and regional five-year averages. Producers in Alberta are 65 percent complete, a 21 percent increase compared to last week, according to the Alberta crop report released on Sept. 22. Producers in the south are nearly 91 percent finished on all crops, an increase […] Read more
Alta. fertility study focuses on heifers
Researchers look for the most effective and inexpensive ways cattle producers can select heifers for natural insemination
Breeding cattle for the commercial market can be a real crap shoot. A lot of research has gone into the fertility of bulls, given their genetic importance. However, researchers at Lakeland College are trying to offer farmers deeper insight into their breeding programs by looking at the predictive analysis of heifers. Through the Precision Ranching […] Read more
