A staple of the human diet has been coming under increasing attack from some health professionals. One of the more recent salvos was fired by William Davis, a Wisconsin cardiologist and author of the book Wheat Belly, in which he provides 16 pages of reference information from the 1960s to the present supporting his argument […] Read more
Stories by John B. Pluck
Montana firm custom maps Canadian topography
Printed topographic maps have been around for centuries, but an American company has added a bit of modern technological sophistication to the map printing business. MyTopo provides customized printed topographic maps of locations in Canada and the United States within 24 hours, said marketing manager Paige Darden. “It’s a pretty straightforward service,” she said. “It’s […] Read more
Different solar heating systems practical for home, office
Harnessing the sun’s heat to supplement commercial and domestic energy needs is nothing new but is often viewed as a luxury for the wealthy environmentalist. This perception may soon become a thing of the past. Ewan Pollock of Cansolair Marketing in Saskatoon sells the Cansolair RA 240 Solar Max heated air generator unit. He believes […] Read more
Genome map of cannabis sativa plant helps growers
A recently completed genome map of the cannabis sativa plant has potential benefits for hemp and marijuana growers. Cannabis sativa is the plant species that includes hemp and marijuana. University of Saskatchewan biology professor Jon Page and University of Toronto professor Tim Hughes have published their research on the genome of cannabis sativa in the […] Read more
Bird seed processor enters new frontier
Kent Rathwell doesn’t believe in being passive in business. The owner of the Sun Country Farms bird food manufacturing facility in Langham, Sask., this year faced the possibility of a sunflower seed shortage because of flooding in southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba. His solution was to grow the crop himself, even though he had no farming […] Read more
Viterra delves into fuel service
Viterra is getting into the commercial and farm fuel market in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. The company will acquire 24 of Imperial Oil’s secondary fuel storage terminals on the Prairies and will deliver bulk Esso fuel to farmers, said Doug Wonnacott, Viterra’s chief operating officer for agri-products. “It’s a long term supply agreement,” he said. […] Read more
Old varieties aid rust fight
Much needed ammunition in the fight against a devastating type of wheat stem rust, Ug99, is expected by early next year. Scientific research is expected to yield new wheat genes to provide this breakthrough. Mike Bonman, a plant researcher with the Small Grains and Potato Germplasm Research Unit in Aberdeen, Idaho, has been screening more […] Read more
Aussie looks north for farm workers
For university students, trying to strike a balance between the need to earn money and the desire to travel abroad can be difficult. A working vacation program could offer a way for students to do both. Andrew Coldbeck, owner of The Job Shop in Western Australia, is visiting the Canadian Prairies hoping to find students […] Read more
Fiery crashes, close calls experienced by wartime aviators
At age 93, Lew Duddridge has filled the pages of a book,The Flying Duddridges of Hanley, with reflections of two brothers’ experiences during the Second World War. Duddridge joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in June of 1940 with his brother, Len, now deceased. Their war experiences and survival are remarkable considering that they were […] Read more
Turkey producers reap benefits from improved feed efficiency
Better breeding and more efficient feed have helped turkey producers increase their productivity, despite rising feed costs. Henry Classen, a professor from the University of Saskatchewan’s animal and poultry science department, credits genetic selection and better turkey nutrition for the production improvements. “The sophistication of genetic selection has improved and as a consequence feed efficiency […] Read more
