Scentless chamomile’s white daisy-like flowers look attractive, but every farmer knows the weed is bad news. Formally known as matricaria perforata, it spreads rapidly in ditches, along fence lines and into pastures and fields. The annual, biennial and occasional perennial plant is tough to remove from pastures. It likes high moisture and disturbed soil, which […] Read more
Stories by Saskatoon newsroom
Ag Notes – for Jul. 15, 2010
Stamp of approval Canada Post has released stamps to highlight roadside attractions from across the country. It is the second issue in a three-year series. Canada Post is issuing four stamps featuring iconic small town landmarks, including the coffee pot and cup statue in Davidson, Sask., the Happy Rock in Gladstone, Man., the Wawa Goose […] Read more
Expansion planned for hybrid seed facility
Monsanto Canada plans to spend $14 million to expand and upgrade its hybrid seed production facility in Lethbridge. The investment includes a new cleaning plant and expanded bulk storage. The project was necessitated by growing demand for the company’s DeKalb canola hybrids and to accommodate new seed traits in the pipeline.”By bringing everything under one […] Read more
Well-designed equipment dealership serves farmers well
Wild buckwheat, polygonum convolvulus, is another of the weeds showing resistance to Group 2 chemicals on the Prairies. Resistance has been identified in Alberta, but there is a threat across the West due to the widespread presence of the weed and the extensive use of Group 2 herbicides. Wild buckwheat is an annual, typically producing […] Read more
Western Producer Crop Report – for Jul. 8, 2010
Alberta South Unseeded acres in southCrops remain three weeks behind normal development due to the cool, wet spring. Unseeded acres will be lower than expected.Less than 500,000 acres will go unseeded in Alberta, with most unseeded acres in the southern part of the province.Conditions have improved substantially from mid June. Cereals are 65 percent good […] Read more
Western Producer Livestock Report – for Jul. 8, 2010
Pork demand for barbecues has has fallen off following the July holidays. Also, slaughter plants were closed for the holiday, reducing demand for hogs.Iowa-southern Minnesota cash hogs delivered to plants were $57 US per hundredweight July 2, down from $60 per cwt. June 25.The U.S. pork carcass cut-out value was $82.42 July 2, down from […] Read more
Ag Notes – for Jul. 8, 2010
Ag and food council chair The Agriculture and Food Council of Alberta has announced that Donalda-area producer Heather Broughton has been elected as the first chair under the organization’s new structure.Broughton was first elected to the council in 2006 and served as its last chair under the group’s previous configuration, which had a limited number […] Read more
Mexico allows temporary canaryseed access
Canadian canaryseed shipments that have been stalled at the Mexican border will be allowed to enter under an agreement announced Tuesday by federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz. Speaking at the Canadian Special Crops Association annual meeting in Saskatoon, Ritz said he had spoken with his counterpart in Mexico, who had agreed to a 60-day delay […] Read more
China buys Canadian spring wheat
The Canadian Wheat Board and China have an agreement whereby China will buy 500,000 tonnes of mostly high quality spring wheat by the end of 2011.Federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz announced the deal Monday, arrived at during his third trade mission to China in less than a year.The deal is believed to be worth about […] Read more
Western Producer Crop Report – for Jul. 1, 2010
Alberta South Standing waterAbout seven percent of the land will be left unseeded this year. Moisture is excessive, with water standing in many low-lying fields. Farmers near Cardston, Cypress County and Pincher Creek are hardest hit. Spraying progressed last week but is well behind normal. Pastures and tame hay are improving. Central Crops lateCrops look […] Read more
