Promising results from the first year of a three-year study have convinced researchers there is huge potential for two pulse crops in Alberta. Alberta Agriculture is looking for something to replace the shrinking pea acreage in the Parkland and Peace River regions of the province. The search led the agency to fababeans and lupins, the […] Read more
Sean Pratt
Stories by Sean Pratt
National organic standard remains in limbo
The floundering Canadian organic standard has taken another backward step. Last August, a 41-member committee approved the first part of the three-part standard by a slim 61 percent majority. That was not considered a strong enough endorsement so a working group revamped the document, responding to a litany of criticisms in an effort to seek […] Read more
Federal agency takes second look at lindane ban
The federal government is reviewing its decision to ban a controversial insecticide once used extensively by Canadian canola growers to defend their crops against flea beetles. At the behest of Crompton Corp., manufacturer of Vitavax RS and Cloak seed treatments, an independent review board will hold a hearing of the Pest Management Regulatory Agency’s 2002 […] Read more
Genetically modified flax still not an option, says council
The Flax Council of Canada is stamping out a fire before it gets started. An article that ran in CropLife Canada’s Biocrop News publication could leave farmers with the mistaken impression the industry is ready to embrace biotech crops, said council president Barry Hall. It quotes Flax Canada 2015 co-ordinator Kelly Fitzpatrick as saying that […] Read more
Group pushes to make Sask. ethanol hub
A new association has been formed with the intention of moving Saskatchewan’s ethanol needle from nearly empty to completely full. The Saskatchewan Ethanol Development Council wants to help companies turn cereal crops into fuel by assisting them with their business plans, hooking them up with appropriate venture capital funds and encouraging local breeders to develop […] Read more
Shopping for straw
Iogen Corp. is gearing up for a shift out of the laboratory and into the real-world production of ethanol. Over the last few months the company has signed agreements with farmers for the right to buy 500,000 tonnes of straw for its first commercial scale, cellulose-based ethanol plant. And just last week it received encouraging […] Read more
Algeria rejects wrinkled lentils from Canada
Canada is embroiled in a quality dispute with its second largest lentil buyer. Algeria has stopped accepting containers of large green lentils from Canada due to excessive seed coat wrinkling. Wrinkling is not a grading factor in Canada but it is considered a minor damage issue in Algeria. The country allows a maximum seven percent […] Read more
Pulse crop forecast as expected
Agriculture Canada’s latest special crops outlook closely reflects what market analysts were predicting in January at Pulse Days in Saskatoon. Pea and lentil acres are forecast to remain unchanged, while substantial declines in mustard and canaryseed plantings will more than offset increases in bean and chickpea seeding. “Agriculture Canada has a pretty good handle on […] Read more
Companies spar over glyphosate imports
A company that is helping growers buy cheap glyphosate through a seldom-used importation program says it is facing considerable resistance from the establishment. “They’re trying everything they can to limit the effectiveness of this program,” said Jim Mann, president of Farmers of North America. He points to a March 10 letter that Monsanto Canada sent […] Read more
Make more deals, leaders tell Martin
Farm groups are pressuring the Canadian government to negotiate more bilateral free trade agreements. That is one of the key messages prime minister Paul Martin heard from farm leaders when he met with them in Saskatoon March 16 during his tour of Saskatchewan and Alberta. Pulse Canada chair Jack Froese was one of three farm […] Read more
