Municipalities study the role wind may play in spreading the disease as clubroot resistance breaks down in the province
Six Alberta municipalities have taken to the air as they continue to monitor clubroot movement and pathotype presence in the soil. Using a research grant from the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, members of the Plant Health Surveillance program are focusing on wind, which many people are concerned is another conduit for the pathogen. The six municipalities […] Read more
William DeKay
Stories by William DeKay
New model hopes to improve lentil selection
Researchers are trying to understand what causes a lentil plant to flower at the time it does in a given environment
Researchers have developed a model to determine which lentil varieties will thrive in new production environments. It comes at a time when the global appetite for pulses is rising as the effects of global warming and climate change slowly build. Increasing production of lentil-based protein will have to come by improving yields in traditional growing […] Read more
Sask. ag equipment manufacturer goes solar
Maker of Case IH, New Holland and Flexi-Coil brands says it is reducing its carbon foot print while cutting electrical costs
CNH Industrial in Saskatoon is home to the largest solar energy project in the province. More than 1,000 gleaming blue-black panels soak up the sun outside the manufacturer’s facility, where tillage, seeding and harvesting equipment is made under the Case IH, New Holland and Flexi-Coil brands. “This project will yield 331 kilowatts of power for […] Read more
Tech school reaches deal with research farm
Saskatchewan Polytechnic and Glacier FarmMedia’s Discovery Farm agree to share the research services of one position
Blake Weiseth wears a few different hats at Glacier FarmMedia’s Discovery Farm west of Langham, Sask., home to Ag in Motion and the Field of Excellence. He manages the dual-title position of applied research lead at Discovery Farm and agriculture research chair at Saskatchewan Polytechnic. It’s a unique public and private agreement that Glacier FarmMedia […] Read more
‘I’ve never missed a harvest in my whole life’
Pliers and baling wire help carry a Saskatchewan farmer through 77 consecutive harvests — and he’s working on his 78th
ST. BRIEUX, Sask. — With 77 harvests under his belt, Lucien Fagnou keeps climbing the combine ladder. He’s working on number 78. “I’ve never missed a harvest in my whole life. This is really the start of my 78th harvest now. I’m not finished yet,” said the 91-year-old farmer. In fact, Fagnou remembers the first […] Read more
Sask. horse ranching family is born to ride
On the Farm: Horses produced by the King family are used for ranches, rodeos, trick riding, equine events and pets
CORNING, Sask. — John King can’t put a number on how many horses he’s ridden over the years, but it’s a lot. “I was training my first horse when I was nine years old. I rode a lot of colts to begin with from the time I was old enough for Dad to throw me […] Read more
Canadian crop biomass energy research
UBC researchers are looking beyond forest material to crop straws and chaff to build renewable power products
That field of wheat straw could someday be pressed into pellets. Producing biomass pellets from crop residue is the focus of a new project by researchers at the University of British Columbia. Biomass and Bioenergy Research Group (BBRG), at the Chemical and Biological Engineering Department of the University of British Columbia is leading a four-year […] Read more
Vet college gets new funding deal
Manitoba, Saskatchewan and British Columbia reach five-year agreement without Alberta, which now has its own school
For the first time in its 54-year history, three provinces instead of the usual four are taking part in a long-standing arrangement with the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon. An interprovincial agreement was recently renewed for the college, which is based at the University of Saskatchewan. The financial commitment of $134 million by […] Read more
Calgary veterinary school boosts diagnostic abilities
The university will receive $3.4 million to expand its diagnostic service unit for enhanced animal disease diagnosis
A four-year pilot program expected to start next month should increase the capacity of disease diagnostics at the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. The animal food production sector, particularly Alberta cattle producers, welcomed the news. “This is all about restoring a basic level of diagnostic services within the province of Alberta. It’s something […] Read more
Volunteer group sets up website to promote agriculture awareness
Communicators and public relations and marketing professionals across the country are volunteering their time and skills to support agriculture during the COVID-19 pandemic. Farmwork to Feed Canada (F2FC) is a volunteer, not-for-profit initiative designed to support the farm and agri-food sectors by improving awareness of the food system. “Our skills are in writing and in […] Read more
