Christina Crowley-Arklie is on a mission to change the way agriculture and food is communicated. It’s time, said the Guelph-based communicator and marketer, for value-based storytelling conversations to be conveyed more effectively in the industry. “The idea around agriculture embracing values at a time where public trust is not just a buzzword anymore, it’s a […] Read more
William DeKay
Stories by William DeKay
Tensions in co-operative movement turn nasty
An expert says the dispute may be the result of a lack of understanding at the Calgary Co-op over how the system works
Tensions within co-operatives are as old as co-operatives themselves. However, not too many get to the point that Federated Co-operatives Ltd. and Calgary Co-op have reached, in which both parties are pursuing lawsuits and claiming millions of dollars in damages. Murray Fulton, director of the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy at the University […] Read more
Pandemic changes public’s perception of food
A professor specializing in food distribution says the crisis has shifted the discussion from convenience to survival
The food industry is pulling off nothing short of a miracle during the pandemic, according to a prominent food distribution and policy analyst. But that could change, said Sylvain Charlebois, a professor in food distribution and scientific director at the Agri-food Analytics laboratory at Dalhousie University in Halifax. “It’s been amazing to watch…. This tsunami […] Read more
Study finds higher sulfate tolerance in cattle
Results show beef cattle can tolerate up to 3,000 milligrams of added sulfates per litre of water — higher than expected
Researchers are surprised that beef cattle can tolerate higher concentrations of sulfates in their drinking water than previously believed. A recent study at the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence at the University of Saskatchewan tested differences in feed intake, growth or feed efficiency, and mineral concentrations in the blood of beef cattle related to […] Read moreOnline learning embraced in Sask.
Eighty percent of students are working with teachers remotely as they make supplemental education packages available
Saskatchewan students, teachers and families are receiving good grades as they adjust to school closures and home-schooling demands resulting from the coronavirus pandemic. “Everyone is trying to do the best that they can in a very difficult, unique and rapidly changing situation,” said Kyle McIntyre, director of education at the Chinook School Division based in […] Read more
Tank sales skyrocket as fuel prices plummet
Many prairie farmers have been adding extra storage capacity to their operations as they head into seeding season
Fuel tanks have been driving up sales at suppliers across Western Canada. “I have noticed that guys are going crazy buying fuel tanks. Diesel fuel is lower than it has been in 10 years for sure. So guys are jumping on the bandwagon,” said Kevin Serfas, who grain farms northeast of Lethbridge. He said Twitter […] Read more
Dry beans strong potential for southern dryland Prairies
Fertilizer, so far, the key to yield; inoculation and fixation not as important as for other prairie pulse crops
Inoculating solid-seeded CDC Blackstrap beans across five research areas in Saskatchewan produced no tangible results. “What we found is that we had a complete inoculant failure. The product that we were able to access did not offer us any yield advantage to inoculation,” said Garry Hnatowich, research director at the Irrigation Crop Diversification Corp. in […] Read more
Breakthrough seen in testing for bovine TB
VIDO-InterVac at the University of Saskatchewan is evaluating a diagnostic tool to quickly test for the disease in bison
Trials are underway in Saskatchewan using unique diagnostic tools to test for bovine tuberculosis in bison. Actiphage by PBD Biotech is being evaluated as an improved detection method for the disease at VIDO-InterVac at the University of Saskatchewan. The two organizations have teamed with Parks Canada to conduct trials on bison from Wood Buffalo National […] Read more
Distillers, brewers fill sanitizer void
Small companies known for their craft vodka, gin, whiskey and beer switch gears to produce hand sanitizer
The urgent need for hand sanitizer is seeing micro-distillers and breweries stepping up. With retail supplies largely sold out across the country, COVID-19 front-line workers in several industries have been scrambling to help fill the void. In an effort to meet demand, several makers of alcoholic beverages across the Prairies are using their expertise and […] Read more
Telemedicine saves the day for vets
Pandemic or not, telemedicine continues to be an essential tool that veterinarians and their clients use to improve the health and welfare of animals. However, as the current crisis unfolds, the use of telemedicine is gaining increased traction as a front-line method for diagnosing and treating animal patients while following public health and augmenting other […] Read more
