Farm cash receipts increased by only 2.9 percent for the year when earnings from cannabis were removed from equation
New data from Statistics Canada shows farm cash receipts continue to trend upward, increasing in 2019 by 5.7 percent or $66.1 billion to mark the ninth consecutive year of increase and the largest single uptick since 2012. But that number is less impressive when cannabis is removed from the equation because it represents 2.8 percent […] Read moreCrop Management — page 331
Academic research neglects technology
A researcher finds little written about hot producer topics such as farm equipment in ag economic journals
At farm shows and conferences the hottest topics tend to be machinery and technology. And in seminars and workshops, strategic planning is something many farm managers enthusiastically attend. But you don’t tend to see that reflected in mainstream U.S. agricultural economics academic journals focused on farm management, according to a researcher who studied a leading […] Read more
Weed of the Week: kochia
Kochia, despite being identified as one of the most dangerous weeds in the West, remains a growing problem in the region. Droughty conditions have allowed this tough competitor to flourish, even if it is only a few plants making it to maturity at the field corners or on the fence lines, where it often ends […] Read more
Federal oil well remediation cash aimed at service sector jobs
Landowners wondering if oil and gas wells on their properties might be remediated sooner thanks to an infusion of about $1.72 billion in federal funds will have to wait. “We’re working on how we prioritize that in terms of the abandoned wells and the orphaned wells we have,” said Bronwyn Eyre, Saskatchewan Minister of Energy […] Read more
Farmers can mitigate extreme weather: study
Regions with healthy soil, grasslands and wetlands are found better able to deal with damage from climatic extremes
Last year was a summer of extremes in Manitoba. It barely rained in June or July, which hammered hay production. Many farmers reported hay yields of 50 percent of normal or less, and there was a severe shortage of forage in some areas. Then it rained nearly every day in the second half of August […] Read morePlants select which microbes have the chance to live with them
It is common knowledge that microbes live inside plants but new research from Michigan State University has shown that plant genes actually select which microbes get to live inside to help the plant remain healthy. Just like humans need a balanced gut bacteria community for a healthy digestive system, plants need a well-balanced microbiome community […] Read more
Old oil wells not suited for geothermal use
A recent announcement of $1.7 billion in federal funding to help remediate oil wells has resurrected an old question: Do those old oil wells on the back 40 have any potential for new life in geothermal energy production? “The typical oil well isn’t set up for the flow rates needed for geothermal power and retrofitting […] Read more
International genomics firm to open in Sask.
NRGene, a leading genomics company based in Israel, is planning to open up a new office in Saskatoon, the company announced last week. The office will support NRGene’s plans to expand operations in Canada, where the company has worked on a number of large genomics projects over the past few years and has developed working […] Read more
Flea beetle spraying can be emotional decision
Spock from Star Trek would have been a good farmer. He’s famous for being logical and removing emotion from every decision. But Spock isn’t human. Humans are emotional creatures, and feelings can drive decisions. That’s why it’s hard for canola growers to watch flea beetles devour the leaves on tiny canola plants in late May […] Read more
Cannabis carries farm growth in average year
New data from Statistics Canada shows farm cash receipts continue to trend upward, increasing in 2019 by 5.7 percent or $66.1 billion to mark the ninth consecutive year of increase and the largest single uptick since 2012. But that number is less impressive when cannabis is removed from the equation because it represents 2.8 percent […] Read more
