Political parties running in the federal election will be asked for their solutions to the growing loss of market access
Farmers want the federal election campaign to focus on solutions to their market access challenges. From canola, soybeans and meat in China to durum in Italy, pulses in India and other products in other countries, farmers say these issues must take priority. “They know the problems, or they darn well better know the problems we’re […] Read moreNews
New study raises new questions for neonics
U of S researchers say songbirds that eat seeds coated with imidacloprid lose weight and delay their migration
The findings of a University of Saskatchewan study may affect the fate of insecticide seed treatments in Canada. The study, published Sept. 13 in Science, has concluded that imidacloprid is a threat to songbirds. When white-crowned sparrows consumed seeds coated with the insecticide, the birds lost weight and the exposure halted their migration, the scientists […] Read more
Soil testing in the cards this fall
Farmers are advised to make a more thorough assessment of residual nutrient levels because of uneven germination
It hasn’t been a perfect year for grain and oilseed producers in Western Canada. But 2019 might be an ideal year for farmers to revisit their soil fertility strategies, according to agronomists and soil fertility experts. Dry seeding conditions this spring, followed by frequent rainfalls and unusually cool temperatures later in the growing season resulted […] Read more
NDP urged to reconnect with rural Manitoba
The party finished in a distant second to the PCs in recent election, and former MLA says it must make drastic changes
The New Democratic Party will not return to power in Manitoba if it can’t find a way to connect with rural voters, says a former NDP MLA who represented the Interlake for 17 years. Manitoba went to the polls Sept. 10 and the NDP finished a distant second to the Progressive Conservatives. Premier Brian Pallister […] Read more
Biofuel done with clean fuel standard
Canola and biodiesel groups have come to the conclusion that the federal government’s proposed Clean Fuel Standard is bad for their industries. “Our confidence in the Clean Fuel Standard has plummeted,” said Ian Thomson, president of Advanced Biofuels Canada. “We’re just not seeing it as the promise we thought it was.” The groups initially saw […] Read more
Ad hoc aid to ease trade pressure divides prairie farmers
Canadian farmers are far from united on whether they want Ottawa to issue ad hoc payments to compensate producers for lost markets. “Farmers are all over the map whether they want something like that or not,” said Rick White, chief executive officer of the Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA). Opinions vary depending on factors such […] Read more
Seed royalty survey hopes for more input
The survey, organized by the provincial general farm organizations, is in response to concerns with federal consultation
General farm organizations in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta are encouraging western Canadian grain farmers to take a few minutes away from the combine this fall and express their opinions on the controversial topic of seed royalties. Agricultural producers have until Oct. 15 to share their views on proposed changes to seed royalty structures for cereal […] Read more
Sask. takes brunt of hail damage
Hail claims on the Prairies are tracking similar to last year with Saskatchewan farmers reporting the most damage so far. However, there are still six weeks or so that could result in hail storms, leading Canadian Crop Hail Association president Rick Omelchenko to speculate that final numbers could be higher. More than 10,000 claims have […] Read more
Alta. rural municipalities face more capital costs
A panel that was asked to look into how the province can balance the budget says municipalities should shoulder a larger share of the costs
Alberta’s rural municipality group is hoping to sit down with the province to discuss spending after it was recommended that towns and counties shoulder more building costs. Al Kemmere, president of the Rural Municipalities of Alberta, said even though towns and counties acknowledged they need to help the province deal with the deficit, they have […] Read more
Alfalfa helped to overcome salty soil threat
Scientists in Utah found using salt-tolerant bacteria as an inoculant helped improve the crop’s yield in tough conditions
Researchers in Utah might have found a way to help crops that are suffering from salty soils. Brigham Young University scientists used salt-tolerant bacteria to inoculate alfalfa affected by salty soil, finding the inoculant improved the crop’s yield. “This was in a controlled environment in the lab and the greenhouse, but we saw routinely at […] Read more
