Glacier FarmMedia – Not only did December fly by, but it seemed like the entirety of 2024 did too. Let’s start the year with our usual look back at the month that was, and then we’ll peer into the future to see what the weather may hold for us for the latter half of the […] Read more
News
UFA adds new Sask. location
UFA Co-operative has opened a new cardlock location in Melfort, Sask. It joins existing Saskatchewan locations in Corman Park, Kindersley, Macklin, Swift Current, Weyburn and Yorkton. UFA is an Alberta-based agricultural co-operative with more than 120,000 member-owners. Its network comprises 115 petroleum locations, 34 Farm & Ranch Supply stores and a support office in Calgary. […] Read more
Navigating capital gains maze
There are ways for producers to shield themselves from increased capital gains inclusion, but it may take some legwork and consultation with an expert to determine eligibility, said a chartered professional accountant from Alberta. Last June, the Canadian government increased the inclusion rate for individuals and corporations. Capital gains increased from 50 per cent to […] Read more
Producers urged to keep eyes peeled for insects
Populations were mostly small for key pests in Alta. last year, but there were plenty of hot spots so scouting remains vital
Alberta has released its 2024 survey maps for three of canola’s hungriest insect pests: Bertha armyworm, cabbage seedpod weevil and grasshoppers. All three pest populations were relatively small, although hot spots appeared throughout the province. In all three cases, releases from Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation emphasized scouting and when to do so for best results. […] Read more
Cover cropping pays off for Alberta producer
Farmer says strategy has helped him remediate fields and achieve better yield on his operation near High Prairie, Alta.
Glacier FarmMedia – Michael Strebchuk says cover crops are working on his farm in the Peace. “Our challenges have always been how to control weeds and reduce tillage,” he said during an Alberta Organic Producers Association webinar early this winter. Strebchuk, who is president of the association, farms with his family at High Prairie. The […] Read more
Future of canola could lie in its components
Increasing the value of the crop’s various parts, rather than focusing just on seed, could be key to the sector’s prosperity
Glacier FarmMedia – It’s not enough for the canola industry to focus on seed. The next step of growth, according to one seed marketing expert, is about capturing more value for each of the plant’s parts. ”When we think about the whole value chain, we think about the farmer, we think about the crush partner, […] Read more
Prairie beekeepers’ honey flow slowed last year
Weather and production challenges reduced how much product was produced; beekeepers wary about coming winter
Glacier FarmMedia – Weather woes and disease caused honey production on the Prairies to drop significantly in 2024, especially in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Statistics Canada recently reported that Canadian honey production dropped by more than 18 per cent nationwide compared to 2023, though the number of beekeepers and colonies increased. Beekeepers across the nation drew […] Read more
Beef sector works on SRM rules
REGINA — The Canadian beef sector continues to push for harmonized specified risk material standards with the United States. A new risk analysis has been done that stakeholders hope will result in a regulatory policy that helps them be more competitive. The industry has been working toward the goal of harmonization since the country was […] Read more
Pulse growers fund weed control research
Sask. producer group commits $3.67 million over six years to fund five projects, including one on kochia management
Weed control has been recognized as a top issue for pulse growers in recent years. It’s also been noted that there hasn’t been many research projects aimed at specifically addressing weed issues in pulse crops. To address this gap, Saskatchewan Pulse Growers announced in mid-December it will invest in five research projects for a total […] Read more
Varroa mite control called ‘double-edged sword’
The toolbox that producers have at their disposal to manage the pests threatening their bees is getting more complicated
Glacier FarmMedia – For Ian Steppler, a commercial beekeeper near Deerwood, Man., managing varroa mites is a persistent battle. The invasive parasite, which has plagued North American beekeepers since the late 1980s, continues to escalate its toll on honeybee colonies across the globe. They’ve become a consistent contender among the top four causes of winter […] Read more
