Temperatures are expected to be slightly below seasonal, but not extremely cold, for the next three months
A forecast for more precipitation could have southern prairie producers breathing easier this spring. “In terms of precipitation, we are expecting a more active pattern across the extreme south,” Nadine Powell from The Weather Network said Feb. 26. “But we’re not going to see anything too excessive.” This would be welcome relief for some producers […] Read moreNews
Norway upgrading international seed vault
The Arctic facility stores and safeguards the world’s crops and plants from global natural or man-made disaster
A giant vault in Norway that holds seeds from around the world is set for a $12.5 million upgrade in order to further protect global food supplies. The work includes a new concrete-built access tunnel, a service building to house emergency power and refrigerating units, and waterproof walls to prepare for a warmer future. Built […] Read more
Trump election spurs jump in optimism among farmers
ANAHEIM, Calif. — A “paradigm shift” in U.S. farmer attitude occurred in late 2016. James Mintert, an agricultural economics professor at Perdue University, tracks farmer confidence in the agricultural economy through a monthly survey of 400 farmers across the nation. He targets growers with more than $500,000 in revenue, the eight percent of farmers who […] Read more
Alta. environmental sciences student scores second win
Ryan James had to identify 100 plants from a set of 200 grasses. He only had a minute to view each plant
For the second year in a row, Ryan James used his skills and smarts to win a high-profile international plant identification competition. James, a University of Alberta student formerly with Lakeland College, scored 95.1 percent this year in the North American Range Plant Identification Test to again place first. He said it was a tight […] Read more
Walmart patents hint at future where its drones tend the farms
NEW YORK/CHICAGO, March 15 (Reuters) – Walmart Inc’s patent filings hint that it may see a future where farmers use its drones to not only spot crop problems but selectively apply chemicals or even disperse pollen to bring shoppers the freshest and cheapest food possible. The world’s largest retailer applied for six patents last year […] Read more
Brazilian grain producers explore increased use of Panama Canal
SAO PAULO, March 15 (Reuters) – Brazilian farmers in top soy state Mato Grosso signed a memorandum of understanding with the Panama Canal Authority to evaluate ways to cut transportation costs and boost Brazilian grain volumes using the waterway, the authority’s chief administrator said. The canal’s administration is looking to increase its participation in rising […] Read more
New German ag minister wants to end use of glyphosate
HAMBURG (Reuters) – Julia Kloeckner, a senior figure in Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative CDU party, on Wednesday took over as agriculture minister in Germany’s new government coalition. Kloeckner replaces Christian Schmidt of the southern conservative CSU party as the new government takes office after almost six months of coalition negotiations. Kloeckner expects European Union agricultural […] Read more
U.S. farm group targets Trump with free-trade ads
WASHINGTON, March 13 (Reuters) – A farm lobbying group is spending $500,000 to air television ads on channels near U.S. President Donald Trump’s home in Florida to encourage free trade, with the group worried recent metal tariffs could result in retaliation against U.S. agricultural goods. Farmers for Free Trade, a bipartisan group, on Tuesday said […] Read more
Neonic risk to bees found
A food safety group in Europe says most uses of neonicotinoid pesticides represent a risk to wild bees and honeybees. The European Food Safety Authority has updated its risk assessment of three neonicotinoids: clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam. The three pesticides are currently subject to restrictions in the EU because of the threats they pose to […] Read more
Canadian National Railway to replace chief executive officer
Canadian National Railway is looking for a new chief executive officer. The company’s board of directors announced March 5 that Luc Jobin, the company’s CEO since 2016, is leaving CN immediately. In a March 5 news release, CN said Jean-Jacques Ruest will serve as CN’s interim president and chief executive officer until a permanent replacement […] Read more
