STANDARD, Alta. — Efforts are underway to close a knowledge gap that cost the lives of hundreds of weaner pigs when the semi-truck hauling them rolled near Standard earlier this year. Swine production manager Alastair Bratton was on a business trip to Calgary in mid-spring when he was asked to assist at the scene, a […] Read more
News
Officials say more education needed about emergency livestock trailers
Yorkton gets new farm dealership
Canada West Harvest Centre plans to open a new dealership in Yorkton, Sask. It will be the company’s fourth store to open in three years and is expected to be in operation this harvest season. It joins three other Canada West Harvest Centre locations in Regina, Saskatoon and Swift Current, Sask. “We are very excited […] Read more
New vaccine fights turkey, pig illnesses, improves food safety
A new vaccine is designed to combat not only the types of salmonella bacteria that make pigs and turkeys sick but also help reduce food-borne diseases that can make people ill. Vaccines on the market now generally offer protection from one type of salmonella. However, that can leave animals vulnerable to infections from other types […] Read more
Saskatchewan Pulse growers opt for another year of lower checkoffs
Saskatchewan Pulse Growers has decided to keep its levy at a reduced level for at least one more year. The mandatory levy on pulses and soybeans was dropped to .67 percent of gross sales from one percent on Aug. 1, 2016, in re-sponse to complaints from ratepayers. It will stay at that level for another […] Read more
Dairy group loses Ont. funding
Dairy Farmers of Ontario have withdrawn promotional funding from the national organization. Citing a lack of accountability from Dairy Farmers of Canada, the Ontario organization served notice earlier this year that it would send no further funds for marketing and promotion as of Jan. 1, 2018. That could leave a $44 million gap in the […] Read more
New barley variety could make better use of nitrogen
LACOMBE, Alta. — A nitrogen efficient barley could be released next year. Thanks to advances in genomics and the tenacity of plant breeders at the Alberta Agriculture Crop Development Centre, the new variety identified as T09157014 could soon be registered. “The idea is to select and develop material that can pick up more nitrogen from […] Read more
AG Notes
Nuffield Canada Scholars announced Nuffield Canada has selected four recipients for its 2018 program. Ellen Crane from Murray Siding, N.S., is general manager of the Maritime Beef Council. Her study topic will focus on which beef production attributes are most important to consumers, what consumers are willing to pay for and ways that producers can […] Read more
Bee population grows in U.S.
Honeybee populations are rising in the United States, turning around a recent trend of declines attributed to a set of factors know as colony collapse disorder. It’s estimated that 84,430 hives were lost to the disorder in the first quarter this year, which is down 27 percent from a year earlier. Year-over-year losses also fell […] Read more
Agrium sees profits drop in second quarter
(Reuters) — Canadian fertilizer maker Agrium Inc. reported a 1.2 percent fall in quarterly profit last week, hurt by weak demand for phosphate and nitrogen. Net earnings attributable to shareholders fell to $558 million, or $4.03 per share, in the second quarter that ended June 30, from $565 million, or $4.08 per share, a year […] Read more
Asia Grains-Indonesia buys Canadian wheat, Australia offers new crop
SINGAPORE, Aug 15 (Reuters) – A flour miller in Indonesia bought 25,000 tonnes of Canadian spring wheat in a recent deal for arrival in November while Australian exporters are offering new-crop wheat, traders said. The Indonesian miller purchased Canadian wheat between US$320 and $325 a tonne, including cost and freight. Spring wheat prices rallied to […] Read more
