Weather issues plagued Oravena crop trials, with the first year being wet, the second suffering drought, then a wet fall last year
SWIFT CURRENT, Sask. — Four years after the first organically bred oat variety was registered in Canada commercial seed is still not available. Terry Tyson, procurement manager for Grain Millers in Yorkton, Sask., said it’s been a long haul to get Oravena to market. In the meantime, a second variety, OT8006, was approved for registration […] Read moreNews
Researchers continue quest for organic oats
Ag policy seen as bigger risk than farm debt
Policy, particularly that from south of the border, is the biggest risk Canadian farmers face right now, says an agricultural economist from the University of Guelph. Alan Ker from the Institute for Advanced Study of Food and Agricultural Policy told the House of Commons agriculture committee’s study on farm debt that although debt is large, […] Read more
Man. growers told to give winter wheat recovery time
Warm temperatures in February saw plants sitting in water, which turned to ice when the mercury plummeted in March
Many eastern and southwestern Manitoba winter wheat growers are grimacing as they look at fields of dead crops, victims of freakish winter weather. However, Jake Davidson, executive director of Winter Cereals Canada, cautioned growers to give damaged winter wheat crops a chance. If they’re still alive, they can bounce back surprisingly well. “If it’s dead […] Read moreOrganic farming gains momentum, but do homework first
Farmer says strong rotations and good soil building programs are needed, along with research and marketing skills
SWIFT CURRENT, Sask. — Denis Brisebois liked the economic edge that organic farming could give him. So when he left a career in the oil patch three years ago and began farming near McCord, Sask., he decided to go that route. “In less than two years the shift has gone from ‘you’re one of those’ […] Read moreClimate forecasts improve with new programs, technology
Data collection and top notch equipment to help collect and analyze it is necessary if Canada is to properly monitor climate change and improve forecasting of extreme weather events. “There is two weeks lead time that is credible and that is what we have been using to drive these models,” said John Pomeroy, Canada research […] Read more
AG Notes
Grain safety practices strengthened The federal government is investing up to $375,000 for the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association to implement the Grain Safety Program. The program aims to educate Canadians and reduce injuries and deaths due to grain handling. Increased awareness, training for farmers and grain workers will help reduce grain-related injuries and fatalities. The […] Read more
Cattle groups fear return of COOL
Cattle producer organizations, throughout North America, are worried that NAFTA renegotiations could provide an opportunity for the United States to re-introduce mandatory Country of Origin Labelling. On May 18, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer notified Congress that President Donald Trump’s administration plans to revamp the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). NAFTA negotiations could begin […] Read more
Sask. vows to fight Ottawa’s carbon tax plan in court
Saskatchewan premier Brad Wall says the province will take Ottawa to court if it imposes a carbon-pricing plan. Environment minister Catherine McKenna last week released a technical discussion paper that outlines what the federal government would implement if the province doesn’t come up with a plan of its own. “This federal government white paper is […] Read more
Safety urged around power lines
SaskPower is reminding farmers to be exercise caution as they seed this spring. The utility has received notification of 51 contacts, with 25 of those occurring between May 1-15. The number of line contacts continues to increase daily. Fortunately, no one has been seriously injured or killed, but the danger is real. Many of the […] Read more
Progress varies greatly as Sask. seeding advances
WINNIPEG — Good seeding progress was reported across much of Saskatchewan during the week ended May 15, with 30 percent of the 2017 crop now planted, according to the latest weekly report from Saskatchewan Agriculture. The provincial seeding pace compares with the five-year average for this time of year of 33 percent complete. Seeding is […] Read more
