Gift ideas for livestock producers Alberta Agriculture’s Publications Office suggests the following publications as possible Christmas gifts. The Alberta Forage Manual is a 350-page book describing forage species and their growth habits. There are sections on forage pest insects and diseases with in-depth discussion of these problems in forage crops. The Beef Cow-Calf Manual is […] Read more
News
AG Notes
Moisture conditions normal in Sask.
Most of Saskatchewan has normal moisture conditions for this time of year, except for eastern regions where it is wetter than normal. The Water Security Agency released its conditions at freeze-up report Dec. 10. It notes that the Pipestone, Qu’Appelle, Assiniboine, Red Deer, Torch and Carrot River basins are all above normal. Although it was […] Read more
VIDEO: Canada’s agricultural markets update – December 9, 2015
D’Arce McMillan, The Western Producer markets editor, monitors trends in the North American and global agricultural markets. Each week he hosts a market video about crops. The video is designed to help viewers understand the forces responsible for changes in the trade. If agricultural markets are important to you, we have you covered. Crops: The […] Read more
BHP cuts jobs, still plans mine
WINNIPEG (Reuters) —BHP Billiton PLC will cut 76 jobs from its Canadian potash operations because of low commodity prices. However, work continues on sinking and lining shafts at BHP’s potash mine near Jansen, Sask., according to the spokesperson. The mine would be the world’s biggest if built. Construction has continued even as existing potash producers […] Read more
Prices reflect strong sector at Agribition sheep sale
Saskatchewan breeders are diversifying into new breeds, such as the Ille de France breed that made its debut at the Regina show this year
Strong sale prices at Canadian Western Agribition indicate the overall health of the sheep sector, says the president of the Saskatchewan Sheep Breeders Association. Nathan Trowell said the average per lot was up $150 over last year. The 71 lots in the sale totalled $36,550 to average $514.79. The average was boosted by the high-seller, […] Read moreEl Nino could mean early spring
MOOSE JAW, Sask. — The warm, dry weather that most of the Prairies are enjoying is exactly what forecasters expected, says David Phillips, Canada’s senior climatologist. “Clearly this is an El Nino kind of a situation,” he told reporters at the Prairie Oat Growers Association’s annual meeting. “Typically it comes at this time of the […] Read more
Hackathon will explore ag technology
The University of Saskatchewan is taking an interdisciplinary approach to agricultural innovation. Emerging Agriculture, a three-day hackathon planned for Jan. 9-11, will bring together students from engineering, computer science and agricultural backgrounds so that they can come up with new and innovative technologies for agriculture. “The goal is to foster some collaboration between a bunch […] Read more
Dow, DuPont shares soar 12 pct on merger talks
** DuPont’s shares end up 11.8 pct at nine-month high of $74.49, their best one-day percentage gains since at least 1980, on talks of merger with Dow Chemical Co ** Dow Chemical shares close up 11.9 pct, their best day since April 2009, at record high close of $56.97; stock also hit a record intraday […] Read more
CME live, feeder cattle futures stampede to new lows
CHICAGO, Dec 9 (Reuters) – Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures on Wednesday tumbled to the lowest level for the life of the contract, hit by slumping prices for market-ready, or cash, cattle, traders said. Spot December closed 2.400 cents per lb lower at 119.850 cents, after marking a fresh contract low of 119.250 cents. […] Read more
Beekeepers produce bumper honey crop
Canadian beekeepers had a fantastic honey crop this year, as national production is the second highest in the last 15 years. Statistics Canada, in a release issued this morning, said apiarists produced 95.3 million pounds of honey, up from 85.5 million last year and 76.5 million in 2013. Alberta was responsible for most of the […] Read more
