Sage grouse | Medicine Hat and an energy company question new restrictions
The City of Medicine Hat and LGX Oil and Gas Inc. are challenging a federal emergency order designed to preserve Alberta and Saskatchewan’s dwindling sage grouse population. An application was filed Jan. 3 that seeks judicial review of the order, which would restrict activity, noise and building in a 1,700 sq. kilometre region of southeastern […] Read moreNews
Alberta takes up fight against late blight
Profits melt away | There’s no recovering from late blight once you get it, warns pathologist
A concerted effort has begun in Alberta to raise awareness about the nastiness of late blight in tomatoes and potatoes. Once an occasional problem in Alberta fields and gardens, late blight infestation has occurred at some level over the last several years, raising concerns among crop specialists and vegetable producers. “We used to see the […] Read moreRussia halts Australia beef byproduct imports over growth stimulant
MOSCOW/SYDNEY (Reuters) — Russia is temporarily banning the import of beef byproducts from Australia, citing the detection in shipments of a growth stimulant it prohibits, throwing into doubt exports that brought in around $8.81 million last year for Australia. The ban will be imposed from Jan. 27 and is prompted by the detection in several […] Read more
Idaho horned Hereford bull wins grand champion in Denver
DENVER, Colo. — Colyer Herefords of Idaho ruled at the National Western Stock Show yesterday. Their bull, born in January 2012, C Miles McKee 2103 ET, was crowned grand champion horned bull. They also won reserve champion. Miles McKee is owned in partnership with Sullivan Farms of Iowa and Curtis and Jackie Castle of Oklahoma, […] Read more
Seed treatments not an alternative to proper rotations
St. Jean Baptiste, Man. — Producers shouldn’t think they can cut corners on good agronomy by using fancy seed treatments, says a Manitoba soybean specialist. “Relying on the seed treatment is not (enough,)” Manitoba Agriculture’s Dennis Lange said in an interview at St. Jean Farm Days. “It has to be an all-encompassing approach. If you […] Read more
Bag and tag suspicious plants, urges ag specialist
St. Jean Baptiste, Man. — “Shoot, shovel and shut up” is just as bad an approach for dealing with clubroot suspicions as it is with livestock deaths, says a Manitoba Agriculture canola production specialist. Farmers need to know the truth about what’s in their fields if they want to have a chance to fend off […] Read more
Alta. sees roofs collapse under heavy snow
Dairy barns, cabins, stores | Buildings are not likely covered under a disaster assistance program
Ken Munro doesn’t believe central Alberta has more snow than normal this year. He thinks it’s a combination of early, frozen and wet snow that is collapsing barns like dominoes in that part of the province. The roofs of dairy barns, machinery sheds, grocery stores, cabins, airplane hangars, feed mills, horse shelters and wildlife sanctuaries […] Read more
Shorter canola rotations said OK
Canola council changes policy | Researchers worry the new recommendations will lead to future troubles
There has been a seismic shift in agronomic philosophy at the Canola Council of Canada. A group that once preached sticking to longer rotations now suggests that growing canola once every two years might not be a bad idea. “Our best wisdom is changing, and growers are leading the way,” the council said in a […] Read moreCargill earnings rise on big U.S. harvest
CHICAGO (Reuters) — Cargill reported a 36 percent increase in quarterly profits, supported by a bigger U.S. harvest last year that led to increased exports and improved meat profit margins. The company had net earnings of $556 million for the second quarter ended Nov. 30, up from $409 million a year ago. Revenues totalled $32.9 […] Read more
Electronic scarecrow idea not for the birds
Bruce Blacklock vividly re-members announcing his new enterprise to a group of fellow farmers in 1990. “We had a barbecue at the farm, there were about 40 people and I demonstrated this device and said, ‘I’m going to build these and sell them,’” recalls Blacklock. “They all laughed and said, ‘you’re nuts.’ ” But, he […] Read more
