The federal government will contribute $15 million toward a new research cluster for canola, which will focus on sustainable production and differentiating canola from its competitors. Combined with industry contributions, the investment represents a $20 million commitment in canola research and innovation over the next five years. The $15 million commitment, through Growing Forward 2, […] Read more
News
Feds contribute $15 million to canola research
Wheat, flax varieties deregistered as of Aug. 1
Four winter wheat varieties developed at the University of Saskatchewan’s Crop Development Centre in Saskatoon will soon have their wings clipped. CDC Kestrel, CDC Harrier, CDC Raptor and CDC Clair will be reclassified from the Canada Western Red Winter (CWRW) wheat class to the Canada Western General Purpose (CWGP) class as of Aug. 1. The […] Read more
Harper deals major cabinet shuffle
Eight new faces | Gerry Ritz becomes longest-serving agriculture minister in three decades
Gerry Ritz was reappointed federal agriculture minister July 15 after committing to running in the 2015 election. As well, trade minister Ed Fast kept his trade portfolio position. He will continue to lead the push for trade deals with the European Union, India, Japan and Pacific Rim countries. They both survived a major cabinet shuffle […] Read more
Generic chemical makers want rules changed
PMRA regulations too onerous, they claim | Major manufacturers say federal rules strike the proper balance
Companies that make generic farm chemicals say Canadian rules are too restrictive and cost farmers millions of dollars a year. A spokesperson for a group representing some of those companies said last week that current regulations put too much financial risk on generic chemical manufacturers and offer too much protection to chemical companies that develop […] Read more
Crop tours yield positive news
Growing conditions good | Crops have caught up after slow start, frost risk no more than usual
A growing season that began with seeding delays and cold weather has turned the corner. “At this stage there is probably an average to above average crop possible for large parts of Western Canada,” said Neil Townsend, director of CWB Market Research. Manitoba’s fields are looking particularly impressive, as can be seen in a photo […] Read moreCrop Report
Saskatchewan Warm weather in early July has advanced crop development and haying operations, although rain, hail and cabbage seedpod weevils have damaged fields. Surveying indicates that cabbage seedpod weevil populations in the province’s canola fields are greater than last year. Most fall cereals are in the heading to dough stages, while spring cereals are in […] Read more
Don’t spray every field: agronomists
Growers are being wasteful with fungicide, according to two agronomists. Wet weather has created an ideal environment for diseases such as sclerotinia stem rot, but not every field needs to be treated. “There has been a phenomenal number of acres sprayed with fungicide this year, both in cereals and canola,” said Alberta Agriculture crop specialist […] Read more
Test tube food has arrived
Micro-propagation | Saskatoon company uses laboratory to produce millions of seedlings
Food from a petri dish? It doesn’t sound appetizing, but scientifically speaking, the petri dish may be a good place to give food a start. Prairie Plant Systems, a biotech company based in Saskatoon, is using lab technology and plant cloning to produce sour cherry, saskatoon berry and haskap seedlings for the local and export […] Read moreLand flooded over fishery concerns prompts Ottawa-Sask. water deal
A legal challenge that Saskatchewan launched against Ottawa after flooding in 2010 has been settled. The two governments last week agreed that any future concern about how flooding will affect fish and fish habitat will be handled by discussion rather than enforcement. The Water Security Agency took action against Environment Canada after it, acting for […] Read more
Drama classbig hit at camp
When the registrations came, we could hardly believe our eyes. Two young drama teachers offered their services for a week at the summer camp. We never tried this kind of program before, but the news quickly circulated. Not only did we receive all the bookings we could handle, two-thirds of the teenage applicants were boys. […] Read more
