ARDROSSAN, Alta. — The main focus at Pioneer DuPont’s new Edmonton Research Center may be canola, but corn will play an important role in the centre’s future. John Soper, vice-president of crop genetics research and development in charge of the company’s plant breeding projects around the world, said it is possible to have a full […] Read more
News
Additional financial support will assist Canadians pursuing international ag fellowship
An international program designed for Canadians with a career in agriculture has received new funding support. Glacier Media, a Canadian owner of print and online publications, which includes The Western Producer, has committed $15,000 per year. Three Canadians are selected annually for the prestigious Nuffield scholarship, founded by Britain’s Lord Nuffield in 1947. Eight countries […] Read more
Media missing whole story: official
QUEBEC CITY — Reported cases of food-borne illness dropped 23 percent in the United States between 1991 and 2009. In that same period, media coverage of food borne illness and food recalls increased 250 percent. Reasons for this apparent paradox and the differences between perception and reality were at the heart of Richard Raymond’s speech […] Read more
Researcher looks to beetle in fight against leafy spurge
Usually, an empty pizza box on an office desk indicates an employee just finished a hasty lunch. But in the case of Bev Dunlop, a range management specialist with Agriculture Canada in Brandon, the white pizza box on her work desk is a crucial piece of office equipment. On a Wednesday afternoon in early July, […] Read more
Study of sheep genetics reveals large diversity
LINDELL BEACH, B.C. — Research into sheep’s genetic history has found a healthy diversity that promises enormous potential for breeders and farmers. Sheep were first domesticated 11,000 years ago in the Fertile Crescent of what is now the Middle East. Today, there are more than 200 recognized breeds, of which researchers included 74 as part […] Read more
Pea, canola growers advised to scout fields for disease
ST. ALBERT, Alberta — When crop disease specialist Robyne Bowness stood in front of a perfect pea crop to discuss pea crop disease, she was a little embarrassed. She looked at all the plots, searching for signs of disease to show those attending the crop walk at the University of Alberta farm north of Edmonton, […] Read more
Peace region canola survey finds no cabbage seedpod
Bugsters searching for the destructive cabbage seedpod weevil in the Peace River region couldn’t find any in the sampled fields. Jennifer Otani, entomologist with Agriculture Canada, said they are confident the weevil hasn’t moved north to the Peace region. The Peace canola survey has been conducted annually since the pest moved into southern Alberta in […] Read more
Coming events – August 9, 2012
Aug. 10-12 Pioneer Acres Museum show and reunion Irricana Alta. (403-935-4357; www.pioneeracres.ab.ca) Aug. 15 International Livestock Congress Deerfoot Inn and Casino Calgary (www.ilccalgary.com Iris Meck 403-686-8407 ilcreg@imcievents.ca) Aug. 18-19 Pioneer Days Festival Sunnybrook Farm Red Deer (Ian Warwick 403-340-3511 sbfs@shaw.ca) Aug. 19 Bruno Cherry Sunday Bruno Sask. (306-369-2555 www.cherryfestival.ca) Aug. 25-26 Open Farm Days N.E. […] Read more
Money, time needed to boost wheat yield potential: breeder
WIth the development of new varieties, western Canadian producers can push their wheat yields even further. Give researchers some time — and some money — and the crop’s agronomic performance will continue to improve, said Ron DePauw, senior principal wheat breeder with Agriculture Canada. “The opportunities that exist to make better varieties are very large,” […] Read more
Early canola yields low in Manitoba
BRANDON, Man. — Early reports suggest canola yields could be below average in Manitoba this year. In its weekly crop report, Manitoba Agriculture noted that early canola yields were 20 to 35 bushels per acre, but reports from a grain terminal northwest of Winnipeg indicated that many growers were seeing yields closer to 20 bu. […] Read more
