MANITOBA SOUTHWEST Winter wheat above average Showers and non-scorching conditions helped southwestern crops advance well. Late seeded cereals are tillering and going into the flag leaf stage, while earlier seeded crops are heading. Considerable amounts of greenfeed were seeded by farmers looking for something to do with their land, and these crops are in the […] Read more
News
Western Producer Crop Report – for Aug. 4, 2011
Here I go again bragging about Western Producer staff
I’m willing to bet Bill DeKay was feeling a little lightheaded one recent night in New Orleans. It wasn’t from the heat and humidity. It was from standing up and sitting down, over and over again, as his name was called to receive awards. Bill won the photographer of the year award July 26 at […] Read more
Ag byproducts come with price tag
WINNIPEG — Engineers shouldn’t assume crop residue is a worthless byproduct of farming, says the director of agri-food innovation and adaptation for Manitoba Agriculture. Daryl Domitruk recently told the Canadian Society for Bio-Engineering’s annual meeting that Canadian engineers and scientists are developing innovative processes to convert agricultural byproducts into biofuel or other forms of energy. […] Read more
Benefits abound with open market: U.S. wheat leader
Canadian and American wheat producers stand to benefit from the elimination of single desk grain marketing in Western Canada, says the head of an influential U.S. wheat growers organization. Alan Tracy, president of the U.S. Wheat Associates, said the elimination of single desk marketing will result in higher prices for Canadian farmers, clearer market signals […] Read more
A delicate balance at Grasslands National Park
Grass. That’s what pioneering ranchers came to southern Saskatchewan to get. That’s what Parks Canada wanted to preserve when it created a national park in the area in the 1980s. Natural prairieland of mixed grass was disappearing before the plow and conversions to tame pastures, but farming the park created friction with ranchers. Ironically, the […] Read more
National beef agency to focus on value-added marketing
A new corporation has been formed to promote and sell Canadian beef at home and abroad. Canada Beef Inc. is an amalgamation of the Canada Beef Export Federation, the Beef Information Centre and the national check-off agency. President and chief executive officer is Robert Meijer, formerly of Cargill, and board chair is Brad Wildeman, a […] Read more
Environment monitor suggested for Alberta
An arm’s length monitoring commission has been recommended to the Alberta government as a way to protect the environment and provide better information to decision makers. Joe Rasmussen, a University of Lethbridge professor and Canada research chair in aquatic ecosystems, was a member of the panel that recently gave 20 recommendations to the provincial government. […] Read more
Experts educate to prevent blight spread
CARMAN, Man. — Bent over at the waist and gazing intently toward the ground, Vikram Bisht used his hands and arms to spread apart a dense canopy of plants as he searched for signs of early blight in a potato field in south-central Manitoba. Fortunately for the owner of the field, but unfortunately for Bisht, […] Read more
Foodgrains says timely support is key
High food prices and drought are causing the greatest problems for people in Kenya and Ethiopia, says the head of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. “Food prices have doubled in the last year,” said Jim Cornelius, who as of last week was four weeks into a two-month trip to the region. “Everybody is feeling the pressure […] Read more
Preparation aids arbitration outcome
SWIFT CURRENT, Sask. — Farmers who take disputes to the Saskatchewan Surface Rights Arbitration Board should be better prepared, says the board chair. Duane Smith said farmers are at a disadvantage when arguing their cases in front of the board because energy companies have more resources available to them. “A lot of people say we […] Read more
