Alberta Agriculture crop researchers continue to be encouraged by dryland winter pea and winter lentil crop trials. Pulse crops research agrologist Mark Olson said data from the first two years of trials found that winter peas outyielded spring-seeded peas by up to 40 percent. Researchers are still calculating data from the third year. Windham and […] Read more
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Winter peas promising in Alberta crop trials
Diamond T Ranch sells land to Grasslands National Park
The announcement in May that Grasslands National Park in southwestern Saskatchewan had acquired the Diamond T Ranch marked a turning point in relations between the park and local ranchers. Smaller ranches been sold to the park since its inception in the 1980s, but the ranch owned by Bruce Dixon was one of the largest holdouts. […] Read more
Study to zero in on genetic traits
CLAY CENTER, Neb. — One hair plucked from a bull’s tail can reveal valuable qualities for cattle producers hoping to take the guess work out of genetic progress in their herds. Scientists are already examining DNA samples to identify parentage, trace genetic defects and determine hair colour or whether the animals are horned. However, predicting […] Read more
Last year’s problems carry over
RED DEER — Last year’s harvested problems could create this year’s harvest problems. Late seeding during a cold wet spring and a delayed harvest last year resulted in dormancy, disease and frost damage in wheat, barley, oats and rye seed across the Prairies, Sarah Foster said at an international science conference in Red Deer. A […] Read more
Greater crop diversity builds resilience
Can we weather climate change? On the Prairies we have come to expect a certain amount of drought, a recurring cycle of grasshoppers, markets that vanish, prices that plummet and now in some places croplands replaced with stands of cattails. Will we make it to next year country? Researchers define resilience as a system’s ability […] Read more
Dwindling supply, higher demand puts spotlight on oilseeds
Agriculture markets that were driven by grain in the first half of the year will follow the lead of oilseeds in the second half, says a bank analyst. Sterling Liddell, vice-president of food and agribusiness research and advisory for Rabobank International, the world’s largest agricultural lender, said expanding demand and shrinking supply will help soybeans […] Read more
Hybrid seed expands with canola oil demand
Bees are among the most important employees for companies engaged in hybrid canola seed production, sales and related chemical technology. The industry is worth an estimated $600 million a year to seed companies. Most of North America’s hybrid canola seed is grown in irrigated southern Alberta. Companies contract farmers to grow the seed, which must […] Read more
Government invests in canola industry
The federal government is giving the canola industry more money to help find a home for products coming out of its rapidly expanding crushing sector. Saskatchewan MP Randy Hoback announced $1.16 million in funding for oil and meal promotion at the Canola Council of Canada’s annual meeting in Saskatoon. “Our government is proud to help […] Read more
Winter wheat growers want options before Falcon reassigned
A group that represents Manitoba’s winter wheat growers will likely lobby for a one-year extension on the reassignment of CDC Falcon, which accounts for most of the province’s winter wheat acres. Jake Davidson, executive director of Winter Cereals Manitoba Inc., said producers are concerned that removing CDC Falcon from the Canadian Red Winter Wheat class […] Read more
Canfax Report – for Aug. 4, 2011
Fed Cattle Lower Trade resumed last week, recovering from a week when sellers rejected bids because of sharply lower prices. The Canfax weighted average steer price was $98.33 per hundredweight while heifers were $97.77. That was $5.50 lower than the trade two weeks before. Most of the trade occurred on a dressed basis with prices […] Read more
