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
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Preparation aids arbitration outcome
Is canola headed for higher yields?
Canola is nowhere near maxing out its potential, says a leading oilseed breeder. “We should be able to look to double the yields over time,” said Van Ripley, global canola breeding leader for Dow AgroSciences Canada. “Is that 10 years? Is it 15 years? I don’t know exactly on that.” Researchers are at the preliminary […] Read more
Genetics project examines ways to expand flax markets
Cleopatra probably wore linen and the Irish have long used it to make cherished family heirlooms, but in Canada, flax has been limited to oil production. The ability to sequence the flax genome may widen this crop’s uses for food, fibre and oil. The $12 million total utilization flax genetics project, led by University of […] Read more
Enjoy tasty food while reconnecting with family and friends
Summer seems to give us permission to do nothing without feeling guilty. I enjoy visiting with childhood friends and family members and am happy that I take that time to reconnect, not just for me, but for my children who have met cousins and made new friends. VEGETABLE AND PASTA SALAD 1 large cucumber, chopped […] Read more
Texel sheep’s superior carcass makes up for lower lambing rate
DRAKE, Sask. — A popular European sheep breed continues to make inroads in Canada. The Texel, a Dutch breed named after the Isle of Texel off the coast of the Netherlands, has gained popularity among commercial breeders, said Mels Gandelann of the Canadian Texel Association. However, a lower lambing rate of 1.6 to 1.8 lambs […] Read more
Open market will kill CWB: chair
The Canadian Wheat Board will be gone within months if the federal government insists on ending all aspects of Western Canada’s single desk marketing system, said the CWB chair. Allen Oberg said the wheat board has no chance of surviving in a completely open market. Oberg said the CWB will contact federal agriculture minister Gerry […] Read more
West must move faster to stop African famines
We were warned, but we chose to close our eyes. We are the western nations, which until the last two weeks largely ignored the threat of a catastrophic famine in the Horn of Africa. The warning came from the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET), established in response to the 1984-1985 famine in Sudan […] Read more
Western Producer Crop Report – for Jul. 28, 2011
MANITOBA SOUTHWEST Heat helped wet fields Heat and warmth did wonders for crops that were seeded in the saturated southwest. Heat dried the soil, allowing crops a better chance at normal development. It also propelled crops forward, catching up some of the distance that they had fallen behind normal development. The heat wave stressed crops […] Read more
Canada adds $50 million in aid to help East Africans
Canada has announced a major increase in government support for East African drought relief, making it the second largest donor in the world. On July 22, international co-operation minister Bev Oda announced a $50 million contribution and a commitment to match Canadian donations made between July 6 and Sept. 16. The money is on top […] Read more
New Brunswick farmer retires as long-serving DFC president
In the landmark 1984 Senate report on Canada’s soil erosion crisis, a young New Brunswick farmer peers out of the pages as a case study in doing it right. “He is noted as an innovator willing to try new things and for his active role in several farm and community organizations,” said the authors of […] Read more
