Feds eager to shoot down long gun registry

The federal government will move quickly when Parliament resumes in September to end the long gun registry, predicts one of the Conservative party’s most prominent advocates of the move. Southern Manitoba MP Candice Hoeppner, parliamentary secretary to public safety minister Vic Toews, said the end is near for the registry, although she would not guarantee […] Read more

Show highlights youth’s achievements

OLDS, Alta. — Cayley Peltzer saved her sheep for Summer Synergy. The 14-year-old winner of the Supreme sheep contest at the Calgary Stampede’s junior livestock show had the biggest win of her 4-H career. A lively redhead who also shows cattle and horses, Peltzer devoted most of her energy to her ewe with a set […] Read more

Winter wheat changes to aid marketing

Changes are just around the corner for winter wheat producers in Western Canada. A new grade – No. 3 CWRW – will soon be added to the Canadian Western Red Winter (CWRW) wheat class. Samples with protein below 11 percent will automatically be graded No. 3, although the wheat could still be used for milling […] Read more


Bankruptcy act called unfair

Divorced Manitobans can lose their share of the family home quarter if they aren’t careful. Provincial family property law allows a spouse with property to declare bankruptcy and yet still keep the family farmstead. However, if they owe their divorced spouse part of that quarter, the debt will likely disappear in the bankruptcy unless the […] Read more

Two projects target Simmental gene research

The Canadian Simmental Association has received a $1.7 million federal grant for genetic research and improvement. The three year project involves analyzing DNA for fertility, feed efficiency and carcass quality in Simmental breeding stock and crossbreds. The Simmental association requires members to provide DNA samples from their registered bulls, so much of the material is […] Read more


Opportunity knocks for pulse growers’ Garth Patterson

The pulse industry has lost one of its biggest champions. Garth Patterson is stepping down as executive director of Saskatchewan Pulse Growers to assume the same role with the Western Grains Research Foundation. “It will be a very difficult task to replace Garth,” said SPG chair Lee Moats. “Not only has he built strong relationships […] Read more

Producers told to do homework to avoid unnecessary irrigation

OUTLOOK, Sask. — There are things producers can do to reduce guesswork in irrigation scheduling, says an agrologist with the Saskatchewan agriculture ministry. The first thing to do before turning on the taps is to check the soil’s moisture level, provincial irrigation agrologist Rory Cranston said during a field day at the Canada-Saskatchewan Irrigation Diversification […] Read more

Timing an advantage of winter wheat

LACOMBE, Alta. — Growing winter wheat in central Alberta has its challenges, but it’s a great crop when the agricultural stars align, says producer Craig Shaw. Shaw started growing winter wheat in 1997 and believes there are plenty of reasons to include it in the rotation. “There are bigger bonuses that don’t relate to yield […] Read more


Prairie hail claims low despite severe storms

Prairie farmers have filed fewer hail claims than normal despite a wet and stormy growing season so far. As of July 20, members of the Canadian Crop Hail Association reported 2,650 claims in Saskatchewan, 930 in Alberta and 500 in Manitoba. David Van Deynze of Manitoba Agricultural Services Corp. said the low numbers are a […] Read more

EU, Canada shake hands on organic standards, laws

A new equivalency agreement with the European Union means Canadian growers now have unfettered access to the world’s two largest organic markets. After nearly four years of negotiations, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development have agreed to recognize each other’s organic standards and laws. The deal […] Read more