Research continues into the viability of winter pulse crops in southern Alberta, but scientists are not ready to make recommendations. The Southern Applied Research Association and Alberta Agriculture are conducting trials in plots near Lethbridge. SARA is in its second project year, exploring winter and spring-seeded plots of peas and lentils at different seeding rates. […] Read more
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Winter pulse plots display promise
Lone Liberal named to ag committee
Liberal Frank Valeriote mused during the recent federal election campaign that he hoped he would be back on the House of Commons agriculture committee if re-elected. Valeriote was picked in the last Parliament to be one of the Liberals on the agriculture committee. Be careful what you wish for. Liberals came a distant third in […] Read more
Interest rate outlook prompts consideration of loan type
Fixed or variable? That’s the question regarding mortgages as the potential for rising interest rates increases. Farm Credit Canada suggests farmers assess their options in managing their debt. About two-thirds of FCC’s $20 billion portfolio now consists of variable rate loans. That made sense as the Bank of Canada kept its lending rate low in […] Read more
Rain brings more heartache to Manitoba
Hundreds of Manitoba farmers have been annoyed, aggravated and exasperated this spring by fields too wet for seeding. Yet, Andy Barclay, who farms north of Souris, Man., was dealing with an additional water crisis last week. The basement of his home in Souris was flooded after a 75 millimetre rain drenched the community. Barclay pumped […] Read more
Don’t neglect to service tractor
You have been running your tractor hard all spring because of the late season. You’ve been watching the weather and you just haven’t had the time to do much servicing. You know there are some things you should have done, but you shrugged it off and thought it really didn’t matter. Trust me, it matters […] Read more
Chef takes on mom over new pork guidelines
DES MOINES, Iowa – Shad Kirton knows first-hand that old cooking habits die hard. The award winning barbecue chef can’t convince his own mother that it’s safe to eat pork that’s cooked at lower temperatures. “To this day, me and my mom go round and round on how long it should be cooked and at […] Read more
Viterra addresses service complaints as Australian parliament launches inquiry
Viterra executives say the company is addressing grain industry concerns in Australia. Parliamentarians there launched a Senate inquiry in March to investigate complaints related to poor service and lack of competition. The inquiry is looking at service delivery, the Australian shipping network and transportation infrastructure in all grain growing states. The company launched its own […] Read more
Farm progress show plans changes
The world of agricultural trade shows is changing and the Western Canada Farm Progress Show refuses to be left behind. Show organizers engaged German trade show consultant Tobias Eichberg last year to review the event and recommend ways to keep it relevant. The first change was unveiled this year: a new way to honour innovations […] Read more
Grain bag roller easy on wallet, environment
Steve Greenslade got to work when a customer told him that what he really needed was a grain bag roller. The owner of Greenslades Northern Welding Ltd. in Hanna, Alta., has spent the last couple of months taking the idea to prototype, patent and product. Last week he attended the Western Canada Farm Progress Show […] Read more
Canada worries U.S. pork deal will bite into exports
DES MOINES, Iowa – Like many other folks at this year’s World Pork Expo, Bill Kessler walked around, drank coffee and chatted with a large sticker on his shirt. The green and white sticker summarized a pressing issue for America’s farmers: “U. S. Agriculture Says Yes to Colombia/Panama/South Korea Free Trade Agreements.” Kessler, a pork […] Read more
