Another milestone in the development of juncea canola takes place this year when Viterra conducts field trials on its first generation of Xceed hybrids. Juncea canola is one of the world’s first drought tolerant crops and is well suited to the Prairies’ brown soil zones. However, the crop has experienced a yield drag compared to […] Read more
News
Drought tolerant canola headed for field trials
Western Producer Livestock Report – for Jun. 16, 2011
HOGS RISE U.S. hog prices rose as packer demand improved and hot and humid weather trimmed hog weights. Iowa-southern Minnesota cash hogs delivered to plants edged higher to $68-68.50 US per hundredweight June 10, up from $67. The U.S. pork carcass cut-out value rose to $90.33 June 10 from $89.77 June 3. The U.S. federal […] Read more
Invention springs from seeding necessity
Manitoba farmer Barry Reimer spent a sleepless night in late May worrying about how he was going to seed his soaked fields. Inspiration arrived somewhere between the tossing and the turning, and five days later he was seeding and fertilizing canola in one pass, all from a tractor seat. “A broadcast spray boom is what […] Read more
European E. coli a toxic evolution
The E. coli bacteria that has sickened more than 2,100 people in Europe and killed at least eight is not the same bacteria that concerns the cattle and meat industry. Bacteria constantly evolve, sometimes acquiring toxic genes that make them particularly dangerous to people. “It’s totally unpredictable as to when an organism would evolve like […] Read more
Shelves bare at Valmar as mud continues
This year’s muddy conditions have emptied the shelves at Valmar. “Guys in really wet areas are desperate to get their hands on some kind of Valmar for their canola, and I have to tell them we’re sold out,” said Jim Gladstone, manager of the equipment manufacturer from Elie, Man. “This morning (May 24) I had […] Read more
Prairies may see merchant bank
A merchant bank that serves prairie farmers may be established if there is enough producer interest. Ron Witherspoon of ACC Farmers’ Financial in Guelph, Ont., is working on the project and hopes that Regina’s Western Canada Farm Progress Show is the right venue to begin offering financial tools to farmers and gauge their response. AgriFood […] Read more
Beef production not as bad as UN says: study
CALGARY – Frank Mitloehner was skeptical when he read claims that the world’s livestock produce 18 percent of global greenhouse gases, more than all the trucks, cars, trains, planes and ships in the world combined. He investigated and said he found that his skepticism was justified. Mitloehner, an associate professor of animal science at the […] Read more
Highways flooded in Sask.
Rain continues to cause problems for southern Saskatchewan residents and transportation. Monday afternoon RCMP at Indian Head, Sask., east of Regina, closed westbound lanes of the Trans Canada highway due to overland flooding. Police reported water up 60 centimeters deep across the roadway near Sintaluta with traffic diversions at Grenfel onto highway 47. Highway 47 […] Read more
Egg farm fire kills 23,000 birds
A fire at Sparks Egg Farm northeast of Calgary destroyed 23,000 laying hens and four barns June 7. The cause of the fire that blazed through the barns is still under investigation, said Rocky View County fire chief Ken McMullen. It broke out in the afternoon in one barn and strong winds swept through and […] Read more
Western Producer Crop Report – for Jun. 16, 2011
MANITOBA SOUTHWEST Unseeded acres abound A few days of good weather helped farmers with workable fields get a lot done, but millions of acres of farmland remain unseeded. Generally minor but continual showers have stopped progress on much land, not giving farmers a chance to get out with machinery. Progress is greater north of the […] Read more
