Seeding progress in Saskatchewan is not much different than last year but for some growers the situation feels far more ominous. In its second crop report of 2011, Saskatchewan Agriculture said seeding was one percent complete as of May 2, compared to two percent a year ago. The numbers are similar but the circumstances are […] Read more
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Seeding progress worrying farmers
Canada regains bird flu free status – for May. 12, 2011
Canada is once again free of avian influenza following a bird flu outbreak at a turkey breeding farm north of Winnipeg last fall. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency announced May 5 that Canada has regained its disease-free status for notifiable avian influenza, according to the World Organization for Animal Health regulations. In November, the CFIA […] Read more
Conference focuses on water and agriculture
Alberta Agriculture will hold the Water, Agriculture and the Environment Conference in Lethbridge May 31 and June 1. Experts will talk about water supply, water quality and water management from a local, national and international perspective. Speakers will be from universities, government and private industry. The conference is designed for people interested in learning more […] Read more
Farmers eager to get seeding in northern B.C., Alberta
The snowbanks haven’t quite disappeared from the north side of the trees and there are still a few too many wet spots in the fields. However, farmers in the Peace River area of northern Alberta and British Columbia began seeding this week. Doreen Berge of Rolla, B.C., said they were still leery of going around […] Read more
Ranchers miffed at heavier logging rights
Logging in British Columbia regions hit by pine beetles is ruining watersheds and drying up creeks that ranchers have relied on for more a century, said a B.C. rancher. Randy Saugran, one of 18 ranchers in the small community of Big Creek, B.C., said logging companies are taking advantage of a “loophole” in legislation that […] Read more
Weed control
Alberta Agriculture’s Crop Protection 2011,also known as the Blue Book,is available for landowners dealing with invasive plants. Alberta’s Weed Control Act organizes weed lists into two designations: prohibited noxious and noxious. It lists 46 prohibited noxious weeds and 29 noxious weeds. Prohibited noxious weeds are species with detrimental effects in other provinces or states that […] Read more
CWB says legal challenge possible
The Canadian Wheat Board may turn to the courts to preserve its single desk marketing system, said board chair Allen Oberg. “We will certainly have a look at all legal options,” he said. “We poll farmers from time to time and one thing most agree on most is that the decision on what happens to […] Read more
Viterra opens Quebec office
Viterra has opened new a merchandising office in Montreal, strengthening its presence in Eastern Canada. The office, which opened May 2, will increase the company’s ability to market food ingredients in Canada, the United States and Europe. “Our office in Montreal will play a central role in managing trade flows, freight activities and arbitrage opportunities, […] Read more
Some pastures hit with drought, others in water
This spring is turning into a cruel, cold season: too much moisture in some regions and heartbreaking drought in others. Grazing land has turned to dust in northern and interior regions of British Columbia and marshland in the Interlake region of Manitoba. Much of Alberta has received excessive moisture, but the Peace River district has […] Read more
Ranchers suffer calving losses in southern spring squall
Tom Grieve could hear a calf bawling, but the only thing he could see was snow. A storm that walloped southeastern Saskatchewan the weekend of April 30-May 1 had piled the snow as high as the two-bale windbreak he had made and about 15 metres out from it. The Fillmore area farmer already knew he […] Read more
