Canada’s most influential big business lobby, led by a former Liberal deputy prime minister, is counselling the majority Harper government to get rid of agricultural marketing single desks. The Canadian Wheat Board monopoly and supply management marketing boards, which exist for dairy, poultry and egg producers, are specific targets. The letter to prime minister Stephen […] Read more
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Big business lobby seeks wheat board, supply management changes
Soybeans offer seeding option
Southern Alberta farmers may see soybeans as a late-seeding crop option this year, says a seed farm manager who is promoting the crop in the region. Patrick Fabian of Fabian Seed Farms said soybeans can be planted as late as June 10. Late seeding is likely this year because of moisture conditions. May 15 is […] Read more
Sask. forage producers sign on to wetland restoration project
A pilot program that pays farmers to restore wetlands and sloughs has been a success, say officials from the Assiniboine Watershed Stewardship Association in Yorkton, Sask. But grain and oilseed producers were more reluctant to sign onto the program than forage producers, said watershed manager Aron Hershmiller. He said grain and oilseed farmers generally felt […] Read more
Military called to fight rising flood waters
The federal government is sending Canadian soldiers to build up dikes along the Assiniboine River in Manitoba. Prime minister Stephen Harper authorized members of the Canadian Armed Forces to assist with the flood fight in Manitoba following a May 8 conversation with premier Greg Selinger. “The City of Brandon, Man., declared a state of emergency […] Read more
Gumbo boots and spurs for seeding into mud
Most air seeder manufacturers have a good gumbo opener with some type of mud spur, but many farmers go to the after-market in search of something better. Here is what five after-market companies offer for extreme mud. ATOM-JET Atom-Jet first focused its attention on mud in the 1990s when it set out to develop an […] Read more
Grazing land said lost due to lack of use by producer last year
A Saskatchewan producer who has grazed cattle in Moose Mountain Provincial Park for years says he has been unfairly banned from the practice this year. Jack Bryce of Arcola said he was told he couldn’t use grazing land within the park because he had not used his allocation last year. Park officials would say only […] Read more
Viterra, Crop Development Centre strike research deal
A new five-year research agreement will give Viterra exclusive marketing rights to wheat and durum varieties developed by plant breeders at the University of Saskatchewan’s Crop Development Centre. Dorothy Murrell, managing director of the centre, said the agreement will give CDC scientists access to Viterra’s prairie-wide network of research and field testing sites. New spring […] Read more
Researchers hope to extend flax production to northern Prairies
An effort to expand flax production to the northern region of the Prairies looks promising, says the project leader. “I have to say I’m quite excited about the results that we are seeing so far,” said Paul Dribnenki, a Viterra flax breeder who is heading the Northern Adapted Flax Var iety Development Program. The project […] Read more
Centre set to keep bees buzzing
Canada’s new National Bee Diagnostic Services Centre is one more tool to help beekeepers keep their bees happy and healthy. The centre, based at an Agriculture Canada facility near Beaverlodge, Alta., will use advanced scientific techniques to research pests, pathogens and parasites. The diagnostic centre received almost $1 million from the Rural Alberta Development Fund. […] Read more
Report sees more peas, lentils
A new Statistics Canada stocks report indicates pea and lentil carryout could be higher than previously expected, says a pulse crop analyst. Stat Publishingeditor Brian Clancey is particularly concerned about the record 1.12 million tonnes of lentils on hand as of March 31. That means 44 percent of the crop was sold during the first […] Read more
