Wheat and durum values for the new crop year generally increased in the Canadian Wheat Board’s latest Pool Return Outlook, reflecting weather risks. Corn is providing a strong price floor, and there is little indication that the tight supply-demand situation will significantly improve in the coming year, said the comments accompanying the April PRO. Delayed […] Read more
News
Corn provides strong support for new crop wheat
Pet project becomes big business
CROSSFIELD, Alta. – It just got easier for Alberta residents to feed their pets local food. Red Moon Pet Products was a sideline business for Jason Bailey in 2005 when he started making a dog and cat treat called Waggers. He was a marketing vice-president for a large animal food company at the time, but […] Read more
Easy-to-grow canola, spring wheat squeeze out flax, peas, barley
Farmers are running into the arms of the big crops this summer and running away from the small acreage crops. Producers told a Statistics Canada survey in March that they hope to boost their canola acreage to 19.23 million acres, up 18.7 percent from 2009, and increase spring wheat acres by 5.9 percent to 17.98 […] Read more
Soil test verifies nutrient needs
The Canola Council of Canada is receiving more calls than usual this spring about fertilization. Prairie soil is saturated with water, with the exception of Alberta’s Peace River region, and many producers want to know if they still have nitrogen and sulfur in their soil. “The most common questions are regarding the more mobile nutrients, […] Read more
Power line’s unwavering march upsets landowners
The 300 megawatt, 230 kilovolt transmission line will pass within 36 metres of David Swanson’s house near Warner, Alta., and about the same distance from Diane Sincennes’ home near Coaldale, Alta. The lines will run directly over Brad Moser’s irrigation dugout and along several edges of Wayne Van Giessen’s vegetable and row crop operation near […] Read more
Rising feed costs prevent Canada’s hog herd rebuilding
The contraction of Canada’s hog breeding herd has slowed but not stopped despite an improved market. Statistics Canada’s April 1 hogs-on-farm report showed a slight increase in the total number of hogs to 11.81 million, compared to 11.65 million last year at the same time. However, the breeding herd declined 0.2 percent from last year […] Read more
Helicopter application provides control, accuracy
A helicopter handles tight situations and sensitive areas better than an airplane, said Gordon Murray, owner of Bi-Air Application Services in Blackfoot, Alta. “You have better control of your speed, you’re more manoeuvreable and you’re closer to the ground.” Murray flew only fixed wing aircraft when he started his aerial application business in 1983. He […] Read more
Rancher keen on latest technology, education
COCHRANE, Alta. – Mother cows watch cautiously as Wynne Chisholm moves around their young calves. “This is the best time of year, eh?” she says as she checks a newborn black calf huddled in the straw in a south facing shelter. Checking calves, fences and feed supplies is a typical day for the Alberta rancher, […] Read more
Mustard prices and exports expected to improve
After a couple of years in the doldrums, the mustard market is giving signs of coming back to life. Foreign buyers are asking Canada to bring on the mustard. Exports of the spicy oilseed are forecast to increase to 140,000 tonnes in 2011-12, according to Agriculture Canada market analysts. That’s up from 120,000 tonnes in […] Read more
Organic farmers share Canada thistle tales of woe
Most farmers’ ears perk up when Canada thistle is mentioned. Even those who have had a lot of success at thistle control find it harder to keep the weed down when they reduce tillage or face a wet year. Organic farmers learned about managing Canada thistle last month during a conference hosted by the Organic […] Read more
