It started as a promising agricultural economic diversification project in northern Alberta 10 years ago but will be put to rest May 28.Farm Credit Canada is holding an unreserved auction for Mackenzie Pork’s mothballed 600 sow farrow to finish hog barn in La Crete.“The hog industry has been very brutal to a lot of people,” […] Read more
News
Community project to be auctioned off
Device gets to the bottom of crop spraying
Spraying a dense crop canopy often results in most of the product landing on the tops of plants, allowing the diseases and insects that live below to escape.A device developed by Haken Pettersson of Sweden and tested at two American locations has proven effective at applying the product all the way to ground level if […] Read more
Small scale farming
Recent rains and warm weather helped ensure good crop establishment and improved hay and pasture conditions. Producers are busy spraying, applying fertilizer, seeding and hauling cattle to pasture. Crops emerging Farmers made good seeding progress. Fields are fairly wet with sloughs visible. Crops are emerging well and hay and pastures look good. Good moisture Good […] Read more
How do you know when you get a good deal?
One thing you should not see is a customer talking to the mechanic without the service manager present.Let’s suppose a mechanic is working on your tractor in the shop. Another farmer stops and asks a question.Even if the answer was simple and could be answered in minute or two, studies have shown that it takes […] Read more
CGC lowers tolerance for fusarium
Future outbreaks of fusarium could cost farmers more money because of stricter grading rules going into effect next crop year.The Canadian Grain Commission announced last week that tolerances for fusarium will be tightened Aug. 1, 2010, for all but two Western Canada wheat classes.Tolerances for those two classes – CW red winter and CW general […] Read more
Delays in federal biodiesel subsidy worry manufacturer
One of the few operating biodiesel plants in Western Canada thinks the federal government is developing cold feet about its decision to support the sector.”If they are backpedalling because of the economy or pressure from the petroleum industry, they better let us know,” said Zenneth Faye, executive manager of Milligan Bio-Tech Inc.The delayed implementation of […] Read more
Considering GM crop market acceptance
Debate surrounding the impacts and benefits of genetically modified crops has intensified in recent months.No one knows that more than Alex Atamanenko, MP and New Democrat agriculture critic whose controversial private member’s bill, Bill C- 474, has galvanized many agricultural stakeholders into two distinct camps – those who support the commercialization of GM crops and […] Read more
Oversupply may keep oat prices from quick rebound
Oat futures prices have breached the $2 futures barrier.That has dragged down farmer hopes for what was believed to be one of the top two returning crops of 2010-11.Cash oat bids in Portage la Prairie, Man., have recently dropped slightly below $1.80 per bushel, taking them to within three cents of the September 2009 low […] Read more
GM Roundup Ready alfalfa worries forage seed growers
Winnipeg businessman Kurt Shmon is clear about where he stands on Bill C-474, a bill that would require new genetically modified crops in Canada to undergo a thorough assessment of potential market damage before registration.”I am absolutely in favour of it,” said Shmon, a forage and turf seed exporter. “If Roundup Ready alfalfa is grown […] Read more
Anaplasmosis investigation checks severity of Man. outbreaks
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is trying to determine if two outbreaks of anaplasmosis in eastern Manitoba are isolated incidents or if there’s a risk that the disease will spread to other parts of Western Canada.“We have two pockets in Manitoba…. So do we need to continue to look at them to see is this […] Read more
