APAS director The Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan has a new director. Greg Marshall, who has farmed near Semans, Sask., for 33 years, will represent District 5 in central Saskatchewan. He has served on the board of directors of the Saskatchewan Life Insurance Council and the Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corp. He is also past-chair of […] Read more
News
Ag Notes
Old faces back in spotlight as CWB fight resumes
“It’s yours and mine; so don’t tear the old wheat board down; there’s not another like it in this old world round,” the Carlton Quack Grass Band sang on July 27 in a Saskatoon park as denim-clad farmers clapped in rhythm to a washtub bass. The folksy scene contrasted with the closed-door, RCMP-guarded meeting across […] Read more
Food aid workers fear dwindling commitment
An international coalition of non-governmental organizations involved with development issues is pressuring countries that provide the bulk of the world’s food aid, including Canada, to recommit to supplying food for the world’s most vulnerable. They are afraid food aid supplies will dwindle because of declining world cereal reserve stocks and growing demand for cereals as […] Read more
Prairie crops mature early
A leisurely Sunday drive taken by Lacombe, Alta., agrologist Phil Thomas to celebrate a family birthday in Lloydminster revealed producers can celebrate the impending harvest season. “Generalizing, we have a reasonable crop coming along considering the conditions we’ve had,” he said. Thomas, a senior agri-coach with Agri-Trend Agrology, spent many such days on prairie roads […] Read more
Grain terminal keeps moving
MOOSE JAW, Sask. – Lavern Affleck recently packed up his business and moved it. That’s just the way it’s supposed to work. Mobil Grain’s equipment acts like a movable grain elevator. Affleck, his brother, Sheldon, son, Kent, and an employee had operated in Moose Jaw since November. But the idea is to go to farmers […] Read more
Flooded farmers eye winter wheat
Saskatchewan farmers who struggled to plant a crop this spring are giving winter wheat a closer look. Brian Berrns, who farms in eastern Saskatchewan, was unable to seed about a third of his land because of excess moisture. He is among those thinking of putting at least a portion of those acres into winter wheat […] Read more
Agri-Coaches Corner/Crop Report
MANITOBA East and Interlake Winter wheat harvest is near completion with yields reported at 60 to 90 bushels an acre. Flax and canola are podded and early canola fields are turning colour. Soybeans are variable and most fields look below average. Corn is tasseling and sunflowers are flowering. There are reports of aphids. Pastures are […] Read more
Industry laments farmer divide
ST. JOHN’S, N.L. – A growing rift between grain groups in Western and Eastern Canada is fragmenting the industry and making it more difficult to present a unified voice to government, an agribusiness leader lamented last week. Denise Dewar, vice-president of CropLife Canada representing farm chemical and biotechnology developers, told a panel discussion on food […] Read more
Railways said bullying special crop shippers
Special crop shippers say they are reluctant to complain about railway service for fear of reprisal, an allegation senior executives at the country’s two national railways contend is unfounded. An Alberta pulse crop processor, who requested anonymity, said he wanted to confront the railways about something he heard at the recent Canadian Special Crops Association […] Read more
There’s a trick to obtaining manure samples
RED DEER – Testing manure samples in the laboratory can show the value of a natural resource. Once the manure’s nitrogen, phosphorus, carbon and other mineral levels are measured, it can be applied at rates more useful to a crop. “It depends how you apply it, where you apply it, the rate you use and […] Read more
