Good crops in southern Alta. and central Sask. should offset problem areas such as northern Alta. and northeast Sask.
Canadian farmers are harvesting the best quality malt barley crop Peter Watts has seen in the six years he has been serving as managing director of the Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre. “We needed it,” he said. “Everybody is pretty excited.” There was little malt barley carryout heading into the 2020-21 crop, so fingers were […] Read moreNews
Throne speech commits to rural broadband
The federal government had already launched the Universal Broadband Fund and now promises to expand the program
Canada’s minority Liberal government is promising job creation, better rural internet access and a commitment to combat climate change in its newly revealed legislative plans. In an ambitious Sept. 23 throne speech, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s party committed itself to implementing universal child care and extending or enhancing many of the economic measures put in […] Read more
Agri-Trade organizers back away from holding show in November
The Agri-Trade Equipment Expo has cancelled its 2020 show, which was to be held Nov. 11-13 in Red Deer. Citing travel restrictions by corporations that would impede exhibitor participation and attendance, show organizers said last week that cancelling was a difficult decision. Despite COVID-19, they had announced in September that the show would proceed under […] Read more
Fast shooters – photo essay
The Manitoba Mounted Shooting Association held its last shoot of the season Sept. 19-20 at the Double Z Arena near Miami, Man. Cowboy mounted shooting is a timed sport that combines skills such as barrel racing, pole bending and reining, as well as shooting two .45 calibre single action revolvers. Competitors shoot 10 balloon targets […] Read more
Ag priorities set for Sask. election
The Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan has released its election priorities for the provincial election. President Todd Lewis said the organization has asked all of the registered political parties for their positions on a number of topics, including infrastructure, improved business risk management programs, environmental issues and opportunities. He said BRM programming is top of […] Read more
FCC likes dairy’s prospects
Canada’s dairy farmers have survived the pandemic better than some other farm sectors and that should continue, Farm Credit Canada’s chief agricultural economist says. While the industry will face increasing pressure from American imports for a few years, that should eventually reverse. “We think that 2020 is going to be worse (overall) than 2019, but […] Read more
Prairie breeders explore heat-tolerance rating
Regionally specific canola varieties may eventually become reality, but breeding for specific traits may not be the answer
Many farmers, especially in Saskatchewan, are blaming hot and dry weather for disappointing canola yields. Official numbers won’t be in for a while, but Saskatchewan Agriculture has pegged the provincial yield average at 35 bushels per acre. That’s much lower than average yields of 40 to 41 bu. per acre in recent years, based on […] Read more
Pandemic highlights resiliency of nation’s food system
Canada’s food industries faced production and demand shocks in the first six months of COVID, but most managed well
Despite much fear and near-panic, Canada’s food system survived the pandemic shock remarkably well, says a University of Guelph expert. While numerous small and evolutionary changes may come to the food industry in the wake of COVID-19, Michael von Massow doubts there will be a revolution. “Is the status quo really that bad?” pondered von […] Read more
Farmers want recognition for continued carbon work
Farmers working to establish a Saskatchewan soil carbon sequestration policy say they should receive any payments for carbon storage because they’re the ones making it possible. Jocelyn Velestuk, president of the Saskatchewan Soil Conservation Association, said farmers have adopted practices that ensure carbon is still being sequestered. Sampling from the SSCA’s Prairie Soil Carbon Balance […] Read more
Federal program targets irrigation, broadband spending
Saskatchewan’s proposed irrigation plan will benefit from a $10 billion Canada Infrastructure Bank program announced Oct. 1. The CIB intends to spend $1.5 billion for agriculture infrastructure. According to a backgrounder issued with the federal government’s news release, that includes “transformative irrigation infrastructure” in Western Canada. “The benefits of this new initiative include the addition […] Read more
