Canadian Livestock Auctioneer competition | Contestants judged on rhythm, clarity and control of the sale
STAVELY, Alta. — The air was redolent with manure and auctioneer patter June 1 when 25 contestants competed for the 2012 champion auctioneer title through the Livestock Markets Association of Canada. Justin Gattey sat in the lunchroom of the iconic Stavely Auction Market studying the “black box” item he would be expected to auction as […] Read moreTag Archives Ag Finance
Chants of champions keep sale humming
Malt sector seeks priority access in Japan deal
Rules that would give Canadian malt barley preferential access to the Japanese market should be a key accomplishment of any Canada-Japan trade deal, a malt industry leader has told MPs. Phil De Kemp, president of the Malting Industry Association of Canada, told the House of Commons international trade committee that Japan is a key market […] Read more
If foxtail moves into a field, look for other issues
If producers are dealing with foxtail barley, there’s more going on than just a new weed. “Foxtail barley growing in a field usually means that there’s something happening in that field that’s restricting the growth of whatever crop is supposed to be there,” said Elaine Moats, regional crop specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture. The perennial weed […] Read more
CFA worries agriculture ministers will target farm programs
The head of Canada’s largest farm lobby says producers fear farm support budget cuts as agriculture ministers near the end of negotiations on the next five-year farm program framework. Ron Bonnett, president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, said he worries strong farmgate prices will lead ministers to cut farm support programs. He said the […] Read more
University of Saskatchewan gets green light for emissions study
Federal gov’t gives $3.4 million for research Five-year initiative will look into ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ag practices
A $3.4 million parcel from the federal government will fund research at the University of Saskatchewan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural practices. The funds will be invested into the U of S through the Agricultural Greenhouse Gases Program, a five-year, $27 million initiative that’s providing research dollars to projects across the country. From […] Read moreFrost hits Pakistan pulses; weak rupee hampers imports
A pulse crop disaster in Pakistan and a disappointing Indian lentil harvest have set the stage for strong lentil demand prospects out of the Indian subcontinent. A story that ran in the Pakistan Observer said 80 percent of the country’s winter pulse crop was destroyed by cold weather. Another article published in the Business Recorder […] Read more
Soil moisture satellite on horizon
Even though it’s a crucial aspect of crop development, Canada gathers only a minimal amount of information on soil moisture. In fact, in many regions of the world soil moisture data is scarce, says an Agriculture Canada remote sensing expert. “There’s little data available on soil moisture, if you think globally or even across Canada. […] Read more
Good moisture brings out the fungi
Field moisture in abundance produces two things: crops with lots of foliage and diseases that thrive within the protective blanket the plants provide. After several seasons of above average rainfall, the Prairies has more than enough plant disease inoculum to go around. Cereal growers rarely treat for leaf disease because of low grain prices and […] Read more
Alberta farmers watch crops after ugly storm
Hail, wind, tornadoes | Rain was needed in southern Alberta but not so hard and so fast
As the lightning flashed and the winds picked up at their Enchant farm, Greg Stamp and his family hunkered in the basement waiting for the storm to pass. Glenn and Marie Logan of Lomand watched the internet as radar tracked the major storm cell that came from Montana and spread across southern Alberta as far […] Read moreDry Midwest needs wet prairie weather to shift south
While farmers in Western Canada wonder when they will get a string of sunny warm days to spur crop development, the U.S. Midwest wishes we would send a little of the moisture south. If the weather turns sunny and drier for a while on the Prairies, the crop prospects would be great because of good […] Read more
