Salford’s Valmar AB640 made its public debut at the Ag in Motion farm show near Langham, Sask., in mid-July.  |  Scott Garvey photo

New granular applicator gets 90-foot air boom

The Valmar AB640, which Salford introduced earlier this year, is a large unit that will require a powerful tractor to pull it


Growers now have more choices than ever on how to apply a lot of fertilizer in a short amount of time. In July, Salford introduced its newest and largest air boom applicator. With a 90-foot boom, it goes well past the brand’s previous flagship model, the 9620, which offers 72 feet of working width. “We’ve […] Read more

Most consumers say the cost of living, from food to rent to mortgage payments, has soared and it’s hard to pay the bills. | Getty Images

Inflation fight must walk tightrope amid consumer anger

Like giant cargo ships, the big economies of the world have sailed through stormy seas for several years and finally calmer water might be ahead, but the crews are in a foul mood and are not about to salute their captains. In Canada, the United States and elsewhere, the chaos from COVID-19 and the Russian […] Read more

Ducks Unlimited winter wheat specialist Alex Griffiths recently spoke at the Prairies East Sustainable Agriculture Initiative’s Crop Diversification Day near Arborg, Man.  |  Don Norman photo

Treatments cut N2O emissions in winter wheat

Research shows that urease inhibitors can quickly reduce nitrous oxide emissions by 30 per cent when growing the crop

UPDATED – 1730 CST – August 23, 2024 – Glacier FarmMedia – Ducks Unlimited Canada trials have shown that nitrification and urease inhibitors are effective at reducing nitrous oxide emissions in winter wheat. “The cool thing about it is, as soon as you add any form of inhibitor, you’re pretty much reaching that 30 per […] Read more


Despite the change from Barack Obama to Trump as president in 2017, sustainability efforts within agriculture and agri-food didn’t go away. That pattern will likely repeat if Trump is re-elected or the Conservatives win the federal election in Canada in 2025. | File photo

‘This isn’t going to go away’

WINNIPEG — Eight years ago, Sally Flis was working for the Fertilizer Institute in Washington, D.C. She was the director of agronomy and worked on grower adoption of 4R nutrient stewardship, which is right rate, right time, right place and right source when applying fertilizer. Related story: Corporate fertilizer plan pushes sustainability Then, Donald Trump […] Read more

Unless labour agreements are reached, both Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Kansas City will shut all freight rail services in Canada at the same time early on Thursday for the first time in history. | File photo

WP rail labour dispute coverage

Below are links to all our recent coverage of the rail stoppage that will harshly impact the ag industry. The most-recent stories will be posted at the top. Please check back often as this page will be constantly updated until this issue is resolved. Posted Wednesday September 4, 2024: Damage assessed as railways resume operations […] Read more


Canada is the largest producer and exporter of potash, and 75 per cent of all the fertilizer produced and used in the country is moved via the railways. | Screencap via x.com/@MosaicCompany

Rail stoppage to hit fertilizer sector hard

REUTERS — Fertilizer Canada warns that disruptions impacting all rail services across the country will cost the fertilizer industry an estimated $55 to $63 million per day in lost sales revenue, not including logistical and operational costs. Canada is the largest producer and exporter of potash, and 75 per cent of all the fertilizer produced […] Read more

Top potash producer Nutrien said the potential stoppage could impact its full-year sales volumes forecast for potash - the main ingredient in fertilizer. | File photo

Rail stoppage would affect a variety of industries

REUTERS — Canada’s freight rail network could come to a grinding halt this week, likely extracting a huge economic toll across industries as the country’s two leading rail companies plan an unprecedented work stoppage. Both Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Kansas City plan to lock out workers on Thursday as talks with the Teamsters […] Read more

The double-disc openers on the K-Hart Spyder drill run straight ahead but tilted to the side on a 22.5 degree angle, which creates an angled furrow for seed placement. | Scott Garvey photo

Newest K-Hart Spyder gets additional features

Spyder’s frame continues to evolve so the unit is better able to follow terrain with its spring-based paralink system

The Ag in Motion farm show offered an opportunity to look at different seed drill openers on the market in Western Canada. In this series, we look at opener designs and other new equipment features being introduced for the next growing season. The folding design of K-Hart’s Spyder drill, which does look a bit like […] Read more


Urea prices expected to increase in Canada

Reduced supply from Egypt and China and increased demand in the U.S. and Brazil change market dynamics this summer

WINNIPEG — The June and July period is normally a quiet time in the global market for urea. In most years, North American farmers are done buying for the growing season and Brazilian buyers usually wait until September to make urea purchases for the safrinha corn crop. However, it wasn’t a quiet time this year. […] Read more

FuelPositive’s green ammonia plant installation on R&L Acres near Sperling, Man.  |  FuelPositive photo

Man. green ammonia project enters home stretch

World’s first on-farm plant will allow operation to produce its own anhydrous ammonia using water, air and electricity

Glacier FarmMedia – After two years of delays, the world’s first on-farm green ammonia plant, installed on a Manitoba operation, is weeks away from producing fertilizer. In mid-June, Ontario clean energy company FuelPositive announced that pieces were in place for the pilot project at R&L Acres near Sperling, Man. “We did the site prep this […] Read more