Alberta’s agricultural societies will receive the money earmarked in the provincial budget without any reduction in the amount, the provincial government announced Sept. 27. The news was welcomed by agricultural societies across the province and by Tim Carson, chief executive officer of the Alberta Association of Agricultural Societies. “Quite relieved, and so are our members,” […] Read more
Tag Archives News
No cuts in gov’t funding for Alta. ag societies
What to do if the unthinkable happens
In the event of a grain bin entrapment:
LANGHAM, Sask. — Three or four people are usually killed every year in grain bin accidents, says Glen Blahey of the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association. “We never know about close calls because they’re not reported.” Most people who become entrapped in a grain bin do not survive. The number of entrapments is increasing in all […] Read moreU.S. scientists to skip Monsanto dicamba summit
CHICAGO, Ill. (Reuters) —Monsanto invited dozens of weed scientists to a summit last week to win backing for a controversial herbicide, but many declined, threatening the company’s efforts to convince regulators the product is safe to use. Monsanto faces a barrage of lawsuits over its dicamba herbicide and risks of tighter restrictions on its use […] Read more
Asexual reproduction could bring massive change in crop development
The quest to focus on asexual plant reproduction, or apomixis, is creating new research opportunities in plant sciences at the University of Saskatchewan. “I came here focused on apomixis, but now we’re branching off and applying these technologies to other plants,” said Tim Sharbel, director of the seed and development biology program at the Global […] Read more
Ag Notes
Excellence award available to students Farm Management Canada and the Canadian Association of Diploma in Agriculture Programs have launched the 2017-18 Excellence Award for Agricultural Students. The award is designed to encourage students to improve their critical thinking, communication and leadership skills through a national competition. Three winners will receive scholarships toward furthering their education […] Read more
Grain companies see hopeful signs
Two international grain companies posted stronger quarterly earnings, but Bunge continues to struggle. Cargill Inc. reported a 14 percent rise in quarterly profit as strong beef demand and ample supplies of cattle lifted earnings for its animal nutrition and protein segment for a fifth straight quarter. The company’s meat sector offset weaker results for its […] Read more
Call and response
Commodity prices are high: produce more. Commodity prices are low: produce more. What a great recipe. Over the last decade, with the exception of the commodity bubble years of 2011, 2012 and 2013, oilseed crops have offered greater price stability because of steadily increasing global consumption. However, all food and fuel crop use has been […] Read more
Scrapie has huge impact for sector despite low numbers
Three goat operations in Manitoba and one sheep operation in Saskatchewan have been confirmed with scrapie in their flocks this year as efforts continue toward eradicating the disease in Canada. Scrapie is a federally reportable disease in sheep and goats that is in the same general family as other prion-related diseases such as bovine spongiform […] Read more
Syngenta settles corn launch suit
Syngenta is trying to put its legal troubles over a fouled up launch of biotech corn behind it with a $1.5 billion settlement with farmers, but remaining grain company suits linger. The U.S. launch of genetically altered Agrisure Viptera corn caused problems because it was not approved in China and corn exports suffered, causing farmers […] Read more
Rising land values good for farmers, bad for renters
Farmland prices continue to rise and producers are being affected. “Anecdotally, we know that as urban land goes up in price, it makes rural land and agricultural land more economically attractive to people who want to build homes and rural residences or estates. So, I’m confident there’s a direct correlation between the escalating cost of […] Read more
