This special report marks the start of our three-part series on the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between Canada and the European Union. A team of writers from Glacier FarmMedia, which includes The Western Producer, spent four months tracking developments and interviewing experts on all sides of the debate to assess the value of CETA […] Read more
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Much ado about drainage
Water. It seems there is either too much of it or not enough where farmers are concerned. The last several years in Saskatchewan have generally been wet, with extensive flooding in some areas, and that has led to a greater focus on unauthorized agricultural drainage. As part of its 25-year Water Security Plan, released in […] Read more
Making 8
In 2004, soybeans were a trivial crop in Western Canada. Acreage was tiny and contained to Manitoba’s Red River Valley. Nowadays, soybeans are the “it” crop in Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan. Acreage has topped 1.5 million and still growing. The crop science industry is hoping to pull the same trick with grain corn, but producers […] Read more
Monsanto convinced prairie corn goals possible
Many farmers and industry experts say eight to 10 million acres of corn in Western Canada by 2025 is overly ambitious
Monsanto isn’t backing away from its goal of eight to 10 million acres of corn in Western Canada. In January, a company representative said it is making excellent progress on the corn expansion project, and 2025 remains the target for millions of acres on the Prairies. “All of our research that we’ve done, it’s in […] Read more
The big squeeze
Canada’s international trade deal with Europe and an as-yet unapproved agreement with the Trans-Pacific Partnership have raised serious questions about the future of the supply management sectors in Canada. Dairy, poultry and egg producers have been protected by the system of production quotas and high tariffs for decades. These articles explore the dairy industry’s thinking […] Read more
Dairy’s milky future
Dairy farmers are optimistic the industry will stabilize and thrive now that the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement has been signed. Economists think it’s the beginning of the end. Who’s right? By ED WHITE, WINNIPEG BUREAU
Now is the time to tackle the unsustainable trends of dairy supply management, say leading agricultural economists and farm leaders. It might not be the sort of thing a new government relishes wading into, but some think that if supply management doesn’t set itself up for the future, it might not have much of one. […] Read more
Dairy farmers undaunted amid threats to supply management
Economists often see a dire future for Canadian dairy farming, but asking producers about it will reveal a lot of sunshine punching through the clouds of gloom. “I’m very positive,” said dairy farmer Matt Plett from Blumenort, Man. “I have more confidence for the future for our kids than I did five years ago, when […] Read more
CRISPR: cutting edge tech for plant breeders
account_id=”2206156280001″ player_id=”HJ11Iy7v”][/audio] If the player above doesn’t work, try this one: Every story has a beginning, a middle and an end. The story of genetically modified crops began two decades ago, but the tale of that technology may be entering its final chapter. Many plant scientists believe genome editing, a new method to alter plant […] Read more
VIDEO: Culture of respect key for oats
Can farmers get inside a big tent with grain companies, processors and marketers without losing their ability to stick up for themselves?
By today’s accounts, Western Canada’s oat growers felt small, poor and disconnected when they walked into the post-Canadian Wheat Board world 23 years ago. In 1992, federal wheat board minister Charlie Mayer placed the crop outside the CWB’s marketing control. Back then, oat growers knew little about the companies that processed their crop, the products […] Read moreHow the Canola Council of Canada strikes a balance between industry and farmer advocacy
Living inside a big tent can have its advantages as long as it’s easy to duck out when things get too hot. That’s the experience of some farmer representatives who have seen how the Canola Council of Canada has managed to have a strong farmer component, while also giving equal power and play to other […] Read more
