HyTech co-chief executive officer Cameron van Roon, left, and chief commercial officer Scott Horner check on the development of a hybrid canola seed crop near Lethbridge.  |  HyTech photo

Alta. firm major player in hybrid canola business

Glacier FarmMedia – With the cost of hybrid canola seed being the No. 1 expense in producing the oilseed crop, Prairie farmers can have confidence knowing each of the 4.25 million canola seeds in a 50-pound bag was produced with care and attention to quality control. That’s the commitment of long-time hybrid seed producer HyTech […] Read more

Jeff Kostuik of Verve Seeds, left, and Clarence Shwaluk of Manitoba Harvest speak at a southwestern Manitoba field day near Melita in July.  |  Gord Leathers photo

Hemp sector pins hopes on improved genetics

Seed, food companies say there is a market for the crop, but the varieties Prairie farmers are growing require fine tuning

Glacier FarmMedia – Hemp has had its ups and downs on the Prairies. Jeff Kostuik of Verve Seeds would like to see it get a better foothold, and he thinks new genetics, better tailored for western Canadian conditions and western Canadian markets, can help make that happen. “We’re a very small, yet mighty company … […] Read more

The shift toward hybrids and better crop genetics is seen as necessary because hemp has struggled to gain traction with farmers and within the food industry over the last decade.  |  File photo

Hemp sector sees success in hybrid varieties

WINNIPEG — Alberta’s hemp industry has decided to go in a new direction with the focus on increasing yields and reducing the price point of a crop that’s too expensive for most food companies and many fibre processors. The Alberta Hemp Alliance is pursuing a project that will deliver new genetics to farmers — high-yielding […] Read more