Every once in a while a group with a real passion for something get a chance to get together and talk about what they care about. If you get to be in room with with them, you can’t help but feel the energy and, most likely, learn something. The Western Forum on Pest Management (WFPM)… Read More
Month: October 2018
Ever since the great recession of 2008, interest rates have been ‘abnormally’ low. Although there has been noise about rising interest rates, the economic argument has been weak. But the economy is getting stronger, and along with that the argument to raise interest rates is also getting stronger. In this interview RealAg Radio host Shaun… Read More
Dairy and cattle producers need high palatability and digestibility in the forage ration for top production, but it’s also very important that forages persist and thrive even after tough Canadian winters. For 2019, Nutrien Ag Solutions is offering two new alfalfa lines —Halo 2 and PV Parlour HG — that fit the bill. Sheldon Hains, forage… Read More
Have you ever discovered small, misshapen, poorly pollinated corn ears mixed in with a field of impressive, high-yielding cobs? PRIDE Seeds agronomist Drew Thompson received a call in August from a grower telling just this story. When Thompson visited the field he noted that no nutrient deficiencies were apparent (no firing or discolouration) so out came… Read More
“Brutal” is just one word being used to describe some of the corn coming off in Ontario. While yields are good, a perfect storm of disease-inducing conditions at and following pollination has left a chunk of the 2018 corn crop riddled with myctoxins, most notably vomitoxin. “There is still lots of good corn in Ontario,”… Read More
Grain prices this week dipped lower as the complex dealt with some U.S. export numbers that came in below expectations and harvest 2018 picking back up. However, things might slow again soon as it looks there are a few spots that might get rain over the weekend or into next week, which would intuitively slow… Read More
It has been great to be back this week writing stories for RealAgriuclture.com and hosting RealAg Radio. Time away with family is such an incredibly important component of recharging before the next big run that we see in front of us. As usual this week’s “Left on the Desk” features a scattering of tidbits, slices… Read More
Today marks the last Friday of October, and as per the “News with Guse” it looks like those in Saskatchewan are nearly complete harvest. 92 per cent of the overall crop is in the bin with soybeans the least advanced at 73 per cent. If only we could solve the vomitoxin levels in the Ontario… Read More
A virus unique only to pigs is spreading at an alarming rate in China and this latest swine disease has become even more concerning for those at the global pork table. Dr. Egan Brockhoff, of Prairie Swine Health Services and veterinary counsellor for the Canadian Pork Council, explains African Swine Fever (ASF) can go after… Read More
Each fall the Western Forum on Pest Management meets to review the previous growing season. Scientists, researchers, and agronomists get together to compare notes on what happened during the previous growing season. This helps everyone get a better understanding of the issues so that they can help each other help farmers. Dale Leftwich, field editor… Read More
If you’ve heard or seen the term “buy local” get ready to see and hear it a bit more in Wild Rose Country. Back in May of this year, Bill 7 was passed in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. The bill’s purpose is to encourage the development and success of a local food sector throughout… Read More
Every year is different when it comes to growing a crop. The summer growing conditions are unpredictable and, as we have seen this year, harvest can go from great to brutal in one weather event. The same is true with seed: every sample can offer its own surprises. RealAgriculture’s Dale Leftwich recently attended the Western… Read More
When it comes to connecting with other farmers and researchers, there’s no substitute for being there. Just consider attendance at events such as Crop Connect in Manitoba or Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show in Ontario, and that’s clear. But when producers can’t physically be at an event because they’re tied up with their herd, they can… Read More
For eight years Kay Kuenker was the only woman on the executive team at Dow AgroSciences. That experience has taught her much about how women and men can work together in the agribusiness executive suite. Today, Kuenker works as consultant with her own company, K2Kinetics. At the recent Advancing Women in Agriculture Conference in Niagara Falls,… Read More
A group of self described ‘like-minded’ World Trade Organization (WTO) members met in Ottawa this week. The WTO reform was hosted by Jim Carr, minister of international trade diversification for Canada. Not included in this ‘like-minded’ group was Canada’s closest neighbour and largest trading partner, the U.S. China also not included. The meeting, which took… Read More