Editor’s note: As of April 8, the Association of Bovine Practitioners is referring to an HPAI infection in cattle as BIAV: bovine influenza A virus. For the first time, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been confirmed in dairy cows. Cattle in the Texas panhandle first tested positive for the virus, but more dairy cattle… Read More
Author: Lyndsey Smith
Lyndsey Smith is a field editor for RealAgriculture. A self-proclaimed agnerd, Lyndsey is passionate about all things farming but is especially thrilled by agronomy and livestock production.
Starting in May, Prairie farmers will have access to an up-to-the-day fusarium head blight forecasting tool for winter and spring wheat, durum, and barley. The new forecasting tool is based on over five years of research and field-level proof-of-concept work supported by Alberta Grains, SaskWheat, SaskBarley, the Manitoba Crop Alliance, the University of Manitoba and… Read More
Have you ever attended a protest? Would you? If you’ve ever had a chance to tour downtown Ottawa, you’ll know that peaceful protests on Parliament Hill are a daily expectation. At any one time, there could be two or three or more groups on the Hill holding signs and trying to bring awareness to a… Read More
The Field Crop Development Centre, established in the late ’70s, has a new home and a new name — Western Crop Innovations. The rebranded non-profit organization, with funding from the Alberta government, will be focused on agriculture research and crop development. Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation says the new structure will “revitalize this organization, promote a… Read More
When it comes to phosphorus, having early availability close to the seed is of utmost importance to support early seedling development. Too much phosphorus too close can also cause seedling toxicity and death. What’s the right amount for starter fertilizer? There’s no one right answer, but there are several considerations for phosphorus management at seeding,… Read More
Consultations have been done, and the “What we heard” document was published in 2021. So why then has the actual opening of the Grain Act — and modernization of it — not happened? On Tuesday, March 26, industry participants, government, and farmers are getting together to talk about exactly that, says Ian Boxall, president of… Read More
Before the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, a.k.a New NAFTA, CUSMA, or USMCA, comes up for review in July of 2026, Canada, Mexico, and the United States will all have gone through a federal election. Two of the three countries could have the same leader in place as today; however, that’s unlikely. It is also possible that… Read More
Canada added 40,000 jobs last month, but the unemployment rate actually climbed to 5.8%, since we’re still adding more people than jobs to the economy. For those in the agriculture sector, we know all too well just how tight the labour market has been and will be going forward. On the national scope, the Canadian… Read More
Houston, we have a problem — and it’s larger-than-ideal crop supplies available combined with lagging demand for some oilseed and crush byproducts. That’s at least part of what is going on in the oilseed complex, says Tyler Schau of AgMarket.net. He spoke with Shaun Haney at Commodity Classic last week held at — you guessed… Read More
There are at least two options for increasing efficiency on the farm: use wider, larger equipment or use smaller technology that gets the job done faster. In the race between larger equipment and automation, which class do you think is winning? (Hint: it’s bigger engines and wider equipment). This week was Commodity Classic in Houston,… Read More
Canadian farmers have a chance to win one of four cash prizes of $25,000 for a community project with BASF’s Growing Home with BASF contest. Opening today and running until March 18, individuals in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario can nominate organizations that help grow their communities. Nominations submitted by March 18 will be judged… Read More
Like many technological advances, drones have become more user-friendly, less expensive, and more useful over time. Drones – or UAVs – have several uses in agriculture, from scouting and checking cattle, to mapping, and more recently, seeding crops and even spraying. But drones are still a cost, require learning, and have limits in what they… Read More
Ontario Bean Growers (OBG) will contribute $660,000 towards an industry investment of $2 million in the Weed Management Professorship position based at the Ridgetown campus of the University of Guelph. “With the retirement of Dr. Peter Sikkema in 2024 this funding will not only ensure weed research continues for dry beans but will also support… Read More
Canada and the U.S. are unique, different, and not at all the same in many ways, but these two countries also have a laundry list of things in common. There’s also the trade relationship that exists, where plenty of products — agriculture and otherwise — flow both north and south freely. Some of where we… Read More
Jim Wilson has been named as chair of Canterra Seeds. Wilson steps in after Lloyd Affleck retired from his position as chair. Affleck will remain as a board member. Wilson has been a board member since 2010, and has served as vice chair for the last 14 years. Jim and his wife operate a grain… Read More