On the first anniversary of the launch of the Alberta Wheat Commission (AWC), and following the retirement of Rick Istead from the position, the AWC is pleased to welcome Doug Cornell as the new General Manager. Having developed and honed his skills in both start-up and corporate environments, Cornell is an entrepreneurial manager with an… Read More
Canadian corn growers will have access in 2014 to a novel source of corn rootworm protection as Syngenta Canada rolls out its Agrisure Duracade trait. The Duracade trait is the first corn rootworm trait launched with insect resistance management and the preservation of technology durability in mind, says Syngenta in a press release. It will… Read More
Dry atmospheric air contains about 20% oxygen and over 78% nitrogen. Nitrogen, in its molecular, gaseous form (N2(g)) is very stable, and does not react easily with other compounds. In order to be used, then, the coupled nitrogen atoms must first be split. Consider it similar to asking a new couple for help with harvest…. Read More
Russia’s Uralkali has put the market through the ringer this morning. In a story that has many caught off guard, Russia’s Uralkali has decided to break up its partnership in Belarus Potash Company. This has greatly impacted the ability for the potash cartel to operate effectively. As reported on CNBC.com this morning, The break-up of the Belarus… Read More
It costs money to promote Canadian Beef and finally some of this funding will be on the backs of importers. Federal Agriculture Minister, Gerry Ritz announced this morning that an amendment to the Beef Cattle Research, Market Development and Promotion Levies Order to include an import levy on beef cattle, beef and beef products. The… Read More
Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz was in Saskatoon, Sask., today, to announce $15 million worth of further investments to the agriculture industry from the AgroInnovation Program and the new Growing Forward 2 policy framework. “Thanks to the commitment to innovation today and over the years, special crops and pulse industries are well-positioned to capture new market… Read More
Have you heard that Monsanto has been driven out of doing business in Europe? Not so, says the company, though they are changing the business direction in that market. “People have said we are exiting the GMO business in Europe, but we don’t really have a business,” Jose Manuel Madero, Monsanto’s president and managing director… Read More
In this RealAg Crop Update Ontario, Shawn Brenneman, agronomic sales manager for Eastern Canada with Syngenta, takes us on a virtual tour of a large swath of the eastern Canadian growing region to talk about corn and soybean crop development. While early season conditions weren’t ideal for corn and soy, recent heat has corn moving… Read More
Gerry Ritz was on hand at Richardson’s Kelburn Farms, just south of Winnipeg, today to announce a federal government commitment of $15 million to the canola industry. This funding, through Growing Forward 2, will be leveraged to bump that total to more than $20 million, says Patti Miller, president of the Canola Council of Canada… Read More
With concerns around climate change, the availability of non-renewable resources, and increasing the sustainability of industries as a whole, it is not surprising that organizations like the Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute (PAMI) are looking at ways to harness energy that is otherwise wasted. I recently spoke to Joy Agnew, project manager at PAMI, about their… Read More
A total of 28 research projects focused on expanding or improving barley’s use as feed, food and malt will receive funding under a new Barley National Research Cluster, spearheaded by the Alberta Barley Commission. Newly re-appointed federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz was on hand last week to make the $8 million announcement. “This is a… Read More
If you live on the Prairies, chances are you’ve seen numerous thunderstorms develop. You already know they typically form on hot, humid days. This is because thunderstorms require moisture, a force to move that moisture and an unstable air mass to develop. You’ve also seen the cumulus stage of thunderstorms developing on the horizon, no… Read More
Prime Minister Stephen Harper shuffled his Conservative government’s cabinet yesterday and, drum roll please…not much, if anything, will change for the agriculture industry. Gerry Ritz remains as Agriculture Minister and Ed Fast stays on as Minister of Trade. There are a few new names in the agriculture fold, as Maxime Bernier takes on the role… Read More
In what is being described as a “momentous occasion” by its chairperson, the Board of Directors of Cigi (Canadian International Grains Institute) has approved a new governance model for the institute, according to a press release. The change, approved at its annual general meeting on June 18, will see board membership expand to include representation… Read More
Pollinators, including honeybees, are essential to food production all over the world. It’s why farmers are always encouraged to chose insecticides that are as pest-specific as possible and to avoid applying them when pollinators are flying. Pollinators are not just good for bumping yields, they are necessary for some crops to even set seed. Recent… Read More
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