You’re out in a piece of new machinery and something in the computer system breaks down. Are you equipped to fix it? Do you have the right to repair it? Geoff Backman, manager of business development and markets at the Alberta Wheat and Barley Commissions, says farmers’ frustrations continue to grow as they don’t have… Read More
Category: Prairie Cereals Summit
It’s a surprise to only a few at this point to hear we’re currently at a 20-year high in the fertilizer markets. The reasoning comes from a combination of things, but as Ryan Furtas, market analyst with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry explains, a hike in crop prices, an increase of feedstock costs, and as we… Read More
As farmers continue to look for answers to questions they are faced with on their farm, the need for on-farm research programs continues. One of these on-farm research programs is the Alberta Wheat and Barley Commissions Plot2Farm program. Jeremy Boychyn, agronomy research extension specialist with Alberta Wheat and Barley Commissions, was at the Prairie Cereals… Read More
Tara Sawyer of Acme, Alta., is returning as Alberta Barley’s chair, with Roy Newman of Blackie, Alta. taking the place of vice-chair. The new executive was announced at Alberta Barley’s annual general meeting in conjunction with the Prairie Cereals Summit. Also passed at the meeting was a resolution that calls for a farmer plebiscite on… Read More
In November, John Barlow, MP for Foothills, was re-named to the position as the Conservatives’ shadow minister for agriculture. Among Barlow’s current priorities is the attention — or lack thereof — that country-of-origin labelling (COOL) is currently getting in Ottawa. As the conversations grow in strength with a bipartisan bill in the U.S. senate surrounding… Read More
Using 280 words to say what you feel about a certain subject, or to describe what’s going on at your farm operation, is a thing of the past according to one keynote speaker at the Prairie Cereals Summit. Jordyn Prior, an essay contest winner, says she’s seen a shift in which social media platforms consumers… Read More
To many, change among committees, boards of directors, and organizations is a good thing as it provides new insight and ideas to grow the organization. Change can also be tough to some as people can feel as though they’re “starting all over again” with a new person added or some feel as though they won’t… Read More
Every organization has a team working diligently behind the scenes to get the job done. For the Barley Council of Canada (BCC), the team is made up of multiple producer commissions, as well as industry stakeholders. The six producer groups are comprised of the Alberta Barley Commission, Saskatchewan Barley Development Commission, Manitoba Wheat and Barley,… Read More
Following a challenging year and a wet harvest, Manitoba farmers are kicking off 2020 with some crop still in the field, possibly tough grain in the bin, and a large decision on representation. At the recent Prairie Cereals Summit, news lead Jessika Guse sat down with Pam de Rocquigny, general manager of the Manitoba Corn… Read More
“We haven’t been good at telling consumers and our customers in other parts of the world how we are sustainable.” That’s the message from the honourable Ted Menzies at this year’s Prairie Cereals Summit. Menzies was there to give an update to attendees on what the framework looks like surrounding the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable… Read More
The Alberta Barley Commission and Alberta Wheat Commission recently integrated their management teams, and now, for 2020, they’re looking for direction by members on whether amalgamating the board of directors should also happen. “That would be a combined Alberta Wheat and Barley Commission,” says Tom Steve, general manager of both the commissions. “I think it’s… Read More
China’s evolution as a trading partner is one of self-sufficiency: China has spent the past few decades weaning itself off needing other countries for many things, by investing in its own value chains and technology, and making strategic purchases and partnerships worldwide. But that doesn’t mean China doesn’t need to trade — it just means… Read More
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) published its final World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report of the year, and according to some analysts, it was rather void of surprise or even change. “That was the problem — we didn’t see anything, nothing changed,” says FarmLead CEO Brennan Turner, in the following interview… Read More