We’re heading into the apex of summer weather (and the volatility that can come with it). It’s corn pollination and soybean pod-setting season, while combines are starting to run on the earliest seeded pulses and cereals in the U.S. and even parts of Canada. More than anything, the market is mostly trading rain clouds and… Read more »
Category: Western Canada
New Dairy Farmers of Canada president faces a full plate of issues
Dairy Farmers of Canada’s new president certainly has his work cut out for him. Pierre Lampron, a 51-year-old organic dairy producer from St. Boniface, Quebec, was elected at DFC’s annual general meeting in Edmonton on Wednesday, replacing Wally Smith who served his maximum three terms dating back to July 2011. Lampron took some time to… Read more »
MacAulay, Stewart respond to Italian pasta COOL decree
Italy’s government signed a decree on Thursday requiring packages of pasta sold in the country include country of origin labels. Italy is one of the largest markets for Canadian durum, importing around 1.2 million tonnes in 2015-16, according to Canadian Grain Commission figures. “We are putting Italy in the vanguard of Europe when it comes… Read more »
Risk versus reward: thinking critically about cover crops
It’s hard to find a farmer these days who doesn’t see some of the benefits cover crops can bring to their operation. From reduced soil erosion to improved soil structure, nutrient recycling, moisture retention and much more – the list of benefits is long and impressive. But how much is too much? Where and when… Read more »
Ag ministers reach deal on new framework dubbed the “Canadian Agricultural Partnership”
Agriculture ministers from across Canada say they reached an agreement in St. John’s today on the core elements of the next agriculture policy framework, which will be called the “Canadian Agricultural Partnership.” CAP is a five-year $3 billion federal-provincial-territorial funding agreement that will replace the current framework, known as Growing Forward 2, which expires at the… Read more »
Wheat School: Is that second herbicide application necessary?
Herbicide resistance is not new in Canadian agriculture, but managing it is becoming a higher priority as the scope of herbicide resistant weeds grows. In Western Canada, number one on the ‘economically important’ list is resistant wild oats, notes Bob Blackshaw, weed scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, in this Wheat School episode. “It’s the… Read more »
Pulse School: A look at how pulses are faring in dry conditions
Mother Nature has given the prairies many different crop conditions this year, and Saskatchewan is no exception to this rule. For the most part, Saskatchewan pulse growers are seeing very dry conditions, although this has helped keep disease levels down, notes Sherrilyn Phelps, agronomy specialist with Saskatchewan Pulse Growers, in this latest Pulse School episode…. Read more »
Dairy Farmers of Canada elects new president
Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) has a new president, as Pierre Lampron was elected on a two-year term at the group’s annual general meeting in Edmonton on Wednesday. Lampron is a seventh generation organic dairy farmer in the Mauricie region of Quebec, according to DFC’s website. He previously represented Quebec on the board of Dairy… Read more »
Norbert Beaujot’s vision for DOT
The launch of the autonomous DOT Power Platform this week was the result of a three year quest to make farm equipment more efficient in the context of the labour shortage in farming, says Norbert Beaujot. The U-shaped robot is attracting plenty of attention at Ag in Motion near Langham, Saskatchewan, with crowds watching as… Read more »
Wheat Pete’s Word, July 19: White mold, rust, and a wonderful wheat crop!
A harvest update — yes, combines have started rolling in parts of Ontario — as RealAg agronomist Peter Johnson expresses his excitement for harvest in this week’s Word. There are also concerns about white mold, western bean cutworm, and aphids, to discuss. Learn about these issues, and much more, in this week’s episode of Wheat… Read more »
Steve Denys receives CSTA Seed Achievement Award
I truly believe that in your career you get the chance to meet a handful of people that you aspire to be more like. We all have that list of people in our head that inspire us, motivate us and push us to be better because they do the same. When I first started RealAgriculture… Read more »
President Trump says U.S. gained access into China for beef because he asked for it
Negotiating trade deals to increase market access is typically not easy. Non-tariff barriers, thickening borders, and increased commerce bureaucracy all make access to global markets and free trade very difficult. But what if market access could be made easier by just asking for it. Why didn’t former Presidents, NCBA and a handful of U.S. Trade… Read more »
Grain bag drying system wins gold award
The requirement that grain must be dry enough to store without conditioning has been the primary drawback for storing grain in grain bags. The DryloBag is designed to be a solution, enabling aeration and heating of grain for long-term storage in plastic polyethylene bags. The innovation, originally developed for peanuts in South Africa, received the… Read more »
MYFB — Ep. 26: Before the funeral home
Building a successful farm takes many years of hard work and dedication. That’s well understood. But what it takes to continue that success into the next generation is often forgotten, or put off until it’s too late. What comes next? What will happen to my business when I am no longer able to run it?… Read more »
Blood test can identify litter-limiting genetic problem in pigs
A lab has been established in Guelph to screen boars with a genetic abnormality that results in smaller litters. The abnormality happens naturally, when cells divide. “Sometimes, the genes just don’t line up the way they should when cells are developing,” says University of Guelph Prof. Allan King, who established the lab. That results in… Read more »