Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada — Fababeans are increasing in popularity across the Prairies, but much like other crops in Alberta and Saskatchewan, dry weather is taking its toll — and if it continues, yield could be impacted. Fababeans require a lot of moisture to produce well, according to Dale Risula, a Saskatchewan provincial specialist for special crops […] Read more
Dryness stalls Sask., Alta. fababeans
Rain sprinkles Prairie canola fields, pastures
Reading Time: 2 minutes Winnipeg | Reuters — Light rains sprinkled Western Canada’s crops and pastures during the weekend, but amounts fell well short of what’s needed to remedy dry conditions that have stunted growth, analysts said Monday. Rains were scattered across the Prairies and similar light amounts are expected during the next two weeks, Commodity Weather Group said […] Read more
Prices to rise as yield prospects drop for durum
Reading Time: < 1 minute CNS Canada — Mounting dryness concerns in some of the prime durum-growing regions of Western Canada have likely already cut into yield prospects, which should support prices going forward. Canadian farmers intended to plant 5.5 million acres of durum this year, well above the 4.75 million seeded the previous year and the largest crop since […] Read more
Thirsty Alta. crops could use a drink, analyst says
Reading Time: < 1 minute CNS Canada — Alberta’s dry weather and cooler nights have hit some crops in the province hard, but one specialist says he isn’t worried yet. Neil Whatley, a crop specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry in Stettler, said only some parts of the province have seen rain. “There’s no general rain, just showers. Where there’s […] Read more
Are Canada’s farm organizations actually listening to their members?
Amid the falling commodity prices and rising input costs, one question is getting louder. Who do our farm organizations really represent?
Reading Time: 7 minutes The last few years have been tumultuous for Canadian grain farmers, especially in the West. Not only have we seen the end of the single-desk CWB monopoly, but we also watched as Ottawa passed Bill C-18, the Agriculture Growth Act (which included the approving UPOV 91) and as major changes were made to AgriStability. Farmers […] Read more
Dry areas of Prairies still waiting for rain
Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada –– The continued lack of moisture across a large portion of Alberta and Saskatchewan is becoming more of a concern for farmers in the region, but there is a chance of rain in some nearby forecasts. Shannon Friesen, a cropping management specialist for Saskatchewan Agriculture in Moose Jaw, said some livestock producers are […] Read more
Time to test all Man. fields for clubroot, province says
Reading Time: 3 minutes Distribution of clubroot spores across Manitoba now suggests it’s time for more widespread testing to keep the disease in check, the provincial ag department recommends. Since the disease appeared in Manitoba in 2009, fewer than five per cent of the province’s farms have so far been tested for the spores that cause the yield-robbing disease […] Read more
Interprovincial salmonella outbreak tied to chicks
Reading Time: 2 minutes Federal and Alberta provincial health and veterinary officials are probing almost three dozen cases of salmonella poisoning across three provinces, tied to handling of live baby chickens. The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) said Monday it’s so far investigating 17 cases of illness in people in Alberta, 13 in British Columbia and four in […] Read more
Guenther: Alta. cutworms sought for mapping, posterity
Reading Time: 2 minutes If you’re an Alberta farmer and your crops have got cutworms, Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development wants to know. Scott Meers, an entomologist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development, is asking farmers to report cutworms online. The province uses those reports to create an interactive map displaying cutworm sightings. Meers and provincial insect research technologist […] Read more
Cold, snowfall not likely to hurt Alta. crops
Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada — Cold temperatures that brought some snow and frost to some parts of Alberta overnight won’t likely cause much damage to crops. “Most of our crops aren’t up yet; there’s been a fair bit of seeding going on, but I haven’t seen any emerged crops yet. So, it’s pretty much a non-issue at […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
