Columns & Production Tips

Two new book releases by Prairie authors

Just in time for the holiday season

By Jim Timlick November 18, 2022

Two members of the Grainews family have recently released books that are sure to be of interest to readers in Western Canada. Former Grainews editor Larry Gompf is the author of A Slimmer You: A Natural Way to Lose Weight, released this past June by publisher FriesenPress. Meanwhile, First We Eat columnist, dee Hobsbawn-Smith, is […] Read more

Farm Life, Practical Tips

Avoid driving pain

Stiff and sore after a long day in the tractor or on the highway? Try these tips to help you feel better

By Kathlyn Hossack November 16, 2022

Long drives are an unavoidable part of life on the farm or in the country. Whether it is long days spent in a tractor or driving across the Prairies, we often have to put our bodies in sedentary positions just by the nature of our lifestyles. Tension and pain in the lower body, spine and […] Read more

This photo shows my grandmother, then Joan
Hay, (standing up, second from right) at one of
the first VE (Victory in Europe) Day celebrations
in 1945. The street party was in front of my
grandmother’s house in Greenford, London,
England. Joan was one of the millions of children
evacuated in Operation Pied Piper.

Editor's column, Wheat & Chaff

Editor’s Column: November: a month for remembrances

By Kari Belanger November 15, 2022

As I sit down to write this column in late October, my thoughts turn to the month ahead. I usually enjoy November, as it is the time I plan the winter issues of Grainews. As you are winding down your busy production period, we’re beginning ours. It’s good to take a step back and reflect […] Read more

Crops, Equipment, Wheat & Chaff

When wheels cause soil damage

Q & A with an expert

By Lyle Cowell November 1, 2022

Q: Can we fix compaction? A: As equipment becomes bigger and total loaded weight becomes heavier, our soils are often subjected to compaction. When equipment was lighter, this compaction tended not to extend very deep into the soil, and the effect was often resolved by frost cycles that fractured and turned the surface soil. Now, […] Read more

Canola, Cereals, Features, Practical Tips

Take these steps to protect the quality of your stored cereal grains and canola

Don’t let malathion residue or OTA development put your stored crops at risk

By Leah Heppenstall October 28, 2022

As crops are coming off the fields and into the bin, Keep it Clean is reminding growers of best management practices to maintain crop quality and reduce storage risk. Two of the biggest risks to stored grain are contamination and spoilage. “Before storing canola, it’s absolutely essential that the bins are clean and malathion-free,” says […] Read more

A picture is better than 1,000 words. Here is a young canola crop neatly placed between the
12-inch-high wheat stubble from the Nerbas farm last year. The wheat stubble will have
caught snow to help provide better germination for the shallow-seeded canola and it
shelters the canola from wind.

Columns, Crops

Les Henry: Fuzzy thinking about soils and agricultural performance

What constitutes sustainable on a farm depends on soil climatic zone and what is feasible for the area

By Les Henry October 26, 2022

There seems to be a constant barrage of media comment about agriculture by folks who have little contact with real farms and little formal training in an agriculture faculty or school. Much of the discourse talks about sustainable agriculture, resiliency, regenerative agriculture and particularly soil health. There is not much detail about what the terms […] Read more

Columns, Hart Attacks, News

Time for the ‘Big R’ has come

About 10,000 interviews and 45 billion words later there’s nothing left to say — almost

By Lee Hart October 25, 2022

By about this time next week — October 20 to be exact — I will be retired. After about 50 years of writing and editing and rarely missing a deadline, October 20 is my last day of full-time employment. October 20 is my birthday. I will be turning 71 (where the heck did that number […] Read more

Columns, Practical Tips

Soil sampling time is here again

Five factors to consider to ensure success this fall

By Ross H. McKenzie October 24, 2022

It’s soil sampling season again. There’s lots of good information on soil sampling procedures provided by various reputable sources, such as the provincial agriculture departments, crop commissions and fertilizer dealers. I won’t do a detailed review on sampling procedures in this article. Instead, I will comment on a few key issues for consideration to ensure […] Read more

Josh Fankhauser’s intercrop mix of oats, barley, peas and radish. In his
system, intercrops meant for the combine are usually two to three species,
but those intended for forage, such as this one, can include more.

Crops, Features, Practical Tips

Tried-and-true soil strengthening tips

An Alberta producer offers a look at his soil health tactics

By Jeff Melchior October 21, 2022

There’s a lot of talk in ag circles today about soil health. Several farmers are looking beyond current soil practices to what can be done to make their soil sustainable in the long run. This is nothing new to Josh Fankhauser. His family has been using practices to build soil health on their southern Alberta […] Read more

Columns, Crops

What is sustainable agriculture?

Prairie farmers have adopted some of the most sustainable practices among agricultural producers in the world

By Ieuan Evans October 18, 2022

No, sustainable agriculture is not organic farming, wildlife management, having a mixed livestock and grain system or anything else. It is efficient, effective, common sense crop production. In recent years, Prairie farmers have adopted some of the most sustainable practices among agricultural producers in the world. Contrary to the naysayers who rant about the destruction […] Read more

Harvest begins in Manitoba: Report

Prairie forecast: Unsettled weather to continue

Canadian farmers reel as China blocks top canola seed market

GFM Network News