On the Prairies, the month is a hopeful time for food lovers: we’re perusing seed catalogues, planning our gardens and dreaming about salads made from the season’s first greens.
Columns
A literary celebration of food
First We Eat: Like a good meal, ‘One Book One Province’ is meant to offer a shared experience
Potatoes Prairie-wide
Practical Research: How Prairie researchers uncovered a serious potato disease’s hiding place
As a consequence of cleaning up potato diseases, the most recent yields in Prairie potatoes, as of 2024, are 20 tons per acre for Alberta and 18 for Manitoba.
Editor’s Rant: Contents under pressure
In the context of current events, matters such as the well-being of the ag sector are discussed in this election cycle mainly in terms of collateral damage
In the context of current events, matters such as the well-being of the ag sector are discussed in this election cycle mainly in terms of collateral damage.
Tariffs decrease disposable income and lower beef demand
The Markets: The unknown question is, how long could it be until demand affects beef pricing?
Tariffs lower standard of living, and for beef producers lower consumer spending will eventually mean less demand and lower prices.
Calves recover quicker with pain control at castration
Animal Health: A recent survey showed 85 per cent of cattle farmers were castrating calves at less than three months
You probably won’t make money by using pain control, but your calves will feel better, pair up faster and you’ll be doing something that promotes animal welfare in your industry, veteriarian and researcher John Campbell says.
The Eppich family takes a trip to the States
Eppich News: It’s great to have people who can look after the farm when you’re away for a visit
The Eppich family took a long trip through Montana, Idaho, Washington and Alberta, before arriving back home.
Comfort food for hard times
First We Eat: What foods help you find peace in stressful situations? Here’s one of mine
Hand-pulled Shanghai noodles redolent of wok hei, the near-mystical “wok energy” or caramelized smokiness that has been called the breath of a wok, are a revivifying dish of comfort — soul food for hard times.
Farmers’ sons have no interest in taking over family farm
Farm Financial Planner: A tax-light liquidation of a farm calls for some planning well in advance
Jack and Mary need to retire, but a sale of their farm will the only way to get there because their grown children have no interest in farming. A tax-light liquidation of a farm, though, will take some planning well in advance.
Adapt to change with the power of grief
Farm Family Coach: Major changes — even the ones we know are for the better — will come with a surge of negative emotions
When a person goes through a major change in life, they experience a downward trend of negative emotions — often expressed as anger or sadness — before they can fully accept that change.
Well-balanced starch and forage levels make milk
Dairy Corner: The amount of starch in corn and barley silage can vary greatly between harvests
Starch levels in corn and barley silage can vary widely between harvests, so they need to be balanced in a dairy ration, nutritionist Peter Vitti says.
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
