Starting in June, farmers can order a 4 Series John Deere sprayer with a 120- or 132-foot carbon fibre boom.

Sprayer updates from John Deere

Carbon fibre booms, new cab and more technology for John Deere's 4 Series

Last August John Deere gave everyone a heads up that its 4 Series sprayers would eventually be available with new carbon fibre booms, but it didn’t say when they would hit the market. In February at the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, Kentucky, the company made it official. Starting in June, 120- and 132-foot […] Read more



(Dave Bedard photo)

Canpotex aims for ‘material’ potash price bump from China

Winnipeg | Reuters — Canadian potash exporter Canpotex is pressing Chinese buyers to pay a “material” price increase for the fertilizer in their annual supply contract, as spot values in other markets rise off multi-year lows, Canpotex’s chief executive said on Monday. “We’re not interested in some kind of ratcheting down. That is for sure,” […] Read more

Syngenta’s Interaction Centre at Stein, Switzerland. (Syngenta.com)

China clears ChemChina’s Syngenta deal

Zurich | Reuters — ChemChina’s US$43 billion planned takeover of Swiss pesticides and seeds group Syngenta has received approval from China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), the two companies said Wednesday. “This represents a further step towards the closing of the transaction, which is expected to take place in the second quarter of 2017,” they said […] Read more


Alberta Agriculture Minister Oneil Carlier speaks with Alberta Beef Producers’ Tom Lynch-Staunton, Roland Cailliau and Bob Lowe (l-r). (Government of Alberta photo)

Alberta to restore non-refundable checkoff option

Alberta’s farmed-commodity commissions may soon be able to make their checkoffs non-refundable again if their producer members are willing. The provincial government on Tuesday tabled amendments to the Marketing of Agricultural Products Act (MAPA) which would grant each of the province’s 13 agricultural commissions the ability to determine whether their checkoffs should be refundable or […] Read more

Ian Mitchell-Innes, centre, talks to Manitoba producers about how to use selective grazing to improve 
soil health and productivity during a three-day workshop in Manitoba last year.

The profit potential of selective grazing

High stocking density, short-duration grazing helps put carbon back into the soil

No matter where he speaks in the world, Ian Mitchell-Innes carries a message to beef producers about achieving optimal animal performance, reducing costs, and ultimately becoming more profitable. Animals instinctively know where they can get the highest level of energy — from the top third of the plant, Mitchell-Innes, a South African rancher, told producers […] Read more


Brandt Industries will buy the Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems Canada plant in Saskatoon for an undisclosed sum. (HilcoInd.com)

Brandt buys Saskatoon power generating equipment plant

Tractor and equipment manufacturer Brandt expects to double its manufacturing footprint — and expand into new equipment lines — after closing a deal for a major Saskatchewan plant site specializing in power generation machinery. The Regina-based company on Friday announced it had closed its deal to buy the former Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems Canada facility […] Read more



(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Talks wrap on new Canadian internal trade deal

Farm groups across Canada expect a new interprovincial trade agreement to clear paths for more trade in Canadian-grown agrifood and other farmed products within the country, reducing the need for imports. Federal, provincial and territorial ministers on Friday announced they’ve concluded talks on a new Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), which on July 1 will […] Read more

McGrath and helpers dig some soil pits along transect lines on native prairie
pasture that is part of Round Rock Ranching to establish some baselines through nutrient and biological soil testing.

Are you a (soil) health nut?

Any treatments applied above ground will eventually affect what happens below your feet

I was eternally blessed to enter the University of Saskatchewan while Les Henry was still teaching at a time when we were “forced” to take at least an introductory soil science course. I learned a lot in that introductory course; mostly about how much I didn’t know (and how much Dr. Henry did). But more […] Read more