As winter arrived in early November the
calves were hauled to a sale in Provost while
the keeper heifers and the cows were
brought home.

A quick trip to the States to visit family

Quite a few chores were accomplished before winter arrived

After finishing harvest Oct. 8, we started making plans to travel to Idaho to see family and friends. A couple of days later we dug our potatoes with the help of the neighbours, Leon and Audrey. October 12 we had one of our Eppich Quarter Horse weanlings go to her new home. As soon as […] Read more

A G-Mac’s custom seed treatment unit loads a truck with treated peas in a 2020 video screengrab. (G-Mac’s AgTeam via YouTube)

Simplot to buy western Saskatchewan ag retail chain

G-Mac's AgTeam to rebrand under Simplot name

An independent crop input retail chain in western Saskatchewan is set to become part of agrifood firm J.R. Simplot’s retail arm. Simplot announced Nov. 15 it has a deal in place to buy G-Mac’s AgTeam, which owns and operates 15 outlets in the region, for an undisclosed sum. The deal, which will see the G-Mac’s […] Read more


Maize was developed by the Mayan peoples from a wild plant that looked more like wheat than the present-day corn cobs.

The bountiful Americas

Some thoughts on food

When we think of celebrations, such as Christmas, Thanksgiving or even Halloween, we give little thought to the food we eat. What about that Christmas or Thanksgiving turkey, the centrepiece of the celebration? Did this iconic bird come from Turkey? No way. Turkeys are exclusive to North America — Mexico, United States and Canada. There […] Read more

Gurpreet Lidder, along with family members, operates an 80-acre fruit farm
near the B.C. Southern Interior community of Keremeos, producing a wide
range of fruit through farm gate sales as well as to wholesale markets.

Another excellent crop of young farmer nominees

Horticulture, beef and dairy production, along with conventional and organic crops — a year of diversity

A panel of judges will be faced with a difficult challenge in Saskatoon later this month as they look to select two national winners from a field of seven diverse, well-managed farming operations from across Canada. From tree fruit production to grass-fed beef, mixed farming to organic crop production, and dairy farming to potato production, […] Read more


Nate Horner, shown here speaking Oct. 4, 2022 at Southland Trailers at Lethbridge, was named Oct. 21 as Alberta’s minister of agriculture and irrigation. (Alberta government video screengrab via YouTube)

Alberta reorganizes ag portfolio for returning minister

Horner to handle agriculture and irrigation file

Both Alberta and Quebec have re-upped with their incumbent agriculture ministers in cabinet shuffles this week — but incoming Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s shuffle will also streamline that province’s ag portfolio. Chosen by Alberta’s governing United Conservatives (UCP) on Oct. 6 to replace outgoing premier Jason Kenney, Smith on Friday announced Kenney’s incumbent minister of […] Read more

What is sustainable agriculture?

What is sustainable agriculture?

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

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


Photo: Thinkstock

Alberta harvest on the verge of completion

MarketsFarm – Combining in Alberta is almost finished with the latest crop report indicating it’s at 96.3 per cent complete. The province’s Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Economic Development (AFRED) department noted that as of Oct. 4, the harvesting of all crops advanced nine points from the previous week due to dry weather. Of the 11 […] Read more



RCMP officers near a building destroyed by Hurricane Fiona at Port aux Basques, N.L. on Sept. 26, 2022. (Photo: Reuters/John Morris)

Fiona batters Eastern Canada’s farms, fishery

'You'll hear me swearing in Saskatchewan'

Winnipeg | Reuters — Powerful storm Fiona slammed into Canada’s eastern fishing and farm industries over the weekend, smashing wharves, food processing plants and barns that will take months to repair. One of the worst storms Canada has ever faced left more than one-third of customers in Nova Scotia without power, swept homes into the […] Read more

A composite satellite view of Hurricane Fiona nearing Nova Scotia at about 6 p.m. local time on Sept. 23, 2022. (U.S. National Hurricane Center image, NOAA.gov)

Fiona pounds Bermuda as Canada braces for major jolt

Up to eight inches of rain expected along path

Hamilton, Bermuda/Halifax, N.S. | Reuters — Hurricane Fiona pounded the Atlantic island of Bermuda with heavy rain and winds on Friday as it tracked northward toward Eastern Canada, where it threatens to become one of the most severe storms in Canadian history. Fiona had already battered a series of Caribbean islands earlier in the week, […] Read more