repairing electronic equipment

Techs finding ways to repair ag electronics

Few in number, they’re a cross between mechanics and IT support

Two “right to repair” bills — Bill C-244 and Bill C-294 — that passed in Parliament and got royal assent last month will give Canadian farmers more latitude to fix electronics on their own equipment. Although the right to repair has been high on growers’ wish lists for several years now, it doesn’t mean all […] Read more

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has said he will sign an executive order imposing 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian and Mexican products on his first day in office. Brandon Bell/Pool Via Reuters

Agriculture sectors look for footing after Trump tariff threat

A threatened 25 per cent U.S. tariff against Canadian goods has raised questions about next year’s agriculture trade for export-reliant sectors

Speculation about U.S. tariffs hit a new gear for Canadian agriculture sectors in the last week of November. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump had already threatened a 10 per cent tariff on products coming into the U.S. while on the campaign trail. That fostered wariness from many farm groups whose industries are heavily reliant on exports […] Read more





A drone lifts off at Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show at Woodstock, Ont., this September. There are no agricultural pesticides currently approved for application with drones, so agronomists must exercise caution when asked for advice on the practice.

Be wary when asked about spraying with drones

Farmers may ask for advice, but answering may get you in hot water

It could happen anytime. As drone fever sweeps across Western Canada, a farmer is eventually going to ask an agrologist or crop advisor to teach them how to spray pesticides with drones. What do you do? Igor de Albuquerque advises extreme caution. “If the product in question does not include drone usage on its label, […] Read more

A spray drone used water to demonstrate the technology’s potential during a Prairie Fruit Growers Association farm tour in Manitoba in June.

Drone spraying sees some lift toward label approvals

Work is ongoing to satisfy Canada’s regulators and get drones added to pesticide labels

Glacier FarmMedia — The ray of hope might be dim right now, but farmers wanting to legally spray pesticides on their crops using drones may be seeing the first hint of light at the end of the tunnel. Ross Breckels, a senior scientific evaluator with Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA), said the process […] Read more





(Wonganan/iStock/Getty Images)

Canada, First Nations agree on unmet agricultural claims

A handful of specific agricultural benefit claims between the federal government and nine First Nations were settled on Friday. Once fully settled, these claims—unmet promises in treaties 5, 6 and 10 territories throughout the Prairie provinces—will represent almost $1.4 billion in combined compensation to these First Nations.

A calf chows down on sorghum on John Griffin’s south-central Saskatchewan ranch.

Sorghum sudangrass may help soil beat back diseases

The crop’s benefits for farmers are piling up, but be aware of some drawbacks, experts say

Researchers have found potential in sorghum sudangrass — a hybrid of sorghum varieties — as a fungal disease-fighting, soil-enriching grass for cover crops. Although the research was conducted in Prince Edward Island, some say there may be applications for Western Canada as well — including potential as highly-nutritious cattle feed. Two Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada […] Read more