The movement and marketing of natural resources vital to western Canadians isn’t that important — oil and grain can wait. Let’s focus on the real priority — getting cannabis into the hands of consumers. And maybe that’s the strategy. Get people high on marijuana and then they won’t really notice that governments aren’t doing anything. […] Read more
We’re going somewhere in a handbasket
We could take the train to get there, but unfortunately there are no rail cars
What’s the impact of agricultural business mergers?
Are these companies merging to get stronger, or prepare for changing trends?
Are big agriculture company mergers a good or bad thing for the ag industry in general and for farmers specifically? “It is a big question that doesn’t have any real clear cut answers,” says Murray Fulton, a business professor at the University of Saskatchewan. Historically mergers haven’t been all that favourable in industry in general, […] Read more
Humble egg raised to new level
Next time you’re in Calgary track down the Crack’d YYC food truck
Many years ago at a folk festival I was inspired by the message on a T-shirt worn by an old hippie that read — “Beer — so much more than just a breakfast drink.” Some variation of that might be adapted by Canadian egg producers… maybe “Eggs — so much more than just a sandwich […] Read more
Corteva builds on Dow/Dupont foundation
New seed and crop protection company has a one-track mind — agriculture
Following the merger of DuPont and Dow, western Canadian farmers won’t see any major changes for the next year or so, but be ready for Corteva Agriscience — it will be the new name delivering some familiar products, with promises of more and better things to come. The Delaware-based Corteva Agriscience won’t fully take to […] Read more
Decisive Farming offers data incentive
Alberta-based company recognizes malt barley production data has value
If you’re OK with sharing your data for research purposes, Decisive Farming is looking for malt barley growers across Western Canada interested in growing this year’s crop with variable rate technology. The Alberta-based company, providing a wide range of agronomic and farm management services, is actually offering a first-of-a-kind program to pay producers $4 per […] Read more
Nufarm working its way up the middle
Don’t be too hard on the Aussies — they have to deal with Canadian winter
Be ready for the Aussie invasion. Some of them are here now, and more are likely to follow. It is probably a slight exaggeration to say having lunch with the fairly new-to-Canada country manager of Nufarm is really an Aussie invasion, but Lachie McKinnon is the second Australian I have met in the past 20 […] Read more
Next time you’re crazy, talk to someone
I usually want my columns to be of as much general interest as possible, but this issue I’m targeting just those readers who are crazy. You know who you are. You’re the people who get up every morning, have breakfast, put your boots on and head out the door to start your day — yes […] Read more
Planter precision pays off for canola
Planters produce vigorous canola stands, and in some trials, higher economic returns
Darren Feitsma says using a precision planter for canola is producing a very uniform, robust crop stand on his central Alberta farm. His seeding rate is about half of what he might use with an air seeding system, yet with higher seed emergence rates and good nutrient uptake, yields are comparable. He has found over […] Read more
Don’t trust your oats with any secrets
Hart Attacks: You don’t want to know what plants are saying about you behind your sprayer
Today’s take home message: watch what you say or do out in the buckwheat patch. Plants aren’t exactly seeing, but they could be listening and they are definitely communicating. That’s what Jack Schutlz, a biologist and zoologist at the University of Missouri, whose business card describes him as a chemical ecologist, tells me anyway. Schultz […] Read more
Custom operators are farmers too
Farmer Panel: Whether your farm is growing, holding steady or downsizing, custom work has a fit
Starting out, winding down or expanding the farm business or somewhere in between — those are among the good reasons producers for this Farmer Panel are providing custom farming services. Ultimately custom farming is about providing some extra cash flow or farm income when the equipment lineup may be somewhat oversized for the farm land […] Read more