Here are a couple interesting columns from totally different observers on the actions and role of the Canadian Wheat Board, as the wheat marketing monopoly era comes to an end. Wednesday August 24 was the final day for getting ballots on the CWB referendum on the monopoly in the mail. Many people will know Brenda […] Read more
As the ballot box closes on the CWB referendum
Layton was a likeable politician, good character
Whether you agreed with his politics or not, you have to give Jack Layton credit for the character and courage he showed in the final days of his life. It was just under a month ago, he mustered his strength and hobbled into a news conference — a frail looking figure — to announce […] Read more
Update on and more Amazing Road Trip photos
So I have had a couple suggestions on this mystery photo I took of a canola field in the Westlock area last week. The crop looked nice and uniform except for these flowered strips and I did see a couple other fields with similar patterns. I thought it might be something to do with compaction, […] Read more
12 amazing things I saw on my road trip
A friend of mine who works on the oil rigs says he doesn’t like being out on the prairie because there is nothing to see. But I beg to differ. I just got back from an amazing road trip from Calgary to Neerlandia (north of Edmonton) and the drive there and back was like a […] Read more
Things you need to know about weed control
Now here is something you really don’t want in your field. No, I’m not talking about Kelly Bennett, portfolio marketing leader, cereal herbicides with Dow Agrosciences (pictured left). I’m talking about the very robust wild buckwheat plant he is holding. Bennett, a Saskatchewan farm boy who has been with DAS for 25 years, made the […] Read more
Who’s running this place?
Two western Canadian research and commodity organizations have announced the appointments of key management positions. At the Western Grains Research Foundation based in Saskatoon, Garth Patterson has been named executive director, taking over a position previously held by Lanette Kuchenski, who resigned earlier this year. Prior to joining WGRF, Patterson has been well known in […] Read more
Get ready to feed the world
If forecasts for feeding the world are even half correct, farmers in Western Canada will be growing wheat and canola not only on every acre, but in their bathtubs just to try and meet global demand. You hear these figures on where world population is headed over the next 40 years and for me it […] Read more
Dow AgroSciences is serious about the canola business
Even though Dow AgroSciences (DAS) gave me a pen, and a ham sandwich for lunch and there is a promise of a new ball cap at some point, I haven’t let any of that largess influence my message to readers. The word simply is — grow plenty of Nexera canola and make money. That was […] Read more
OPI Introduces Moisture Sensors
OPI-Integris, which 25 years ago brought western Canadian farmers the first temperature sensing cables for monitoring grain condition inside the bin, has this year introduced a monitoring cable that provides a reading of both moisture and temperature of stored crops. The combination OPI-Integris moisture/temperature monitoring cable appears similar and operates similar to the straight temperature […] Read more
Zero To “Great” Harvest Forecasts
Farmers across Western Canada all have different stories to tell for the midsummer Farmer Panel as they talk about plans for harvest and crop storage this fall. All use “wet” to describe the situation at seeding, but details of their current circumstances go from one extreme to the other. An Alberta farmer was looking at […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
