“Value creation” has been a hot topic at farm meetings this season. It’s been a while since I’ve seen so many farmers so eager to get to a microphone and share an opinion. “Value creation” is one name for the idea of farmers paying more to fund Canadian wheat breeding. The meetings I’ve seen cover […] Read more
Editor’s Column: Adding value to value creation?
Should you spray twice for fusarium?
In a fusarium-filled field, are more applications better?
During a February 28 BASF’s “Protect Your Profits” fusarium webinar, a farmer who was watching asked whether, if you had a fusarium-prone field, it would be a good idea to plan to spray a fungicide twice to control fusarium. Dr. Michael Harding, plant pathology research scientist with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, fielded the question. Harding […] Read more
Good news ahead for wireworm control
New chemical control options are in the works, and should be released in coming years
Haley Catton, research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada at the Lethbridge research station, spoke to farmers about wireworm at Alberta’s FarmTech conference in Edmonton in January. The wireworms that feed on seed and seedlings underneath the ground, Catton said, are the larvae of click beetles. “It’s not a worm at all, actually.” These insects […] Read more
Editor’s Column: Two great farm shows coming up
Before you get busy with spring seeding, there’s still time to make your travel plans so you don’t miss two great farm shows this year. First, make sure you schedule time on your calendar to get to Ag in Motion. Ag in Motion is Western Canada’s (relatively) new, outdoor show run by Glacier Media (which […] Read more
Taking a look at CWRS protein levels in 2018
Prairie protein levels higher in 2018 than 2017
Through its harvest sample program, the Canadian Grain Commission collects wheat samples from across the Prairies, grades them, and compiles the results. For the 2018 crop year, the CGC found an average protein level of 13.83 per cent for western Canadian No. 1 CWRS. On average, samples from Alberta and B.C. were higher than this, […] Read more
Editor’s Column: More than one way to skin a cat
Winter is the time for commodity associations to hold business meetings across the Prairies. Saskatchewan’s AGMs were held in Saskatoon, back in January. Alberta’s took place at the end of January, in Edmonton, and Manitoba’s meetings happened in mid-February, in Winnipeg. I’ve been attending as many of these meetings as I can, and I can’t […] Read more
Agritechnica 2019 tour is a go
Agritechnica, held every second year in Hanover, Germany, is the world’s largest farm show. In 2017, Grainews arranged a bus tour to take a group of readers to see Agritechnica and a list of other German agricultural and tourist sites. We had so much fun, we’re doing it again. This year’s trip runs from November […] Read more
Editor’s Column: Keeping current, staying relevant
We ran one of Andrew Allentuck’s Farm Financial Planner columns in the January 8 issue of Grainews. The story included a note about Tax Free Savings Accounts (TFSAs). I’m sure you know that the Canadian government allows every Canadian to deposit cash or stocks into a TFSA every year, then allows that account to grow, […] Read more
The 2019 rebate roundup
Just cashed your rebate cheque from 2018? Find out what’s new for this year
Once again, it’s time for the Grainews annual rebate roundup. For most farmers, rebate programs aren’t the main factor in the decision-making process. A rebate program falls far behind factors like choosing the right product, buying from a retailer you like, and of course the actual price. But, everyone likes a rebate! Especially when the […] Read more
Editor’s Column: Searching for the truth
When I read an article in a newspaper or a magazine, the first thing I do is take a look at the byline. I wonder if I’ve read the writer’s work before. If there’s a bio, I look to see if they’ve come to the issue with an obvious agenda that’s going to put a […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
