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
The 2019 rebate roundup
Just cashed your rebate cheque from 2018? Find out what’s new for this year
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
New corn seed varieties for 2019
There are 11 new corn varieties on the market for Western Canadian growers this year
Corn growers have 11 new varieties to choose from when they’re making plans for 2019. Breeders are developing more short-season variety that are suited to a larger growing area. Pioneer Hi-Bred’s new ultra-early P6909R variety needs only 1950 Corn Heat Units, which could greatly expand the corn-growing region of Western Canada. Here’s a list of […] Read more
Who is CROPLAN?
At a time when there are already several new company names on the new seed variety list, CROPLAN is jumping into the fray — bringing its brand to Western Canada for the first time. “CROPLAN is new to Western Canada, but certainly not new to North America,” says Michael Kereluik, CROPLAN product manager for Canada. […] Read more
Editor’s Column: Changes afoot at the Canola Council of Canada
If you’re still in a post-Christmas fog of too much turkey and stuffing, you may have forgotten that on December 5, the Canola Council of Canada announced some changes to its agronomy program. First, a quick review. The Canola Council is funded partly by farmers, through the levies that come off your cheques when you […] Read more
New soybean varieties for 2019
An embarrassment of choices: 36 new soybean varieties on sale for spring 2019
Anyone planning to grow soybeans next spring has a lot of reading ahead. When we asked all the seed companies we could find to tell us about the new varieties coming forward for 2019, they sent us information for about 36 new varieties. Comparing all these new varieties, along with all of the other recent […] Read more
SeedNet varieties sold from the farm
In 2010, a group of 14 progressive, southern Alberta seed growers got together, looking for ways to promote seed production. Today, those original seed growers (well, 13 of them) are shareholders in SeedNet, a company that licenses new varieties for sale to commercial farmers. “Now,” says Elizabeth Tokariuk, SeedNet’s general manager, “we have a network […] Read more
New cereal seed varieties for 2019
There are 19 new cereal varieties on the market for western Canadian growers this year
With 19 new varieties to choose from, western Canadian growers will be spoiled for choice in 2019. There are new corn hybrids, new wheat varieties in several categories, new two-row malt barley varieties, and even a new variety of spelt. Wheat CPSR Canadian Prairie Spring Red CANTERRA SEEDS: AAC Crossfield is a new semi-dwarf CPSR […] Read more
Editor’s Column: Cashing in on the cash advance – Part II
Rick White was in Ottawa when I talked to him in early November. Rick is the executive director of the Canadian Canola Growers Association, and he was in Ottawa lobbying on behalf of western Canadian farmers. He called me from Ottawa rather than waiting until he was back at the CCGA office in Winnipeg because […] Read more
Four new flax varieties for 2019
Flax varietal research is backed by a strong breeding program at the CDC
Four new flax varieties will be on the market for 2019, three varieties from SeCan that were developed through the Crop Development Centre (CDC), and one variety from SeedNet that came out of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s breeding program. For now, breeding programs at Agriculture Canada and Viterra have slowed to a halt, so we […] Read more
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