Riverside Market Garden, operated by Flying Dust First Nation, started in 2009 with two people and an old alfalfa field. Today it employs about 20 people, plus summer students; provides food for the community and some wholesalers; and gives youth a chance to learn about agriculture. Over the years the First Nation, just north of […] Read more
At Agribition: Northern community integrates tech, education into market garden
Flying Dust working to improve operation's food distribution
Restoring native prairie in Saskatchewan through reverse auction
Glacier FarmMedia – Tom Harrison is on a mission to reverse the tide of native prairie being converted to cropland in Saskatchewan. It’s not an easy task. Several factors are working against efforts to conserve, let alone restore, native prairie. Economics favour farming over ranching. Government programs and policies have encouraged farmers to cultivate the […] Read more
‘Time is ticking’ on drought response for beef cattle sector
'We need answers like yesterday'
As Canada’s beef farmers and ranchers face drought, industry leaders are trying to find ways to secure feed and help those forced to sell rebuild their herds. B.C. ranchers are dealing with high temperatures that have “parched the grass that was there,” Kevin Boone, general manager of B.C. Cattlemen’s Association, said during a Canadian Cattlemen’s […] Read more
Universities can adapt to COVID-19, UCVM dean says
As administrators and faculty modify the system, dean calls for renewed public focus on food production and distribution
As COVID-19 pushes universities to change the way they teach, carry out research and conduct clinical work, the dean of veterinary medicine at the University of Calgary is confident that they can adapt. The academic system “from coast to coast is very intact,” Dr. Baljit Singh said. “We will continue to develop new technologies. We […] Read more
COVID-19 shifts bull buyers online
As auction marts move to curb the disease's spread, technology is connecting buyers and sellers
As bull sale season stretches into the spring, online sales are helping the industry cut COVID-19 risks while facilitating commerce. The Livestock Market Association of Canada (LMAC) last week held an emergency meeting on how to respond to the coronavirus pandemic, and decided to follow Health Canada’s lead on limiting crowd size and encouraging social […] Read more
Regenerative agriculture for the next generation
Ryan Boyd uses farming practices that rebuild his soil without breaking the ban
When he came back to the farm, Ryan Boyd was looking for a lower-risk farming scenario. As a young farmer, “I didn’t want to stick my neck out and have a large loss in one year,” he told reporters and communications professionals gathered on the approach to one of his fields near Brandon, Manitoba in […] Read more
Reporter’s Notebook: So long, but not goodbye
Lisa Guenther writes her last Grainews column, and moves on to another pasture
This column is a goodbye of sorts. I’m moving over to Canadian Cattlemen magazine, which is also owned by Glacier FarmMedia. Right now I’m working with Gren Winslow, the long-time Cattlemen editor, to learn the ropes of editing. Cattlemen is a solid magazine, which I appreciate as an apprentice editor. I’m looking forward to learning […] Read more
Managing longer crop rotations
In Part 3 of a three-part series, these farmers with long rotations catch a few breaks in a tough year
This article is the last in a series looking at how three farmers manage longer crop rotations through the growing season. The original plan was to interview all three once they’d finished harvest. But, unsurprisingly, western Canadian weather has no respect for deadlines. All three farmers saw a wet September and two were still harvesting […] Read more
From Silicon Valley to Yorkton, Sask.
Farmers Business Network is a new grower network that connects farmers digitally
A company that began as a Silicon Valley start-up is hoping to change the way farmers do business by leveraging technology and farmer networks. When people think about data, they often think about how to get a better prescription or make something narrowly useful on the farm, says Charles Baron, co-found of Farmers Business Network […] Read more
Reporter’s Notebook: Seek out the services you need
This has been a long harvest. Know how to find support, and don’t hesitate to use it
It’s been a rough harvest. If you didn’t have a miserable harvest, you may have been stricken by drought. If you weren’t worried about the weather, there were the NAFTA renegotiations to keep you up at night. The House of Commons Ag Committee has been studying mental health issues among farmers and livestock producers. The […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
