russet potato in Idaho

GM potatoes are going in the ground

Genetically engineered potatoes could claim acreage in Canada in 2017


In 2016, no acres were seeded to J.R. Simplot’s genetically engineered first-generation Innate potato lines in Canada — but industry experts say 2017 will be a different story. “Other than plot-sized production there was no commercial production in Canada this year because of the timing,” says Kevin MacIsaac, general manager at the United Potato Growers […] Read more

The sugar beet sector has seen a year-over-year increase in sugar beet quality and yield for much of the past decade.

How high can we push sugar beet yields?

Rising yield and quality make sugar beets a sweet success for Alberta beet growers

Harvest just keeps getting sweeter for Alberta’s 208 sugar beet growers. The sector has seen a year-over-year increase in sugar beet quality and yield for much of the past decade. So what’s the secret to sweet success? Those closest to the sector suggest it’s a combination of climate, new varieties and sound grower management practices. […] Read more


Sugar beets just keep getting sweeter

Improving sugar beet quality and yield now comes down to small tweaks


Alberta sugar beet growers continue to see gains in yield and crop quality year over year, thanks to new genetics and 2009’s full adoption of Roundup Ready varieties. But can growers really expect the winning streak to continue? Arnie Bergen-Henengouwen, President of Alberta Sugar Beet Growers, (ASBG) says he believes there are still plenty of gains to be had, but […] Read more

These aren’t your father’s sugar beets

Roundup Ready adoption has made for big changes in the sugar beet fields

In 1982, when Arnie Bergen-Henengouwen rented his first contract to grow sugar beets, it was a different crop. Seed genetics and technology had a long way to go, and there was a lot that could go wrong in a season. “It was very intensive,” he says. “We were going over the crop at least once […] Read more



(Nestea.ca)

Nestle, Coke end Nestea iced tea venture

Zurich/London | Reuters –– Nestle and Coca-Cola have agreed to end their Nestea iced tea joint venture after 16 years and pursue separate strategies in the fast-changing bottled drinks market. The companies formed Beverage Partners Worldwide in 2001 to sell Nestea around the world but the brand has faced fierce competition from Lipton iced tea, […] Read more


(Scott Bauer photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Ontario names trustee to break tomato impasse

The Ontario government has appointed a trustee to assume the Ontario Processing Vegetable Growers’ power to negotiate 2017 contracts with processors for the growing of processing tomatoes in the province. The board of directors of the marketing board has been dismissed until new elections are held, as expected by the end of 2017. “I have […] Read more

Got winter blues? Try sprouting some greens

Got winter blues? Try sprouting some greens

Sprouts are delicious and packed with nutrition and only take a few days to grow

My green thumb gets a little twitchy in wintertime and there’s only one cure. I start a little garden on the windowsill, planting to plate in just five days. Yes, I am speaking of sprouts. Delicious, nutritious and green. It is well documented that sprouts are more nutritious than the seeds themselves and, in some […] Read more



Symptoms of verticillium wilt in an infected potato plant. (OMAFRA.gov.on.ca)

Fungicide cleared to curb verticillium wilt in potatoes

A label expansion for Syngenta’s Aprovia fungicide, to cover additional soil-borne potato diseases, makes it the first fungicide in Canada approved to suppress verticillium wilt in potatoes. Fumigants have been potato growers’ only option against the crop disease until now, Eric Phillips, Syngenta Canada’s fungicides and insecticides product lead, said in a release Thursday. Verticillium […] Read more