Alberta consultant, Merle Good, right, speaks with Nova Scotia farmers Wayne and Nicole Oulton in Edmonton about getting the most out of tax strategies and new approaches to farm business arrangements.

Defining roles can save the farm

Deciding and confirming “who’s in charge here” can take frustration out of the family farm

Improved communications and actually defining roles and responsibilities on a family farm can not only make the day go better, but can actually save a farm business, says a long-time Alberta consultant. Confusion over who is in charge can lead to some very stressful situations, says Merle Good, a well know consulting agricultural tax specialist […] Read more

A race against evolving blackleg

A race against evolving blackleg

The blackleg pathogen is evolving to challenge blackleg resistant canola varieties

Blackleg is not going away. In fact, AAFC researcher Dr. Garry Peng told Saskatchewan farmers at a November meeting, “we are seeing a creeping up of the disease over the last five, six years, in all provinces.” Researchers first began to recognize blackleg in canola in the mid-70s. Blackleg incidence reached a peak in the […] Read more


Buffer strips are not that efficient

Buffer strips are not that efficient

Riparian buffer strips’ reputation for filtering nutrient runoff may be overblown

Buffer strips around cropland are typically viewed as “filters,” taking up excess nutrients before they can reach waterways. Some provincial governments are considering legislation requiring farmers to leave buffer strips. However, new work from the University of Manitoba questions their effectiveness. Dr. David Lobb, senior research chair for the Watershed Systems Research Program and a […] Read more

crop sprayer in the field

Two modes are better than one

The newest pulse fungicides have chemicals from two different fungicide groups

Farmers across the Prairies are looking at high pulse prices and trying to find ways to add pulses to their 2016 rotation. Crop protection companies are ready to help, releasing new fungicides to help farmers protect their yield from diseases like ascochyta blight and anthracnose. As with herbicides, to extend the life of fungicides and […] Read more


Recommended malt barley varieties

Recommended malt barley varieties

Tired of the same old thing? Try a new malt barley variety this spring

Last year, 73 per cent of Prairie acres that grew two-row malt barley were seeded with AC Metcalfe or CDC Copeland. Because both of these varieties have been available for quite a few years, Michael Brophy, President and CEO of the Brewing and Malt Barley Research Institute (BMBRI), would like farmers to have more options. […] Read more

Cutaway of Plant and Roots in Dirt

Studying soil responses to sulphur

U of S researchers look at responses to sulphur fertilizer in different soil zones

Will farmers see a yield bump from sulphur, given that most soils aren’t severely depleted? How tolerant are crops to sulphur fertilizer in the seed-row? How long does it take for plants to use sulphur? Those were a few of the questions Dr. Jeff Schoenau, University of Saskatchewan soil scientist, set out to answer at […] Read more


This nightime photo of a wild boar at large was captured by Michael Hicks’ game camera.

Saskatchewan’s elite hunting team

Meet the Saskatchewan hunters from Saskatchewan Crop Insurance's wild boar education plan

It’s a crew that comes from all walks of life — farmers, government employees, and semi-retired men. They come from all over the province. And once they get the call, they have 24 to 48 hours to assemble. Then they attempt to eradicate very intelligent, potentially dangerous animals that are invading farmland. While it may […] Read more

Swathed oats can be threshed as soon as they reach the correct moisture level. Left too long in the field and they may weather and lose quality.

Five keys to successful oat production

Here’s the lowdown on five of the key factors behind growing a winning oat crop this year

Oats is a small-acre crop that has tended to fall behind in terms of agronomy research. That’s changing as more oat varieties become available and new niche markets continue to develop and offer premiums to growers meeting their specifications. For anyone trying oats for the first time, or considering adding oats to their rotation, Grainews […] Read more


As more oat varieties become available to growers and premium niche markets continue to develop, there is more oat agronomy research underway.

New oat varieties on the horizon

New oat varieties focus on yield, milling quality and oat disease resistance

Since 2011 there has been an increase in the frequency of registration of new oat varieties, says Dr. Aaron Beattie, professor and oat breeder at the University of Saskatchewan’s Crop Development Centre (CDC). Breeding programs continue to focus on increasing yields and improving disease resistance. They’re also trying to address the needs of millers who […] Read more

Susanna Heinrich took the course. Now she’s licensed to drive the semi behind her.

Driving the big rigs yourself

Not every farmer is licensed to drive a semi, but they could be. Here’s how it works

For me, getting a 1A license (known as a 1Q in Manitoba or Alberta) was a necessity. I was on the farm, raising kids, helping where I could. The farm was expanding, the workforce was fluid and slowly meandering to “greener pastures” — our employees were retiring or coming on board without a 1A license. […] Read more