aerial view of farmland

High land prices hurt new farmers

Price increases may be slowing, but it’s a tough time for farmers to buy land


Western Canadian farmland has never been more expensive. According to J.P. Gervais, the chief economist for Farm Credit Canada (FCC), which provides data at the national level for Statistics Canada, farmland values continued to increase throughout 2014. “In a few months the report will be released, but we know that farmland values have continued to increase throughout […] Read more

There’s almost 300 pounds of agricultural plastic film in one grain bag. The Brown brothers knew they needed a sturdy roller that could stand up to the work of rolling them, so they took the problem out to their shop. To make their roller work, they incorporated a tying mechanism using baler twine so the operation to roll and tie the used bags was completed in one operation.

Made-in-Sask. grain bag roller

Grain bags are a great affordable, temporary solution to your grain storage problems. Until it’s time to get rid of them. Here’s a new solution

Grain bags have increased in popularity over the last few years. Grain bags are a relatively inexpensive temporary storage option that offer a number of benefits. One downside, however, is what to do with the bag once it is unloaded. There’s almost 300 pound of agricultural plastic film in one bag. Add to that some […] Read more


3-D fence graphic

Defend against deer with a 3-D fence

When tried and true methods just don’t work, a 3-D fence can keep deer out

With the increasing number of grain bags in the countryside, deer have learned that there is a feast waiting for them in grain bags. Once a bag is opened, other animals join the buffet. Never mind what gets eaten, but storage losses from moisture entering the bags, excreta, downgrading factors and foreign material add up […] Read more

grain bag in a field

Keep wildlife away from grain bags

As grain bags become more popular and are in use for more time, farmers 
are looking for new ways to keep wildlife away from their grain

The amount of grain being stored in bags has increased greatly in recent years. This winter, producers are faced with the task of preventing damage to the 2014 crop still stored in bags. Many producers are asking what the most effective, simplest and economical means of reducing damage are because, as one farmer said, “It’s […] Read more


signing a contract

Ten things to know about grain contracts

Cheryl Mayer explains 10 steps to better understanding and profiting from your grain contracts

In a 2013 study, Jared Carlberg, a professor at the University of Manitoba, found that only 17 per cent of farmers read their entire grain contracts. This matters. How can we know whether or not we’re getting a good deal if we don’t know the details in the documents we’re signing? At a session at […] Read more

tilling implement

Terminating your forage crops

There are many reasons to take forage crops out of production, and also many ways to do it

Brian Nybo is a researcher with the Wheatland conservation area in Swift Current, Sask., and also a farmer. He’s been researching the best ways to take forage crops out of production, and has set up a demonstration at the research station near Swift Current. “It can be fairly difficult,” he told farmers at the Agri-ARM […] Read more


farmer standing in front of grain bin

Western farmers watching PGR

Several plant growth regulators are now on offer. Farmer Panel members we interviewed aren’t jumping in with both feet, but they are watching research results

Not all western Canadian farmers are lining up to be among the first testing the effectiveness of plant growth regulators (PGRs) on their farms this year. Producers contacted for the February Farmer Panel says they are interested in the potential of the treatment that can help reduce lodging in cereals and perhaps increase yields, but […] Read more

railway tracks

Short rail lines still in the picture

Short lines are still a vibrant part of rail transport, and contrary to popular belief,
 producer cars are more popular now than they ever were

Many rural communities have watched their infrastructure disappear. Rail lines have been ripped out and country elevators demolished. But some have stemmed the loss by buying short-lines from the national railways and investing in producer car facilities. Contrary to popular belief, producer cars are more popular than ever, says Ron Shymanski, chairman of Torch River […] Read more


clubroot disease in canola

PCR tests for clubroot in canola

Early clubroot infection is difficult to detect with the naked eye. But a PCR test will do the job


Clubroot is an interesting disease. It is neither virus nor bacteria; it is not a plant or an animal. It is, in fact, a protist. What are protists? Protists are a large, diverse group of organisms; they are all eukaryotic (meaning their cells contain a nucleus and other organelles enclosed within membranes), and many are […] Read more

soybean pods in a field

Seed decay in Prairie soybeans

Phomopsis seed decay is the number one soybean problem in Ontario. 
Now it’s this disease-causing fungi may be coming to a field near you

Phomopsis seed decay is the No. 1 problem in soybeans in Ontario, says Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food plant pathologist Albert Tenuta. “The Prairie provinces are also starting to see some phomopsis issues as well,” he says. “Anywhere in the northern climate where you’ve got some delay of harvest, particularly under cooler weather conditions […] Read more