Features & Production Tips

New soybean varieties for 2023

Varieties with high yields, strong standability, excellent disease resistance and more are on offer

By Mark Halsall December 13, 2022

Next year, there will be 20 new soybean options in the offing for producers in Western Canada. Here’s a look at what BrettYoung, Corteva, Dekalb, Maizex, Northstar Genetics, Proven Seed, Sevita International, Syngenta and Thunder Seed are rolling out for the coming growing season. Please note, this list only includes brand new soybean offerings for […] Read more

Hollie Rudy is a
territory manager
with Nutrien
Financial. One of
her tips for farmers
is don’t wait too
long to take
advantage of
incentive programs
for seed and crop
input purchases.

Features, Practical Tips

Five tips for better year-end financial planning

What you can do to maximize profitability and financial sustainability in 2023

By Treena Hein December 8, 2022

December is an excellent time to review your finances and to make sure you are setting up your farm business for the biggest profits possible in 2023. That means taking certain actions and avoiding others. For some farm business strategies, we checked in with Hollie Rudy, a territory manager with Nutrien Financial who also farms […] Read more

Features, Practical Tips

How to build your resilience

When it comes to your mental health, resilience is an important skill to develop. Here’s why and how

By Jim Timlick November 22, 2022

Farming can exact a heavy emotional toll on even the hardiest of souls. Between dealing with volatile markets, extreme weather and long hours of work, often in isolated conditions, it’s no surprise Canadian farmers suffer higher rates of anxiety and depression than the general public. A University of Guelph study surveyed 1,132 Canadian farmers between […] Read more

Gurpreet Lidder, along with family members, operates an 80-acre fruit farm
near the B.C. Southern Interior community of Keremeos, producing a wide
range of fruit through farm gate sales as well as to wholesale markets.

Features, Profiles

Another excellent crop of young farmer nominees

Horticulture, beef and dairy production, along with conventional and organic crops — a year of diversity

By Lee Hart November 14, 2022

A panel of judges will be faced with a difficult challenge in Saskatoon later this month as they look to select two national winners from a field of seven diverse, well-managed farming operations from across Canada. From tree fruit production to grass-fed beef, mixed farming to organic crop production, and dairy farming to potato production, […] Read more

Cereals, Features

New cereal varieties for 2023

Ten new options for Prairie producers

By Mark Halsall November 7, 2022

Next year there will be 10 new cereal offerings for farmers in Western Canada. New varieties of wheat, durum, barley and oats are hitting the market courtesy of Canterra Seeds, FP Genetics, Proven Seed and SeedNet. Please note, this list only includes brand new cereal varieties in 2023. Canterra Seeds Oats: Kalio is a milling […] Read more

A crop of InVigor L350PC at the bolting stage. This high-yielding canola
is one of three new hybrids BASF is releasing for 2023.

Canola, Features

New canola hybrids for 2023

Higher yields, good resistance packages and pod shatter reduction are popular offerings

By Mark Halsall November 4, 2022

[UPDATED: Nov. 10, 2022] Western Canadian farmers looking for a new canola hybrid to try next year will have lots to choose from with 17 new canola options coming out for the 2023 growing season. Here’s a look at what’s coming your way from BASF, BrettYoung, Canterra Seeds, Croplan, Dekalb and Corteva’s Pioneer and Brevant […] Read more

Canola, Cereals, Features, Practical Tips

Take these steps to protect the quality of your stored cereal grains and canola

Don’t let malathion residue or OTA development put your stored crops at risk

By Leah Heppenstall October 28, 2022

As crops are coming off the fields and into the bin, Keep it Clean is reminding growers of best management practices to maintain crop quality and reduce storage risk. Two of the biggest risks to stored grain are contamination and spoilage. “Before storing canola, it’s absolutely essential that the bins are clean and malathion-free,” says […] Read more

Josh Fankhauser’s intercrop mix of oats, barley, peas and radish. In his
system, intercrops meant for the combine are usually two to three species,
but those intended for forage, such as this one, can include more.

Crops, Features, Practical Tips

Tried-and-true soil strengthening tips

An Alberta producer offers a look at his soil health tactics

By Jeff Melchior October 21, 2022

There’s a lot of talk in ag circles today about soil health. Several farmers are looking beyond current soil practices to what can be done to make their soil sustainable in the long run. This is nothing new to Josh Fankhauser. His family has been using practices to build soil health on their southern Alberta […] Read more

During the growing season, the pathogen produces fruiting bodies called pycnidia that appear as pepper-like
spots within lesions on young leaves. Once the leaves are infected, the fungus can spread into the stem,
eventually leading to the most damaging phase of the disease — stem cankering — usually at ground level.

Crops, Features

New products, genetic tools aimed at key crop diseases

It takes a multi-pronged approach to control diseases that constantly change

By Lee Hart October 17, 2022

Western Canadian canola, corn and soybean growers will have valuable new crop protection tools for the 2023 growing season, as Corteva Agriscience introduces new packages of seed treatment products that control a range of crop pests. Known as the LumiGEN seed treatment packages — each tailored for canola, corn and soybeans — the idea is […] Read more

Crops, Features

New biologicals on the market

A roundup of inoculants, biostimulants, pre-plant soil biofumigants and more coming your way

By Treena Hein October 7, 2022

[UPDATED: Oct. 26, 2022] Several new biological products are on the market or shortly will be. New inoculants, nitrogen-fixing bacteria, biostimulants and pre-plant soil biofumigants, among others, are a few products headed your way. Companies offering new biologicals are claiming these products increase root mass development and structure, enhance root and plant growth, improve plant […] Read more

GFM Network News

U.S. livestock: CME cattle fall on profit-taking

U.S. grains: Soybeans rebound as market weighs China prospects

B.C. ostrich owner condemns violence near embattled farm

Features