The farmland cost factor

The farmland cost factor

Fixed costs come out of the gross margin (gross revenue minus operating costs). Ideally the margin over operating costs should be around 35 per cent of gross revenue, with equipment costs at 12 per cent, owner withdrawals at five per cent and land costs at 18 per cent of gross revenue. But as land purchase […] Read more


Production costs for spring planning

Production costs for spring planning

For farmers in southern Manitoba, soybeans are pencilling in well for this spring

Across the Prairies, new cost of production figures and calculators for 2017 are appearing on provincial websites to help producers make sound production, management and marketing decisions. On the marketing side things look a little rosier than they did this time last year. “When you look forward to September 2017, it doesn’t look as bad […] Read more

Coop Switzerland posted this photo on Twitter. The Coop will be partnering with Essento to offer insect-based burgers.

Grasshopper burgers are on the menu

Insect burgers will soon be on sale in Switzerland. But they may not be for everyone

In Sunday school we kids were taught that John the Baptist ate grasshoppers and honey. “How gross,” we thought. We didn’t know that John the Baptist was way ahead of his time. Folks find it repelling when I tell them of the piles of dried caterpillars and grasshoppers for sale at Zambian food markets. Well, […] Read more


If your farming is considered a hobby (for example, you only raise a few 
farm animals or have a plot to grow food for your own table), you can’t 
deduct any expenses or losses.

Save your 2016 seed money

Farm Management: Let the CRA tax experts help you reap the most from what you sow

Farmers of all types, from dairy to fruit to livestock, contribute to the economy and to the healthy lives of Canadians. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) wants to help make filing your income tax and benefit return easier so you can save your time and energy for the harvest. If your farming is considered a […] Read more

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


Lining up the beneficial beetles from an insect trap. These are melanarius beetles, which are ground beetles that belong to the carabid family. Some beetle species found in Western Canada can live up to four years.

PHOTOS: Learning at CanoLAB

Farmers at CanoLAB had a hands-on look at canola pests and problems

Grainews field editor Lisa Guenther attended the Canola Council of Canada’s annual learning event CanoLAB at Lakeland College in Vermillion on February 22. CanoLab offers a chance to see live plants and insects up close, while they talk with Western Canada’s top researchers and extension workers about current production issues. Watch the Canola Council’s event […] Read more

Merlo retools

Merlo retools

The telehandler company is going through a major update of its product line and manufacturing facility

As he stood in front of a group of Canadian dealers and customers at his Cuneo, Italy, facility, Amilcare Merlo, owner of the company that produces Merlo telehandlers, explained that his firm was in the midst of a 150 million Euro (C$208 million) reinvestment project. It’s aimed not only at updating the brand’s manufacturing facility, […] Read more


Cleavers can have a negative impact on canola and pulse crops.

Controlling cleavers without quinclorac

With quinclorac off of the herbicide menu, farmers will need to use other tools

Last spring, the Western Grains Elevator Association (WGEA) and the Canadian Oilseed Processors Association (COPA) advised growers that they would not accept quinclorac-treated canola grown and harvested in 2016. The reason for this announcement was to make sure that grain shipped to customers in other countries remains in compliance with regards to Maximum Residue Limits […] Read more

Producers focus on herbicide rotation

Producers focus on herbicide rotation

Farmers figure it’s better to avoid herbicide resistance than manage around it

John Berger and Spencer Hilton are southern Alberta farmers doing all they can as part of their crop and herbicide rotation programs to reduce the risk of weeds developing herbicide resistance. Berger, who along with son Brad, crops about 5,000 acres near Nanton, south of Calgary, actually stockpiled some particularly effective chemistries when Monsanto sold […] Read more