New Technology Helps Make Better Grape Vines

Product innovation and quality are two key elements behind the success of Gemmrich W. Nursery, a grapevine propagation farm in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont., that helped earn Wes and Briar Wiens, the title of Ontario s Outstanding Young Farmers (OYF) for 2011. The Wiens purchased their grapevine propagation business in 2004 from the previous owner, Martin Gemmrich, […] Read more

Clubroot Confirmed In Two Saskatchewan Fields

It wasn t entirely unexpected, but it s bad news nonetheless. In early October, SaskCanola officially announced that clubroot, a nasty soil-borne disease limited to Alberta until now, had been confirmed in two fields in north-central Saskatchewan. As the grower organization, we want to ensure that all canola growers are made aware of the situation […] Read more


Fourth-Generation Dairy Farmers Realize Their Dream

Hard work and applying new technology and dairy production practices have helped a young Quebec Cityarea couple, build a successful, high producing dairy herd and also earned them recognition as Quebec s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2011. Over the past dozen years Rene Gagne and Pascale Chabot have grown the fourth generation farm from 50 […] Read more

Polish Canola Gets Fingerprinted

Canadian scientists have helped sequence part of canola s genome. Determining the DNA sequence of crops allows researchers to understand the mechanisms of the plant, and to map traits of interest. This information can then be used by breeders to develop crops for Canadian farmers that are more disease resistant, drought tolerant, location suitable and […] Read more


The Making Of A Modern Dairy

Geoff and Jennifer Bishop might be putting cutting edge dairy science to use in Nova Scotia s Annapolis Valley today, but it all started when Geoff s grandparents bought the family s first cow back in 1970, less than a year after they arrived from England and settled in the Round Hill community. The operation […] Read more

Alberta 4-H Makes Helmets Mandatory

Alberta 4-H members in horse programs will be required to wear helmets when taking part in mounted 4-H events, starting this month. All Alberta 4-H members in horsemanship Levels 1, 2 and 3, while mounted on horseback, will need to wear ASTM/ SEI-or BSI-approved equestrian helmets. Any members born after 2000 will also be required […] Read more


Seven Tips For Better Fences

Keeping the juice following through an electric fence is critical to its ongoing and effective role in controlling cattle. Adele Popp, who farms with her husband John near Erickson, Man. says that all begins with using proper materials and construction techniques. Popp explained the key elements of an effective electric fence last summer to visitors […] Read more

Cougars Prefer Deer To Calves

With mountain lions moving increasingly eastward onto the prairie, a few precautions can safeguard livestock, pets and young children, say experts. One night last spring, a cougar the size of a German Shepherd made her way through Pincher Creek, aiming to snag a couple of easy meals. The cat made her way from her mountainous […] Read more


Saskatchewan Hay Texas Bound!

Here is an interesting turn of events I understand a lot of southern Saskatchewan (perhaps southern Prairie) hay is heading as far south as Texas this fall. Much of southern Saskatchewan, most years or historically, is borderline semi-desert rainfall is usually minimal. But the last few years, and particularly this year with ample-to-excessive rain, hay […] Read more

Pros And Cons Of Robotic Milkers

What many young kids dreamed of when they were sent to the barn to milk cows has come true. With the robotic Voluntary Milking System (VMS) cows really do milk themselves. Robotic milkers, as many call them, are being seen on more dairy farms. Neil Boelman of Yoke Farm Ltd. near Westlock, Alberta (north of […] Read more


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