(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

COOL saga winding down, but not over yet

CNS Canada –– The seven-year saga of U.S. country of origin labelling (COOL) rules and their adverse impact on Canada’s livestock sector may be nearing its final chapter, but the conclusion still needs to be written. After numerous complaints and appeals with the World Trade Organization, the COOL regulations in place since 2008 have been […] Read more

Andrew Morrison, a mixed farmer in Victoria, Australia.

VIDEO: Farming down under on the other side of the world: Pt. 2

Lisa Guenther's two-part interview with a mixed-farmer from Australia

What does farming look like on the other side of the globe? In some ways, it looks the same as any farm in Western Canada, but in other ways it’s quite different. In this second interview, Andrew Morrison, a farmer in Victoria, Australia, talks frankly about how he’s managing herbicide resistance and why he adopted […] Read more


Andrew Morrison, a mixed farmer in Victoria, Australia.

VIDEO: Farming down under on the other side of the world: Pt. 1

Lisa Guenther's two-part interview with a mixed-farmer from Australia

What does farming look like on the other side of the globe? In some ways, it looks the same as any farm in Western Canada, but in other ways it’s quite different. In this first interview, Andrew Morrison gives us an overview of his mixed farm, located in the Australian state of Victoria. He talks about […] Read more

This photo and the one further down are of the canola on my “breaking” land — recently broken land (this is only the second time its been under a seed drill). The pictures were taken on July 27, 2015. In fall 2014 the soil test N in this field was only 20 lbs./acre to one foot but the zero to six inch level organic matter was 6.5 per cent. The “normal” areas in this field got 94 lbs. N/acre as anhydrous. This area got only the 20 lbs. N/acre as broadcast 21-0-0-24. Obviously, mineralization is providing much of the N. My zone fertilization plan involves telling the custom applicator to leave out the breaking and salty ground. It works!

Soil: Test the right pound of ground

If you don’t measure what you have, you can’t know what to add. Know the basics of taking soil tests

First, some general tips around soil testing. The first thing to note about soil testing is that it is an index — it is not like a dipstick in a crankcase. A soil test (index) rates a soil as very low to excessive and is one piece of information to guide fertilizer use. But, use […] Read more


Dutch manufacturer Agrifac offers two model sizes capable of handling boom widths up to 180 feet.

Agrifac brings sprayers to Canada

This Dutch manufacturer is making a play for a share of the Canadian sprayer market

If you’ve been to the giant Agritechnica machinery show in Germany, you probably noticed Dutch-built Agrifac high-clearance sprayers on display. In the future, you’re likely to see them at North American shows as well. The company has recently decided to strike out beyond the European market. It previously launched in Australia, and now has its sights […] Read more

a man grading wheat

Send your grain harvest samples in for free analysis

The CGC’s Harvest Sample Program gives farmers a valuable marketing tool

Getting a free grain quality analysis at harvest not only puts farmers in a better bargaining position when they market their crops, but it also helps Canada sell grain, canola and pulse crops around the world. The ongoing Harvest Sample Program offered by the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) gives a farmer more solid footing when […] Read more



Cattle prices going sideways, or may trend down

Cattle prices going sideways, or may trend down

As U.S. and Canadian producers increase production, beef demand appears to be levelling off

Fed and feeder cattle prices appear to be in transition. All the major factors that drove the cattle and beef complex to historical highs over the past quarter are slowly turning so that it will be difficult for the market to experience further significant upside. The U.S. economic expansion, which drove beef demand to unprecedented […] Read more



(WTO.org)

U.S. seeks arbitration at WTO over COOL-related sanctions

The U.S. government has mounted a new defense at the World Trade Organization for its meat label law, this time seeking arbitration against Canada’s request for trade sanctions. The WTO Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) had been scheduled Wednesday to hear Canadian trade officials’ request to authorize over $3 billion in tariffs on U.S. goods, in formal retaliation […] Read more