An Agrium fertilizer distribution facility west of Portage la Prairie, Man. (Dave Bedard photo)

Agrium forecasts less profitable year than expected

Reuters — Fertilizer maker Agrium, the world’s biggest farm retailer, on Thursday forecast a less profitable year than expected and said its quarterly profit plunged. The Calgary-based company said after normal trading hours that it expects to earn $4.50-$6 per share in 2017. The midpoint of $5.25 fell below analysts’ average estimate of $5.45, according […] Read more

(Richardson Pioneer via YouTube)

Richardson buys eastern Saskatchewan input shop

Prairie grain firm Richardson Pioneer has added to its share of the eastern Saskatchewan crop input retail market with a deal for Crop First Agro. Financial terms aren’t being disclosed for the deal between privately-held Richardson and Crop First Agro, an independent retailer at Grenfell, Sask., about 100 km south of Yorkton, except that the […] Read more


(Dave Bedard photo)

Richardson to expand Prairie retail space

Winnipeg grain firm Richardson International plans to expand its crop input retail business across the Prairies, starting in central and western Saskatchewan with plans for two new stores and a rebuilt store. The company said Monday it will replace its crop input facility at Wakaw, about 90 km northeast of Saskatoon, and build new at […] Read more

Prevention not always the best bet

Prevention not always the best bet

Sometimes, applying fungicide to durum as a preventative measure could increase disease

Better safe than sorry” is a mantra many producers live by. But in the case of durum, they might be better off ignoring it — at least when it comes to early and repeated fungicide applications. Dr. Bill May, a Crop Management Agronomist for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Indian Head Research Farm, and Dr. Myriam […] Read more


Five tips for Keeping it Clean from Cereals Canada

With increased scrutiny from end-users farmers need to be vigilant to ensure their crops aren’t rejected

Stick to the pre-harvest interval (PHI). The PHI (or Spray to Swath Interval) is the number of days that must pass between the last application of a pesticide and swathing or straight combining. Read labels carefully and check out the provincial Guides to Crop Protection or consult your local provincial agronomist for more information. After […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

Agrium to buy Cargill’s U.S. ag retail business

Chicago | Reuters –– U.S. grain trader Cargill has agreed to sell its ag retail business in the United States to crop input seller and distributor Agrium, the companies said Wednesday. Calgary-based Agrium, North America’s largest retail seller of crop inputs such as seed, fertilizer and pesticides, will acquire 18 ag retail locations in Nebraska, […] Read more


saskatchewan farmer Florian Hagmann credits several factors including good seed, decent moisture, and effective rates of liquid fertilizer products from Kugler Co. for helping him produce a field of a record-yielding 116 bushel canola crop in 2015. Albert Cochet of Birch hills (pictured) who actually combined the field for Hagmann stands next to one of the fertilizer signs.

Big fertility package produced a big canola yield

Liquid fertilizer blends seemed to make a difference for this Saskatchewan farmer

Florian Hagmann threw everything he had into producing a quarter section of canola that topped 116 bushels per acre and averaged 111.3 bushels per acre last year. The Saskatchewan farmer, who farms near Birch Hills, northeast of Saskatoon says the input costs pushed his comfort zone, but the real point was to “push the limits” […] Read more



(Dave Bedard photo)

Richardson to build in S. Alta. inputs market

Prairie grain handler Richardson International is moving to shore up its presence in southern Alberta’s crop inputs market with a new dealership. The Winnipeg company announced Wednesday it will build a new crop inputs centre at Three Hills, about 65 km east of Olds, starting this fall to open and begin operating next spring. “The […] Read more

swathing barley in the field

Farm management: Getting from good to great

Farming is a numbers game. Make sure you 
make the most of the details on your farm


In March, I spent four days traveling from Grande Prairie to Lethbridge as part of the Leading Edge Farm Management series sponsored by the Alberta Canola Producers Commission and I had the good fortune to be in the company of some very accomplished individuals. Dr. Danny Klinefelter from Texas A+M University who, I would say, […] Read more