Saskatchewan crop boards under new leadership

The new year has come with a lot of newness at Saskatchewan’s crop development boards, as two approved a merger and two others elected new leaders last month. SaskCanola and SaskFlax saw formal voting on an amalgamation plan during the two organizations’ annual general meetings and the plan “was met with widespread approval,” they said. […] Read more


Photo: James_Gabbert/iStock/Getty Images Plus

Prairie forecast: Dry and mild west, seasonal east

Issued Feb. 14, covering Feb 14 to 21, 2024

If you haven’t noticed, it has been an unusual winter, and that unusualness is causing all sorts of headaches with weather forecasting. In particular, cloud cover. In the last forecast period, it looked as if high pressure would dominate the weather bringing plenty of clear skies along with more seasonable temperatures.

Ukrainian farmers who owned their own equipment were not at risk of missing crucial field work windows.  Photo: Ihor Pavliuk

War teaches Ukrainian farmers tough lessons 

As the war approaches its second anniversary, the farmers who adapted earliest have been in the best position to survive  

Feb. 24 marks two years since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. It seems like a short time, but it has caused huge upheaval in our society. Hundreds of thousands have died and millions have lost their homes.


Farmer manage harvesting process, he is concentrated and writing corn quality on field.

Editor’s Rant: Yeah, write

In the weeks since I’ve been back at the Grainews desk I’ve had a few people inquire whether we’re looking for material. Answer: yes. Always were. Always are. You’ve probably noticed over the last few years we don’t lead with the phrase “Written by farmers, for farmers” anymore. That’s not to imply farmers somehow all […] Read more

Editor’s Rant: A process story

Editor’s Rant: A process story

Editor’s note, Jan. 30, 2024: This item was written and went to press before Bill C-234 came back up for discussion in the House of Commons on Jan. 29, in consideration of the Senate’s amendments. Some decades ago my grandmother and I were having a conversation about what I hoped to do in life. If […] Read more


 Photo: Thinkstock

Prairie forecast: Warm weather returns

Issued Jan. 24, 2024, covering Jan. 24 to 31

For this forecast period, it looks like our weather pattern will undergo a shift back to the mild pattern we experienced at the beginning of the winter. It also looks like the warm weather will stick around for at least a couple of weeks. The million-dollar question is whether we will see another outbreak of cold arctic air, or will we see an early start to spring? Well, if I knew that answer to that, I would be rich, but I don’t think winter is over quite yet.

The 2023 regional winners, back row, from left: Stewart Skinner (Ontario), Rémi Taillon (Quebec), Brad Hopcott (B.C.), Harley Siemens (Manitoba), Willem van de Wetering (Atlantic), Jake Leguee (Saskatchewan), Travis Hopcott (B.C.) and Greg Stamp (Alberta). Front row, from left: Jessica Kelly (Ontario), Sophie Brodeur (Quebec), Sarah Leguee (Saskatchewan), Brooklyn Siemens (Manitoba), Marijke Oudshoorn (Atlantic) and Sarah Stamp (Alberta).

B.C. and Alberta young farmers earn honours at national gathering

The fourteen talented regional nominees handed judges a challenge

The two most western regional nominees won the hearts and scores of judges in late November to be named Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers (COYF) for 2023. Hopcott Farms, a beef and cranberry operation from Pitt Meadows, B.C., and Stamp Seeds, producers of pedigree seed from Enchant, Alta., were named the national competition winners at the […] Read more


man wearing a hard hat in a wheat field

Grainews columnists I have known

Part 1 of an intermittent series. In this instalment: Alf Bryan

Younger readers may not know how Grainews got started. The first edition was in 1975 and the publisher was United Grain Growers (UGG). UGG was a farmer owned grain company with shares – it was not a co-op. The first editor was John Clark and he recruited active farmers to write it as it was […] Read more

Lobbyist Dave Carey at Manitoba Ag Days in Brandon, Man., on Jan. 16, 2024. Photo: Jim Timlick

Share concerns, build relationships with MPs, lobbyist says

Stay informed and hold representatives to account regardless of affiliation, farmers hear

“Meet with your member of Parliament annually. That’s how you inform politicians. That’s where you can gain some real momentum and leverage. It only takes one MP to stand up at caucus and say I visited my constituents and this is the big issue,” said Dave Carey.