Horticulture – Page 71

Monsanto in talks with Bayer, others about ‘strategic options’

By GFM Network News June 29, 2016

Chicago | Reuters — Monsanto is in talks with Bayer and other companies regarding “alternative strategic options,” a month after it rejected the German company’s US$62 billion takeover offer, the U.S. seed producer said on Wednesday. Monsanto’s options include combinations with other companies and businesses in the sector beyond Bayer. Potential deals could involve BASF […] Read more

Columns, Crops

Weather, soil moisture and crops

Your definition of drought will depend on the amount of subsoil in your fields

By Les Henry June 23, 2016

My 2016 barley crop was seeded May 8 into excellent moisture at a depth of 1.0 to 1.5 inches — a bit deeper in some soft sloughs. Up to the date of seeding there had been essentially no spring rains. A May 4 burn off with 2,4-D + Glyphosate took care of the volunteer canola […] Read more

Livestock

Audit rips New Brunswick’s oversight of ag fairs

By Grainews Staff, GFM Network News June 18, 2016

New Brunswick’s provincial government plans to update the legislation governing agricultural fair associations, following an audit that criticizes several departments for lack of oversight on the fair organizations. Given ag fairs’ charitable gaming privileges and exemptions available for property and income taxes, Auditor General Kim MacPherson found “limited provincial processes to monitor compliance” with the […] Read more

Tulip fields in the Netherlands. (CIA.gov)

Crops, Markets, Reuters

African growers threaten Dutch flower power

By GFM Network News June 17, 2016

Aalsmeer, Netherlands | Reuters — The Netherlands is fighting to retain its crown as the world’s top auction house for flowers as growers in Africa and elsewhere increasingly sell directly to buyers. The country grew wealthy selling tulip bulbs in the 17th century during the so-called Dutch Golden Age and remains the second largest agricultural […] Read more

The Collins Bay Institution at Kingston, Ont. includes maximum, medium and minimum security facilities for up to 720 male inmates. (CSC-scc.gc.ca)

General

Ottawa plans study for new Kingston prison farm

By Grainews Staff, GFM Network News June 3, 2016

The federal government is set to run a study reconsidering the previous administration’s decision to shut farming operations at federal penitentiaries. Following up on a Liberal campaign pledge, the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) announced plans Thursday for a feasibility study including both in-person and online consultations with stakeholders and the public. Specifically, CSC said […] Read more

Crops, Machinery

CONTEST CLOSED: Free to good home: Farm Progress tickets

By GFM Network News May 30, 2016

Editor’s Note: Well, that escalated quickly. The contest is now closed; all our Farm Progress Show passes are now spoken for and will be in the mail shortly. If you’ve entered the contest and won tickets, expect to hear from us by email. If your entry arrived a little too late or if you’re just […] Read more

Crops, Reuters

Hedge fund urges organics firm SunOpta to sell itself

By GFM Network News May 27, 2016

Reuters — Hedge fund Tourbillon Capital Partners is urging Canadian organic food firm SunOpta Inc. to sell itself to a bigger rival, according to a letter sent to the company on Friday. Mississauga, Ont.-based SunOpta’s share price jumped 26 per cent after the US$4 billion hedge fund asked it to hire an investment bank to […] Read more

A bill allowing state expropriations of South African farmland now goes to President Jacob Zuma, shown here Wednesday at Africa Day celebrations in Cape Town, for his signature. (South African Government GCIS photo via Flickr)

Crops, Reuters

South Africa’s parliament approves land expropriation bill

By Reuters, GFM Network News May 26, 2016

Johannesburg | Reuters — South Africa’s parliament on Thursday approved a bill allowing state expropriations of land to redress racial disparities in land ownership, an emotive issue two decades after the end of apartheid. Most of South Africa’s land remains in white hands and many commercial and small-scale farmers are currently facing tough times because […] Read more

Growers should only use an insecticide when an economic threshold for a pest is reached.

Features

Don’t jump the gun on pest control

By Angela Lovell May 20, 2016

It’s never a good idea to overreact when you see insects on your crops because jumping the gun, and spraying if it’s not really necessary, can do more harm than good. “Seldom, if ever, do preventative insecticides actually pay us,” says Scott Meers, insect specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. “When we spray just to […] Read more

New Holland introduced its updated line of T5 tractors in February.

Machinery

New Holland re-engineers its T5 tractors

By Scott Garvey May 18, 2016

The New Holland brand started off by making a name for itself in haying equipment. Over the years as the brand has expanded its product line and global reach, that presence and reputation in the forage equipment market has remained its main marketing advantage. I’ve spoken to many of the brand’s executives several times over […] Read more

U.S. grains: Soybeans, corn fall on harvest pressure

U.S. livestock: Hog futures slide in technical correction

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation: Acknowledging the past, seeking a better future

GFM Network News