Earlier this month, Canadian fruit and vegetable processors or wholesalers lost preferred access to the United States Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA). "Without PACA access, Canadian companies trying to recover unpaid bills will have to post double the value of what they are trying to recover as bond to make a claim," says Ron Lemaire,... Read More
Category: Crops
FP Genetics is offering western Canadian wheat growers a guarantee to prove that newer CWRS varieties are more profitable than older lines. Currently, an estimated 80% of wheat acres are seeded with bin-run seed, says FP Genetics, and the company believes this practice means farmers are leaving money on the table by not upgrading their... Read More
A staggering 80% of contaminants found in water bodies trace back to on-farm activities, according to government figures. Similar concerns in the United Kingdom have meant the early adoption of biobeds, contained areas specifically intended to capture and degrade pesticides. “We can take a lot from the existing models in Europe, but we have to... Read More
Can deep-tilling soybean residue be justified? A researcher from the University of Manitoba is looking at whether tillage practices need to change as farmers in Western Canada grow more soybeans. Despite leaving less plant matter behind than most crops, it's not uncommon to see soybean ground cultivated to leave a dark surface that warms up... Read More
A group of more than 30 organizations and agencies from across North America have formed a coalition to address concerns about honey bee health. The Canola Council of Canada, Canadian Honey Council and CropLife Canada are part of the Honey Bee Health Coalition which released a "Honey Bee Health Roadmap" last week. The document lays... Read More
The darkest days in the flax industry are in the past and the future is looking bright, according to the head of the Flax Council of Canada. There's excitement surrounding flax, with new and more-diversified demand, stronger prices and a renewed effort to improve agronomic aspects of flax production, says Don Kerr, the new president... Read More
The Western Grains Research Foundation is kicking off a five-year $4.32 million agronomic research initiative looking at crop production from a multi-crop, rotational perspective. While in Saskatoon on Friday, Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and Saskatchewan MP Kelly Block announced Ottawa will match WGRF's investment of up to $2.16 million in its "Systems Approach to Crop... Read More
As little as 2% green seed in a canola sample can cause the loss of a No. 1 grade in Canada, traditionally equating to roughly $10-15/tonne. Immature canola seed naturally contains chlorophyll, a green pigment essential for photosynthesis. As canola seeds mature, enzymes remove the chlorophyll, a process thought to improve seed longevity. The enzymes... Read More
Named in June, but celebrated this week in Des Moines, Iowa, Dr. Sanjaya Rajaram of India and Mexico was awarded the World Food Prize for his work in wheat breeding and development. Working hand-in-hand with Nobel Laureate Dr. Norman Borlaug, Rajaram bred an impressive 480 varieties of wheat to provide nutritious grains resistant to rust... Read More
If you had winter wheat aerial-applied or broadcast on in September, you may want to get out there and look at what you've got. Reports of major slug damage are trickling in, with some fields reporting as high as 95% damage to wheat kernels left on the soil surface. As Peter Johnson, provincial cereal specialist... Read More