Canola Council of Canada looking for farmers to help test a new sclerotinia risk assessment tool

Sclerotinia stem rot is variable from year-to-year, region to region and even field-to-field.

Plants are most susceptible when the canola crop is flowering, and in high-yielding crops which create dense canopies and when combined with the right environmental factors is the ideal breeding ground for the disease.

Agronomy Specialist Chris Manchur says sclerotinia stem rot is one of the biggest yield robbers for the crop, as a 10 per cent rate of infection can lead to a 5 per cent yield loss.

Honey Bee launches new products at Canada's Farm Show

Honey Bee headers are a common site in fields at harvest time across the Prairies.

Tuesday at Canada's Farm Show the farm equipment manufacturer unveiled the AirFlex NXT.

Perry Gryde, Honey Bee's North American sales manager says it's the next innovation for the company.

He says several years ago, they introduced a flex table to the marketplace and this takes it to the next step.

CN Rail looking to hire more staff

CN Rail reported a continued slowdown in grain movement for the month of May as farmers' focus shifted to seeding.

David Przednowek,  the assistant vice president of grain for CN Rail says it's not a surprise adding that the majority of grain has already moved through the system.

He notes something that remains a concern is the wildfire situation.

The Manitoba Egg Farmers Learning and Research Centre officially opens

The Manitoba Egg Farmers Learning and Research Centre at the University of Manitoba's Glenlea Research Station.

The new 22 thousand square foot facility is the first interpretive egg/layer research, education, and training facility in Canada.

Agriculture Minister Derek Johnson says the Province partnered with the Government of Canada through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership to provide $1.5 million in funding to support ongoing research at UM through the Glenlea Research Station.

Opposition parties rally to push Bill C-234 through the House of Commons

Yesterday was a key day for farmers as Bill C-234 received its third and final reading in the House of Commons.

Bill C-234 an Act to amend the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act would exempt on-farm grain drying from the Carbon Tax.

Conservative Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Agri-Food John Barlow says this is a massive win for Canadian farmers.

"This will reduce or remove the carbon tax from natural gas and propane on farms once it gets through the Senate. So we're hopeful before we rise in June, that will happen."

Province looking at issuing depredation tags to deal with the increase in wildlife populations

RM delegates had an opportunity to ask questions this week during SARM's bearpit session with Premier Scott Moe and his cabinet ministers.

The reeve of Val Marie Larry Grant brought up the issue of the growing deer and elk population destroying feed stacks noting that producers on the western side of the province have been going through drought and struggling to access feed.

Grant called for immediate action to reduce the numbers --- noting that in his area if they can get it producers are paying $200 a bale for hay delivered that is being destroyed.