Avian Influenza starting to show up in the Prairies

Avian Influenza has been detected in three commercial poultry operations in Alberta. 

Earlier this week, the CFIA identifying one infected premise in Strathcona County and one in Beaver Country - both areas are located near Edmonton.
which is located near Edmonton. Another infected premise was confirmed on Wednesday in Minburn County.

Avian influenza - H5N1 - can affect wild bird and domestic bird populations. 

Manitoban's encouraged to Discover Agriculture on the Farm


This Sunday is the "Discover Agriculture on the Farm" event at the Bruce D. Campbell Farm and Food Discovery Centre.

Visitors will have the chance to a number of activities, meet and visit with Manitoba farmers, see live animals like pigs, dairy cows, broilers, and laying hens, and explore prairie crops such as canola. 

The family-friendly event is free, runs from 10 til 2  on Sunday, September 14th and officially kicks off the 11th Annual Farm and Food Awareness Week (September 14-19)

This year's theme is Seize the Season: Appreciating Manitoba’s Harvest!

CCA honours New Brunswick couple with The Environmental Stewardship Award (TESA)

The Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) presented The Environmental Stewardship Award (TESA) for 2025 to Don and Geraldine Bettle of Passekeag Holdings Inc

The couple run a 70 head Angus-based cow herd on a land base next to the Kennebecasis River and show incredible respect for the land and the environment protecting the water, riparian areas, and wildlife habitat.

Rented farmland jumps 3.4 million acres in Saskatchewan and Alberta

About 3.4 million acres shifted from owned and operated to the “rented” land category from 2011 to 2021

The amount of rented farmland in Saskatchewan and Alberta shot upward in the 2010s.

Farmland rented or leased in the two provinces went from 25.7 million acres in 2011 to 29.1 million in 2021, says Census of Agriculture data.

So, in a decade, about 3.4 million acres shifted from owned and operated to the “rented” land category. The 3.4 million acres includes cropland and ranchland.

Prairie Agriculture Ministers pleased with FPT discussion

As farmers work on the harvest, agriculture ministers from across Canada gathered in Winnipeg this week for the annual Federal-Provincial-Territorial (FPT) meeting. The annual event hosted by Manitoba Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn and Federal Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald provided a key platform to discuss shared challenges, policy priorities, and the future of Canadian agriculture. 

Digging Into Disease and Diversity: WADO crop tour set for September 18

Manitoba Agriculture is gearing up for a special crops, disease training and variety evaluation trial tours next week Thursday at the Westman Agricultural Diversification Organization (WADO) at their Melita area test plots.

The tours will take place from 9:00 AM until noon focusing on corn, flax and sunflowers, says Applied Research Analyst, Scott Chalmers.

Drought conditions improved last month in some areas of the prairies

Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada has updated its National Drought Monitor Map now that the stats are in from August (2025).

Trevor Hadwen, an agroclimate specialist with AAFC says drought conditions improved throughout western Canada; however, eastern Canada saw conditions deteriorate significantly. 

Cargill’s Regina crush plant should help offset loss of China demand

The company will start commissioning the Saskatchewan canola plant in the next couple of months

Canola growers finally have some good news to celebrate.

Cargill’s brand-new Regina crush facility is coming online just as farmers are reeling from the loss of their top export market.

“At a time of uncertainty in the canola markets, to have domestic demand is a really good opportunity for farmers,” said Cargill Limited president Jeff Vassart.

Touch 'n Go turns to gratitude at the Fairfax Field with 81 bu/acre for BMW Foodgrains Project

Community came out to the Boissevain-Morton-Whitewater Foodgrains Harvest this past Monday near Fairfax to share the noon lunch and work together to clear off the 300-acre field of wheat.

It was touch and go whether the combines could actually harvest the field as the moisture level was still too high at lunch time.  But shortly after 1:30 BMW committee member Ben Martens got the call that the grain sample was dry enough and they were a go.