Ag News

The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) has received a significant land donation from George and Joni Greenhough in honour of George’s late father, WJ (Bill) Greenhough, a passionate advocate for preserving wild lands for both people and nature.

Producers in agriculture are always looking at different ways to conduct their business more efficiently, and cattle producers are no exception. With the winter months always providing a challenge for ranchers to feed their cattle, bale grazing has become more popular in use. Lynnae Ylioja is a range management extension specialist with the Ministry of Agriculture in the Government of Saskatchewan who explains bale grazing and it’s benefits. 

Farmers across Manitoba are set to benefit from a substantial investment in the province's agricultural research. Manitoba Pulse & Soybean Growers (MPSG) and Manitoba Crop Alliance (MCA) have jointly committed $691,591 to support the Manitoba Diversification Centres.

The fall season field work was nicely extended with warm temperatures and now through the winter months the Westman Agricultural Diversification Organization (WADO) team is going over data collected and planning for next spring.

Applied Research Specialist with Manitoba Agriculture, Scott Chalmers, says they had some surprises in their field test plots near Melita when it came time to harvest their corn.

Canada could see a new update to how it manages poultry as farm organizations manage the Poultry Code of Practice.

That code, managed by the National Farm Animal Care Council, relates to poultry and egg producers in Canada in regards to best practices and policies.

Jackie Wepruk, the division director for the NFACC, says it's a wide-ranging code important for the industry.

Western Canadian wheat farmers have reason to be optimistic as the 2024 New Wheat Crop Report reveals a resilient and high-quality harvest despite challenges. 

According to Leif Carlson, Director of Market Intelligence and Trade Policy with Cereals Canada, this year's wheat production reached 34.3 million metric tons, four percent larger than last year and eight percent larger than average. This was thanks to above-average yields for both non-durum wheat and durum wheat. Durum wheat production was a standout, surging to six million tons.  

A significant block of native Prairie Grasslands in the southern-most point of Alberta is now being conserved. 

Boundary Creek couple Colleen and Dale Adams have signed an agreement with the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC).  It means their 128 hectare (315 acre) cattle ranch will remain a working landscape while spared from any future subdivision, drainage or cultivation.

2024 will go down as the year of canola disease.

That is according to Curtis Rempel, Vice President of Crop Production and Innovation with the Canola Council of Canada. Rempel says diseases were primarily root and lower stem. He notes this was partially due to the wet and cool conditions felt in large parts of the Prairies.

"For a lot of stubble-borne fungi, which are primarily disease-causing organisms, they are all fungal-related," explains Rempel. "The cool, damp conditions really allow the fungus to take off."

Protein Industries Canada has put an open call out for projects exploring the blending of pulses and cereal crops to create new ingredients and plant-based food products as well as improve existing ones in store shelves.  

The Saskatchewan Party has announced their cabinet for their upcoming term, with the southeast seeing some new representation.

Daryl Harrison, the MLA for the Cannington constituency, will be serving as the Minister of Agriculture.

Harrison says that he's honoured to serve, bringing with him first-hand experience in the industry.