Ag News

The Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) celebrate the incorporation of the Competition Act amendment in the 2023 Fall Economic Statement, a move aimed at bolstering the right to repair for grain farmers.

“Enabling growers to access essential tools and software for maintaining their equipment, such as tractors and combines, will foster a more equitable landscape between manufacturers and consumers," states Kyle Larkin, executive director of GGC. 

Canadian farmers brought in another top-quality wheat crop this year despite the challenging growing conditions.

Cereals Canada CEO Dean Dias (dye-as) says the 2023 New Wheat Crop Report shows the majority of the crop is grading No. 2 or better, 
 with average to higher than average protein content. 

Dias says representatives of the value chain will be talking about the results with customers domestically and globally via webinars this week, 
before leaving for the trade and technical missions.

There's still a lot on the agenda for Day 2 of Canadian Western Agribition.

It's Bison Day at the show with participants in this week's 40th annual Bison Convention move over to the show for the final day of activities in the John Deere Sales Arena.

The highlight for the Bison today is the video sale at 5 o'clock.

Agribition CEO Shaun Kindopp says another key highlight for today is going to be the new Bull Fighters Only freestyle bullfighting event  7 o'clock  tonight in the Brandt Centre:

Conservative MP John Barlow, the Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Agri-Food, and Food Security was joined by a group of independent farmers from across Canada this morning at a press conference to address the games being played in the Senate to kill Bill C-234.

Farmers are being reminded to take part in the Canadian Grain Commission's (CGC)  Harvest Sample Program.

Dr Sean Walkowiak, a research scientist with the CGC's Grain Lab, says under the program, farmers send in crop samples and in turn, receive free unofficial grade and quality information which is helpful when marketing your grain.

Olds College of Agriculture and Technology is now offering a new Indoor Agriculture Certificate program.

The program, the first of its kind offered in Canada is designed to meet the growing need for skilled professionals in the controlled environment agriculture (CEA) sector.

The four month program will equip students with the knowledge and hands-on experience to optimize plant growth in indoor growing conditions involving vertical farming, hydroponics and more.

The number of Avian Influenza cases in Western Canada continues to climb.

The risk for avian influenza increases during spring and fall with wild bird migration 

Stats from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency website show they've seen a number of active outbreaks of the highly pathogenic avian influenza being reported this fall.

HPAI IS NOT A  food safety concern.

There is no evidence to suggest that eating cooked poultry or eggs could transmit HPAI to humans.

CFIA stats showing the number of operations under current quarantine 

Farmers are being urged to contact their Senators to chat about the importance of Bill C-234 passing the third reading in the Chamber this week. 

Dave Carey, co-chair of the Agriculture Carbon Alliance (ACA) says the Bill will save producers millions of dollars when it comes to using natural gas and propane for heating and cooling of livestock barns, greenhouses, irrigation, and grain drying.

Numbers from the Parliamentary Budget Office show that if the Bill is passed it will save producers $975 million in carbon tax over eight years.

The railways have seen a slow down in grain movement over the last couple of weeks.

CN's assistant vice president of grain David Przednowek says its reflective of market demand right now.

"There isn't even enough demand from customers to touch the upper limits of the supply chain with respect to how much grain can move in a given week. We're not even close. So it's reflective in the placement of car orders by customers for grain movement. "

He notes they've seen that declining trend into November in a typical year, but this isn't a typical year.

"Together Towards Tomorrow"  is the theme for the Canadian Bison Association's 40th Annual Convention in Regina.

Executive Director Carl Flis says the bison industry is still relatively new and is about 1/10th the size of the cattle industry.

"The last census was estimated that 975,000 bison in Canada. So a good portion of that would be predominantly within the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan with roughly 150 to 200,000 head each."