Ag News

The Growing Home with BASF initiative was launched in Western Canada in 2023 as a way to give back to the communities where BASF customers live, work and play. 

BASF will distribute $100,000 between four organizations in four provinces to support local initiatives in rural Canadian communities

This year’s program received 624 nominations from growers, which were narrowed down to 12 finalists, three each in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario.

There's a growing concern in the grain industry about the potential for a rail strike.

A major rail strike impacting both railways could be just days away after employees voted 98 percent in favor of a strike mandate.

Close to 10,000 rail workers at CN and CPKC have voted to go on strike unless a deal can be reached. 

The Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) says this is a key concern, with approximately 94% of Canadian grain being transported by rail and destined for export markets.

Close to 10,000 rail workers at CN and CPKC have voted to go on strike unless a deal can be reached with the railways. 

CN and CPKC engineers and conductors, and CPKC rail traffic controllers voted 98 percent in favor of a strike mandate that would impact both freight and passenger traffic.

The key issues seem to be around wages and scheduling.

Teamsters Canada Rail Conference President Paul Boucher says both railways want to have federal minimum safety standards for rest periods.

We've seen a real mix of weather on the Prairies this week, from rain in Manitoba and Saskatchewan to snow in Alberta.

Farmers all across the prairies have been really hoping to see wetter weather this spring to help alleviate the drought conditions that we've seen in many areas over the last few years.

The moisture we've been seeing this week is expected to continue sporadically over the next few days.

Spring seeding activity ground to a halt this week with the rain, but seeding is on par with the five-year average. 

Pulse and Soybean Specialist Dennis Lange puts together the weekly crop report and says seeding is now two per cent complete across the province. 

The most advanced area is in the central region, where about 10 per cent of the crop, mainly cereals and some peas are now in. 

According to Statistics Canada, the 2024 Census Test will begin the following week.

The procedure involves testing the revised census questions and collection methods two years before the next census.

The Census of Population and the Census of Agriculture are scheduled to start collecting data on May 6, 2024, and end in late June. All information gathered will be treated with the utmost confidentiality and will not be shared with third parties or kept for later use.

Do you know an outstanding individual who has made a significant contribution to the agriculture industry in Alberta?

If so, you may want to consider nominating them for Alberta's Agriculture Hall of Fame.

Alberta's Agriculture and Irrigation Branch inducts up to three individuals every two years who have demonstrated exceptional leadership in the ag sector. 

Candidates will have made a significant province-wide impact on the industry.

Since it began in 1951, the Alberta Agriculture Hall of Fame has recognized 141 individuals

A new alternative protein option is being developed for health-conscious markets.

Protein Industries Canada announced a new project today to bring new protein products to Canadians with special nutritional requirements. 

The project involving Enhanced Medical Nutrition (EMN), Acenzia, and Gruppo Nutrition will create alternative plant-based protein options to meet the quality, sensory, and muscle health benefits of whey protein isolate.

The Canadian Cattle Association is calling for a revision to the 2013 Beef Cattle Code of Practice.

New information, technology, and advancements in the beef sector have occurred since the code was originally released.

As a result, the industry, general public, and other interested individuals are being asked to participate in a top-of-mind survey relating to the welfare of beef cattle.

The information will be used to help in the development of an updated version of the code.

The Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) has released its Volume-Related Composite Price Index (VRCPI) for the railways.

The VRCPI was increased by 5.39  per cent for CN to 1.9281 and 6.49 per cent for CPKC to 1.8760  for the new crop year beginning August 1st.

The index is an inflation factor determined by detailed railway submissions and reflects a composite of the forecasted prices for railway labour, fuel, material, and capital purchases.