Farmers, your political engagement matters

Farmers, your political engagement matters

This election, don’t lose the chance to bring farming to the forefront

I have a message for every farmer in Manitoba, no matter what crop they grow or type of animals under their care: Now is the time to engage with all local candidates. Governance matters. On Oct. 3, Manitobans will elect 57 members of the legislative assembly. Every one of them will influence, for good or

Rob Painter (l) and Eric Hansotia, CEOs of Trimble and Agco respectively, agreed on Sept. 28, 2023 to combine their precision ag arms into a new joint venture. (Trimble via PRNewswire)

Trimble Ag, Agco’s JCA link up for new precision ag venture

Agco gets majority control of a new precision ag and autonomy firm; Agco's GSI brand and others now under separate review

Global positioning tech firm Trimble is set to sell its precision ag business into a new joint-venture company that will include farm machinery maker Agco’s made-in-Manitoba autonomy arm. From farmers’ perspective, the two companies say their combined technology offering is expected to offer “seamless integration and connectivity across geographies, equipment brands and the crop life


File photo of Scoular’s flax processing plant just outside Regina. (Scoular.com)

Scoular boosts flax processing capacity near Regina

Two other Saskatchewan sites for sale as U.S. firm steps out of pulse packing

U.S. grain handler Scoular is stepping up its Canadian Prairie flax processing game as it completes its exit from the region’s pulse crop sector. The company last year opened up a high-speed flax line at its pulse and special crops site at Richardson, Sask., just southeast of Regina — and it has now moved to

photo: yana tatevosian/istock/getty images

Researchers call for more pea acres

Peas are a powerhouse. Not only do they sport a low carbon footprint and contain a high amount of protein, but they come with their own nitrogen. So why aren’t more acres planted? Why it matters: Peas have seen a resurgence in Manitoba with the entry of new processors in recent years. The biggest reason is risk of root


The Cascadia grain terminal at the Port of Vancouver is co-owned by Viterra and Richardson International. (Viterra.ca)

Transport Canada to review Bunge-Viterra marriage plans

Competition Bureau also to probe proposed deal

Canada’s federal transport department will conduct its own review of U.S. grain giant Bunge’s plans to buy and merge with Viterra — with an eye particularly on both companies’ stakes in Canadian port terminals. Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez announced Tuesday that his department will review the deal under the mergers and acquisitions provisions of the

Lentils. (Seb_ra/iStock/Getty Images)

Pulse weekly outlook: India dispute leaves lentils’ future uncertain

India was Canada's top customer in 2022-23

MarketsFarm — As tensions between Canada and India remain very high, the future direction for Canadian lentils continued to be uncertain. “Your guess is as good as mine,” Marcos Mosnaim of Export Packers said as to what could happen, adding “Canada has to be careful. I don’t know what India will do.” Prime Minister Justin



(Iggi_Boo/iStock/Getty Images)

Pulse weekly outlook: Canada’s prices well supported given smaller crops

Dispute between Canada, India to be watched closely

MarketsFarm — Canadian pulse production came in well below average in 2023, keeping prices supported for the time being. Total pea production was pegged at 2.27 million tonnes by Statistics Canada on Thursday. That was up slightly from the 2.19 million tonnes forecast in August, but well off the 3.42 million tonnes grown the previous


A view of the cover crop blend and its robust growth on Nick Stokman’s field in October 2022.

Getting plants to do the tillage

Bio-strip tilling combines cover crop and strip-till philosophies

Nick Stokman and Ian McDonald have more than 80 years of combined experience in farming, research and extension. Yet they’re relative newcomers to the practice of bio-strip tilling, a means of replacing tillage implements with plants. Why it matters: Bio-strip till broadens the concept of a cover crop, clearing rows for planting and allowing crops to grow after a terminated

(Dave Bedard photo)

Cargill agrees to sell stake in Russian grain terminal

Buyer says deal under government review

Reuters — U.S.-based commodities trader Cargill said on Thursday it had agreed to sell its stake in a Russian grain terminal to Russia’s Delo Group. “In line with Cargill’s earlier announcement to stop the export of Russian grain in July 2023, we can confirm we have reached an agreement with Delo to sell our 25