“What we’re trying to do is find a path forward so we can eradicate or eliminate Triffid from our flax production. That’s the goal.” – RICHARD WANSBUTTER The ongoing CDC Triffid saga could end farmers’ practice of saving flaxseed from year to year, industry sources say. Not all the details have been worked out, but
Certified Seed Part Of Triffid Solution
FCWB Defends Wheat Board Against Ottawa In Court
“We’re saying a minister should not be able to change or override the regulations and the voting procedures of the Canadian Wheat Board just through a simple letter of instruction and a secret one at that.” – STEWART WELLS Allegations that Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz exceeded his authority by instructing the Canadian Wheat Board to
EU’s GM Flax Tolerance Too Low
Canada’s flax exports to the European Union won’t return to normal any time soon because the tolerance for genetically modified (GM) CDC Triffid flax is too low, exporters say. Their fears seem even more justified since the Canadian Commission (CGC) has concluded “that FP967 (CDC Triffid) is present throughout the Canadian flaxseed crop at low
Climate Change Opportunities For Western Canadian Farmers
“I think a lot of your competitors will fall out of the market. They won’t be able to produce under those conditions.” – David Runnalls Climate change is real, but it’s not all bad for western Canadian farmers, according to David Runnalls, president and CEO of the International Institute for Sustainable Development headquartered in Winnipeg.
Lots To Consider When Assessing Crop Rotations
“The coffee shop never hears about the problems. They hear about the 80-bushel canola, but they very seldom hear about the quarter section that was wiped out with blackleg.” – WELDON NEWTON Push your crop rotations and you’re pushing your luck. Nevertheless, a lot of farmers have been tightening their canola rotations and getting away
Knowing The Variety Applies To More Than Wheat
The message “know what you’re growing” is usually aimed at farmers producing wheat, but it applies to canola and flax too. Wheat growers need to know the variety they’re growing so they can deliver it to the proper class, which is crucial in assuring customer satisfaction. But with canola and flax the emphasis is on
Check Canola Bins For Spoilage
After a long, hard harvest farmers deserve some time off over Christmas, but to ensure a “happy new year,” they should check their canola bins for heating. “Canola and other grains will respire for about six weeks after harvest so even if a guy thinks he has put it in dry and cool it can
Ug99 Stem Rust On The Move
The question is “when” not “if ” Ug99, a potentially devastating wheat stem rust discovered in Uganda in 1999, will reach Canada, says Winnipeg-based Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada plant pathologist Tom Fetch. Eighty-five per cent of Canadian spring wheat varieties are vulnerable to this new race of fungus disease, so the longer Ug99 stays away
Reglone Versus Glyphosate
They’ve (Reglone and glyphosate) been around for many years. They work totally differently, but as I say confusion still reigns.” – ED THIESSEN Reglone (diquat) and glyphosate are similar, but different and farmers need to know the difference to get the best results from each, says Ed Thiessen of Syngenta Canada. Both are non-selective herbicides
MSGA Honours U Of M Plant Breeder Anita Brûlé-Babel
University of Manitoba plant breeder Anita Brlé-Babel has received an Honorary Life Membership award from the Manitoba Seed Growers’ Association (MSGA). The award, presented Dec. 9 at the MSGA annual banquet in Winnipeg, is in recognition of Brlé-Babel’s significant contributions to the pedigreed seed industry. Brlé-Babel specializes in wheat breeding and genetics and teaches several