By the end of testing, most alfalfa fields were in the late-bud stage or starting to flower.

‘Hay Day’ came early, but haying came late

Green Gold program issues final report for 2016

This year’s hay crop got off to an early start, but you can’t say the same for hay harvest. The Manitoba Forage & Grassland Association last week issued the final report for the Green Gold program, which tracks progress of the province’s alfalfa crop. Participating producers submit twice-weekly samples for testing of relative feed value

Ag In Motion: Live Blog (wrap up)

Ag In Motion: Live Blog (wrap up)

See and read about the newest agricultural technology in the field

Ag In Motion, Western Canada’s first outdoor farm expo, features live demonstrations of field equipment, crop plots and interactive agribusiness exhibits showcasing the products and services relevant to your business. Staff from Grainews, Alberta Farmer Express, the Manitoba Co-operator and the Western Producer will be on-site from July 19-21 covering the event via live blog. Visit the live blog on


A reaper and thresher in one machine?

A reaper and thresher in one machine?

Our History: July 1927

The July 1927 issue of The Grain Growers’ Guide featured some ads for a new concept in harvesting — combining the reaping and threshing in a single machine. Below this ad for the Massey-Harris version was another ad for a more questionable product, the “wonderful new Vapour Humidifier and Gas Saver,” which purported to increase



(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Feds fund Canada Beef export promotion

$6.4 million over three years

Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Lawrence MacAulay has announced funding of up to $6.4 million over three years for Canada Beef Inc., the national agency for research and promotion. A government release said the funds will support Canadian Beef’s three-year market development and promotion plan targeting key regional hubs in Asia, Europe, North America and Latin



Rye is the most susceptible to ergot, but it can also be in other cereals such as barley.
Wikipedia/Creative Commons

Be on the lookout for ergot

The Beef Cattle Research Council has posted a blog warning producers to be on the lookout for ergot this year. “Over the past few weeks, Mother Nature has provided us with the rain and cool conditions which have created the environment for ergot infections to occur. These cool, wet conditions have also increased flowering periods in

Crop breeding is not keeping pace with climate change

Crop breeding is not keeping pace with climate change

Yields are likely to fall if the current trendline continues, researchers say

Crop yields will fall within the next decade due to climate change unless immediate action is taken to speed up the introduction of new and improved varieties, experts have warned. The research, led by the University of Leeds and published in the journal Nature Climate Change, focuses on maize in Africa but the underlying processes


Photo: Thinkstock

Feds and province fund Maple Leaf bacon plant

The governments of Canada and Manitoba have announced funding of $500,000 toward an expansion of Maple Leaf Food’s bacon processing plant in Winnipeg. The announcement was made Monday at the plant by federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay and Manitoba Agriculture Minister Ralph Eichler. A release said Maple Leaf Food’s investment in the bacon line expansion

(Dave Bedard photo)

U.S. GMO label law clears Congress

A law for mandatory labelling of foods for sale in the U.S. with genetically modified or otherwise “bioengineered” ingredients has cleared both houses of Congress and now goes to President Barack Obama. The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday approved the Senate’s bipartisan bill S.764 by a 306-117 vote, sending it to the White House