Tulip fields in the Netherlands. (CIA.gov)

African growers threaten Dutch flower power

Aalsmeer, Netherlands | Reuters — The Netherlands is fighting to retain its crown as the world’s top auction house for flowers as growers in Africa and elsewhere increasingly sell directly to buyers. The country grew wealthy selling tulip bulbs in the 17th century during the so-called Dutch Golden Age and remains the second largest agricultural

Western flower thrips, which Russia says it’s found in imported flowers from the Netherlands. (Omafra.gov.on.ca)

After food, now Russia burns Dutch flowers

Moscow | Reuters –– A week after angering many in Russia by burning illegally imported Western food, authorities have started feeding Dutch flowers to the flames. Officials say blooms from the Netherlands, which supplies much of Russia’s US$2.5 billion flower market, pose safety risks because they may be infected. Critics say the “flower war” marks


Editorial: Just print your food and eat it?

Those of us who still garden have a rather quaint view of food and technology. We plant seeds, help them grow, harvest and eat (cooking optional). Meat or other sources of protein are a bit of an afterthought compared to the taste of those first seasonal bites of melt-in-your mouth potatoes, beans, beets and carrots.

Researchers believe wild boars are more prevalent than many people realize.

Tracking the elusive but destructive wild boar

The highly reclusive wild boar may be responsible for much more 
crop damage than previously thought

Ruth Kost has never seen a wild boar before but she’s hoping that will change after a summer spent tracking the elusive beast. “They don’t like to show themselves,” said the University of Saskatchewan master’s student. “They are kind of reclusive, they avoid people… and they’re very aware of hunting pressures.” But just because you


A farm employee pulls out cornstalks on an 18-hectare operation owned by a retired educator near Livingstone.  hotos: Shannon VanRaes

A mix of pragmatism and fear keeps GMOs out of Zambia

While the debate over GMO labelling continues in North America, Zambians take it for granted that they aren’t consuming products made with genetically modified ingredients

In Zambia, it’s practically everywhere. Maize is in tiny garden plots, on small farms, huge estates, in markets and on dinner plates. Since its introduction to Africa by the Portuguese in the 16th century, maize has become the main staple crop in this region. Two megalithic-size cobs even flank the entrance to the Zambia National

La Salle Redboine Conservation District manager Justin Reid spoke to municipal and conservation officials during the latest phase of the large-scale water-retention project south of Holland last week.

Pelly’s Lake watershed management project complete

Officials visit site to see the gates opened on the now complete Pelly’s Lake Watershed Management Project

Conservation and municipal officials opened the gates here June 16 to release water that had been held back through the spring as part of a water control project expected to bring multiple benefits to the area. The June opening of the gates on the Pelly’s Lake dam built last year is the latest phase of


bee on a flower

Surprisingly few ‘busy bees’ make global crops grow

Conservation of wild pollinators can’t be based on economics alone

A major international study published in Nature Communications, suggests that only two per cent of wild bee species pollinate 80 per cent of bee-pollinated crops worldwide. The study is one of the largest on bee pollination to date. While agricultural development and pesticides have been shown to produce sharp declines in many wild bee populations,



Rene Heijmans of Wingssprayer

VIDEO: Wingssprayer system eliminates spray drift

Manitoba Ag Days Inventor's Showcase: Invention from the Netherlands could make big impact on the Prairies

Invented by Harrie Hoeben of the Netherlands, Wingssprayer is designed to allow producers to use fine droplets while crop spraying without worrying about spray drift. The system virtually eliminates wind interference at the spray heads while also opening the canopy so herbicides or pesticides properly cover the plant and treat it further down. Wingssprayer’s Manitoba office is located in Rivers,

mink fur

Mink ranchers get reprieve from depressed market

The federal government has extended the deadline for repaying cash advances

Canada’s financially beleaguered mink producers received a bit of good news last week when the federal government extended the deadline for repaying their 2013 cash advances. Producers now have until June 1, 2015 to repay their Advance Payment Program (APP) cash advances instead of September 30, 2014. The move provides some relief for producers who