Blue Moon Saskatoon Welcomes Guests

Leslie and Dale Luhowy had a special treat to serve some recent visitors – freshly baked saskatoon pie made with berries from their very own orchard. The family’s saskatoon operation was a definite draw for folks participating in the province’s first Open Farm Day Sept. 19. But while they were there, visitors also learned about

Manitoba Tomatoes Ravaged By Disease This Year – for Sep. 9, 2010

Nothing beats the taste of a homegrown, vine-ripened tomato, but there are a lot fewer this year due to fungal diseases that have defoliated plants and rotted the fruit. There’s no controlling it now, but Manitoba gardeners can pick uninfected fruit and let it ripen off the vine. They can also cut out the infected


Agrium Sees AWB As A Platform For Retail Growth – for Sep. 9, 2010

Fertilizer maker and farm products retailer Agr ium Inc. sees Australia’s AWB as the perfect platform to continue expanding its global retail network, said a top company executive Aug. 16. Agrium has launched an unsolicited $1.1 billion bid to acquire AWB, Australia’s largest wheat exporter, trumping a rival offer from Australia’s GrainCorp. “The key is

Disease Threatens What’s Left

From 10,000 feet, the muddy Prairie fields below soaked with unprecedented rains this spring can be described in one word: dismal. The Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) predicts farmers will seed only 19.2 million acres of wheat and 6.6 million of barley – the smallest acreages since 1971 and 1965, respectively. It estimates 8.5 million to

Primulas — A Welcome Burst Of Colour

By the time winter comes to an end, Prairie gardeners are tired of it and long to get gardening and to be surrounded by flowers and greenery. It is no coincidence that at this time of year garden centres and retail outlets are full of enticing flowering plants just beckoning us to purchase them. These


Agrium, Rivals Seen Focusing On Smaller Deals

“Consolidation of the fertilizer industry worldwide is far from over.” – JOERGEN OLE HASLESTAD Aprotracted takeover battle in the global fertilizer industry ended this week with a victory for CF Industries Holdings Inc., but the losers are unlikely to wait long before climbing back into the fray. CF Industries’ agreement to acquire Terra Industries brought

Monsanto Announces Scholarships

Monsanto Canada’s 2010 Opportunity Scholarship Program offers graduating Grade 12 high school students a $1,500 entrance scholarship to help fund their post-secondary education. “Our scholarship program is one of the most rewarding programs we administer on a yearly basis and we are pleased to be able to support kids from farm families who have chosen

U. S. Entrepreneur Says There Is A Better Way To Raise Beef

If Todd Churchill is right, he’s come up with a grass-fed beef production model that could pull the rug out from under confinement grain-fed livestock-feeding systems. “In my opinion, confinement livestock is about to be thrown virtually off the bus,” Churchill told a Manitoba Cattle Enhancement Council strategic planning session Nov. 30. “In 10 years,


Consumers Rise To Buy-Local Challenge

Barbecue season is upon us and more and more Canadians are visiting farmers’ markets or seeking out a Product of Canada label in order to support Canadian farmers. Several campaigns promoting locally grown or Canadianproduced food have sprung up. Recently, retailers like Loblaw Companies Limited, fast-food chains such as McDonald’s and major companies like Unilever

We’re Ready For A Breath Of Spring

Choose a pot of bulbs that have buds but not blooms. There is nothing that shouts “spring!” as loudly as a pot of spring bulbs in full bloom. Cheerful golden mini-daffodils, lovely pink or azure hyacinths or jaunty purple, white or yellow crocus all seem able to make us believe that spring is just around