Dave Hatcher

New interim wheat class coming for Faller, Prosper, Elgin-ND

Market potential will be studied before its made permanent. In the meantime the CGC will strengthen the quality specifications for the CWRS and CPSR classes

Changes are coming to Western Canada’s milling wheat classes along with some additional study and more industry feedback, the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) announced May 8. After consulting the grain sector earlier this year the CGC has decided to introduce a new interim milling wheat class to take effect Aug. 1 and continue until at

wheat grains

NDSU warns Elgin wheat sales could be in violation of breeders rights

Some U.S. seedsmen may be approaching Canadians to sell them certified Elgin-ND seed

FP Genetics is the only legal source for Elgin-ND pedigreed seed in Canada and this spring all its seed is going to Western Canadian seed growers to produce certified seed for commercial production in 2016. Those who try to get seed from American suppliers are breaking plant breeders’ rights laws and face heavy penalties, warns


weeds growing in soil

Glyphosate resistance: Change now or pay later

A USDA-ERS report shows managing glyphosate resistance is more cost effective than ignoring resistance and farmers need to work together

The United States Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service recently published the results of a study into the economics of glyphosate-resistance management on U.S. corn and soybean farms. Through surveys and computer models it determined the relative costs of ignoring the problem versus taking action to address it. The following is an excerpt from that

geese near an urban pond

Hatchery amps up bird deterrence in face of avian influenza

Consumer faith in poultry products appears to be holding in spite of a growing 
number of avian influenza cases on farms in Ontario and the U.S.

Manitoba poultry producers and processors have yet to be stung by the avian influenza sweeping farms south of the border, but that doesn’t mean it’s business as usual. Enhanced biosecurity brings a host of changes and logistical challenges. “We’ve increased our sanitation measures, we have foot baths now at all the entrances to our production


potato salad

Safe food preservation advice comes early this year

Prairie Fare: Poached Turkey Salad with Fennel, Kale and Cashews

We have reached the time of year when church potlucks are plentiful and garages are cleared out to become open-air dining rooms for graduation parties. No one wants a special event with bountiful food and numerous guests to become a recipe for disaster. Unfortunately, food prepared or stored unsafely can cause illness or even death.

potatoes with pink rot

Cultural practices important for managing pink rot and leak

Environmental conditions can influence the appearance from year to year

Manitoba growers know there are plenty of differences between “wet” rots and “dry” rots in storage — but both can cause devastating losses each year. According to Neil Gudmestad, a distinguished professor at North Dakota State University’s department of plant pathology, important rots in storage include dry rot, late blight tuber rot, pink rot, leak


man and woman standing beside car

Weather watchers keep eyes on the rural skies

Steinbach’s Storm Ready volunteer weather-spotter pilot program has been active since 2010. EMO and Environment Canada are working to see it expanded and taken up by more communities, say EMO officials

You’re a true weather hound if you volunteer to have a siren go off in your house whenever a storm is brewing. Blumenort resident Amy Ginn gets a rush of adrenalin every time she hears it — especially when it goes off in the middle of the night. “It does get your attention when it

canola seed pods

Canola trade already looking past acreage estimate

However, fewer acres could mean tight supplies to come

ICE Futures Canada canola contracts held narrowly rangebound during the week ended April 24, but managed to move higher overall, with the biggest gains in the new-crop months. Statistics Canada’s acreage intentions report, released April 23, provided the big news for the week as far as canola was concerned. However, even the first official acreage


wild pig trap

Catching wild hogs by smartphone

Non-profit foundation teams with livestock company to produce drop-down system

A U.S. research foundation has announced commercialization of a trap designed to capture feral hogs, which it says cost $1.5 billion in losses in 48 U.S. states. The Noble Foundation, based in Ardmore, Oklahoma along with W-W Livestock Systems of Thomas, Okla. unveiled the BoarBuster trap at the recent National Wild Turkey Federation Convention and

close-up of cattle

Editorial: Time to quit fighting COOL

Maybe we missed it, but somehow we expected there would be more of a buzz when McDonald’s announced that it had chosen Canada for its first-ever project to source sustainable beef. We saw no industry or government releases welcoming the announcement, which seems a bit odd. After all, McDonald’s is North America’s largest beef buyer.