Faculty member Danielle Tichit leads a class on oilseed handling and marketing 
at Assiniboine Community College, part of the ACC agribusiness program.

The other ag college: ACC’s growing agribusiness program

ACC’s agribusiness program is so successful that 26 years later there’s a waiting list to get in

Amanda Boland’s parents don’t farm, but that didn’t stop agriculture from being a part of her childhood. The daughter of two ag retailers in Melfort, Sask., Boland was exposed early to the industry, eventually joining the workforce at Paragon Ag Services, the same company that employs her parents. She loaded and unloaded fertilizer trucks and

East Selkirk farmer and former Keystone Agricultural Producers president Doug Chorney (l) has been appointed assistant chief commissioner of the Canadian Grain Commission effective Feb. 13. Ogema, Saskatchewan farmer Lonny McKague (r) has been appointed a Canadian Grain Commission commissioner effective Feb. 13.

Farmers Doug Chorney, Lonny McKague appointed to Canadian Grain Commission

They start Feb. 13 along with new chief commissioner Patti Miller

The Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) will soon have a full complement of commissioners. Doug Chorney, a farmer from East Selkirk, Man., is the new assistant chief commissioner and Lonny McKague, who farms at Ogema, Sask., is the new commissioner. Their cabinet appointments take effect Feb. 13. That’s also when Canola Council of Canada president Patti


Finding the right person big hurdle for proposed federal science adviser

For agriculture finding a candidate that looks beyond the high-tech sector will be key

The federal government’s plan to name a chief science adviser will be welcome — if the appointee has a broad knowledge of science and research in Canada and will speak out for it, say representatives of the agri-food sector. Science Minister Kirsty Duncan issued a call for nominations that closes Jan. 27. She said the

Railway tracks

Proposed Vancouver grain terminal has great rail connections

The Fraser River Terminal will be served by four railways and there are no bottlenecks, a company official says

A spokesman for one of the companies behind the proposed Fraser Grain Terminal says the facility will be efficient and state of the art. Casey McCawley, Parrish & Heimbecker’s (P&H) director of West Coast operations and a director of the terminal to be co-owned by P&H and Paterson GlobalFoods (PGF), says that’s good news for


Dried legumes and cereals on a white background

Pulse crops fight for consumer attention

Somehow these healthy options are overlooked even in a world 
suddenly concerned about healthy food

Pulses have an image problem. They’re healthy and hearty fare. At times they can even seem like a wonder food, contributing to lower cholesterol, overcoming dietary fibre shortages and perhaps even slowing the spread of some cancers. Despite this, however, they’re also seen as unglamorous and even at times something to be a bit embarrassed

Study explores treatment for farmer back problems

Study explores treatment for farmer back problems

Farmers get more back pain than average, and have a harder time accessing treatment

If your back is aching after long hours on the tractor, or in the combine or truck, researchers at the University of Saskatchewan want to hear from you. They also want to help. Farmers have higher rates of back pain than other occupations, and they’re also likely to have a harder time getting help for


cattle in winter

Wet weather promotes foot rot

Experts warn to be on the lookout for foot rot as recent weather conditions 
have been ideal for the growth of the bacteria

Keep a weather eye out for foot rot. The wet and warm conditions of this season have set the stage for the bacteria that causes it to flourish. “The wet weather gives more places for the bug to live and softens up the animal’s skin which makes little wounds more prevalent,” said Dr. Wayne Tomlinson,

Greg Penner, associate professor with the University of Saskatchewan facility of animal science, says to achieve a productive rumen, producers need to focus on consistency.

Rumen management for best herd productivity

To achieve a healthy rumen and productive herd, experts say to focus on providing consistency in feed and nutrient intake

Making high-quality beef from forages requires an active and healthy rumen to break down those tough fibres, and you can foster these microbes that are the key to herd efficiency. One of the most important things to realize is that as you feed your cattle, you’re also feeding the rumen bacteria. Keeping the feed steady


University of Saskatchewan’s Richard Gray says there’s plenty of reason to be concerned about the Bayer-Monsanto merger.

Canola farmers worried about Bayer-Monsanto merger

The fear is the new company’s market power will result in higher seed prices and less innovation unless regulators order some divestiture of assets

Farmers who are worried about chemical and seed giants Bayer and Monsanto merging should be, according to one prominent agriculture economist. With 94 per cent of western Canadian canola containing Bayer’s Liberty Link or Monsanto’s Roundup Ready traits, the new company will have tremendous market power resulting in higher canola seed prices for farmers, said

Veterinary researchers are currently testing a new vaccine against PEDv that was developed at the University of Saskatchewan.

PEDv vaccine on horizon but biosecurity still key

A PEDv vaccine, field tested during the recent Manitoba 
outbreak, still needs to be registered in Canada


Canadian pork producers are one step closer to having a powerful new tool in the fight against porcine epidemic diarrhea. A vaccine developed by the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization-International Vaccine Centre, also known as VIDO-InterVac, at the University of Saskatchewan has entered its final phase of testing. But while the vaccine is a much