It’s a lengthy and involved process to identify herbicide-resistant weeds that pose a steadily growing threat to farm fields. With almost $500,000 in funding provided by Results Driven Agriculture Research, a project is now underway at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Lethbridge Research and Development Centre to simplify the procedure with the creation of rapid tests.
Nieuwenhuis describes the by-product feeds market as opaque. FeedXchange gives farmers, the ability to see what others are paying and to view historical price trends that can significantly influence purchase decisions and allows them to manage expenses.
In the coming years, the Province will give not-for-profit, non-governmental ag societies across Alberta much needed help to address aging infrastructure. The 291 ag societies own and operate more than 900 facilities. These local landmarks include hockey and curling rinks, equestrian arenas, rodeo grounds and community halls.
From a peak of 1,755 in 1933, it’s estimated close to 100 of Alberta’s historic grain elevators remain standing, and Nanton came very close to losing three of its own when they were decommissioned in March 2001. “The demolition permit was signed, and they were hours away from being bulldozed,” said Leo Wieser, president of the town’s Canadian Grain Elevator Discovery Centre Society. “These are very important cultural icons; Prairie cathedrals that are so important to western Canadians.”
Despite the encouragement of crop groups and conservation outfits, winter wheat acreage in Western Canada has decreased sharply to 2.7 million tonnes in 2022 from the record high of 4.8 million in 2008. A sign this trend may reverse, acreage has increased slightly in Manitoba where farmers have struggled to seed spring wheat in wet fields.
Canada produces some of the world’s best malting barley. While new varieties supply high end-use quality and disease resistance, farmers can help ensure it meets the needs of domestic and international malting and brewing customers.
Sustainability dominates today’s agricultural policy conversations, whether it be the clothes we wear, the energy we consume or the food we eat. Farmers are under growing pressure to meet the food and fuel needs of the global population amid rising costs of production. This dichotomy often makes it seem like sustainability and profitability are at odds.
Following the release of its 2023 New Wheat Crop report in November of last year, Cereals Canada led four international New Wheat Crop Trade and Technical Missions to showcase the quality of Canadian wheat to customers and buyers. Mission team members included representatives of the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC), exporters and farmers from four provincial wheat organizations.
As the agricultural landscape undergoes a significant shift, Olds College of Agriculture & Technology stays attuned to the industry’s emerging needs and trends such as the critical challenge posed by the current labour shortage. We perceive this challenge as an opportunity to sculpt the future of agriculture through progressive education and state-of-the-art technology.
China is a top destination for Canadian barley, canola and wheat. Canada has typically had the largest market share for canola and been competitive in malting barley. Both of these crops have experienced the rollercoaster of Chinese trade policy. While market access for canola was restricted during the Huawei crisis, Canadian barley benefitted from China’s diplomatic spat with Australia. Generally unaffected by politics, Canada is China’s main source of high-quality wheat, primarily CWRS.
