Grainswest - Winter 2022

Get hot, fast burnoff, extended weed control or both FMC herbicide products include: Aim ® EC, Authority ® 480, Authority ® Supreme, Winter 2022 Grains West 8 An in-depthexaminationof drought fallout THE CANADIAN CENTRE FOR FOOD Integrity has declared Feb. 22, Canada’s Agriculture Day. Led by Agriculture More than Ever, a social media initiative whose mandate is to create positive con- nections between farmers and consum- ers, the day calls on everyone to celebrate farming. Ag boosters can show support for the industry that feeds the world by posting photos, videos and “forks up” selfies on social media. As an act of agri- cultural mindfulness, organizers suggest participants cook an all-Canadian meal. Farm organizations, including the Alberta Wheat Commission and Alber- ta Barley, work consistently to boost consumer awareness and understanding of the industry. On the heels of the 2021 drought and its considerable economic impact on farmers, public acknowledge- ment on this special day will certainly be welcome. There is some indication public aware- ness of ag issues has recently improved. Given the difficulties the industry has faced over the last couple of years, it has been heartening to see steady main- stream news coverage of ag issues such as pandemic-related supply chain problems and trade embargoes. Public interest may in part be due to the direct link such stories have to the price of groceries. Close to home, Canadians took particular notice of the drought’s effects on western Canadian farms. Its fallout continues to reverberate. In “Heat of the moment” (p. 27), our three-part cover story, we examine the drought’s agronomic, economic and per- sonal impact. The value of crop insurance comes into focus, as does the sting of contract can- cellation fees and related charges levelled by grain companies. In the wake of dry conditions, agronomists emphasize the necessity of soil testing and the potential to lower fertilizer cost and entomolo- gists flag good news and bad in regard to insect pest populations. And perhaps most importantly, in this time of high stress and anxiety, mental health advo- cates advise farmers to look out for their personal wellbeing and that of family and community. With so much to process, public awareness of the drought’s fallout is a positive, but interpersonal connections are critical. Also among the stories you’ll read in this issue, inspired by the rapid escala- tion of fertilizer prices, we look at a num- ber of research projects that may directly or indirectly address this cost issue in “Fertilizer takes flight” (p. 34). For the latest in the world of new crop varieties, “Ancestry DNA” (p. 40) sizes up drought resistance and flavour genetics in malting barley and “New faces in winter wheat” (p. 38) details a changing of the guard in breeding leadership. For more information on Canada’s Agriculture Day social media activities visit agday.ca. EDITOR’S MESSAGE Alberta crops suffered in 2021 as temperatures climbed and precipitation failed to appear. Photo: JeremyBoychyn