A proposed amendment, and a dispute over senatorial behaviour, further geared down progress Tuesday of a federal private member’s bill to carve out a carbon tax exemption for grain drying and heating of barns and greenhouses. Bill C-234, which passed the House of Commons in late March, remained on the Senate’s order paper for debate […] Read more
Internal dispute over privilege, bullying allegations ties up C-234
New amendment to farm fuel bill now under debate
Hydroponic farming company going strong in 2023
Growcer’s modular farms generate appeal across Canada
The cost of food has always been a concern in northern communities, but one Ontario-based company has developed a solution for year-round food access through modular farms. Ottawa company Growcer inc. makes modular farms out of 40-foot structures that can sustain harsh conditions. Its farms use hydroponics, a technique that uses nutrient-rich water rather than […] Read more
Agritechnica update: A new big horsepower Massey, adjustable hay conditioning and automation matures
Massey Ferguson released its new high-horsepower 9S tractor at Agritechnica. It’s the next tractor for Massey Ferguson with the unique 18 cm gap between the cab and the engine, which makes it more conformable for the operator and with better sight lines. It’s also new highest horsepower tractor available from Massey Ferguson at 425 maximum […] Read more
Legislation allows Quebec’s UPA to rework funding formula
Bill 28 passes Quebec assembly
Quebec’s legislative assembly has passed a bill allowing the province’s overarching general farm organization, the Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA), to start the process toward a new funding model. Provincial Agriculture Minister Andre Lamontagne on Thursday announced the passage of Bill 28, which amends legislation governing organization of farming activities and the accreditation of UPA. […] Read more
Challenge aimed to improve Canada’s food security
Seven Ontario teams have moved to the next phase of Homegrown Innovation Challenge
Canada is known as a leading world producer of many staple crops like wheat, lentils, peas and canola, as well as a global exporter of animal proteins like pork and beef. The same can’t be said for many horticultural crops, except for greenhouse vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers, due to nature of the climate. […] Read more
Senate votes down C-234 amendments
Changes would have pulled barn and greenhouse heating from carbon price exemptions
The Senate voted today to reject amendments that would have seen barn and greenhouse heating removed from Bill C-234. In a sitting on the afternoon of Nov. 7, senators voted no to the adoption of amendments made by the committee for agriculture and forestry. Twenty-eight voted yes, and four abstained. The Senate then voted to […] Read more
Prairie Forecast: Nice, quiet early-winter weather
Issued Nov. 1, covering Nov. 1 to 8
Interesting weather pattern setting up across the Prairies during this forecast period. Well, maybe “interesting” isn’t the right word; “boring” might be a better one. What I mean by “interesting” is just how quickly we swung from a warm fall pattern to a cool winter pattern. Low temperatures across the Prairies over the last week […] Read more
Prairie Forecast Update: Warmer air not in the cards
Issued Oct. 29, covering Oct. 29 to Nov. 1
The forecast for this period has been playing out pretty close to what the weather models were predicting, but with a few small differences. For Alberta, the forecasted upper ridge does not look like it will get nearly as strong as originally forecasted as a strong northwesterly flow helps to flatten the ridge. This means […] Read more
Robots may help grain farmers diversify
Tech could support labour-intensive higher-value crops
Chuck Baresich, who owns an agricultural robotics business in Ontario, says controlling weeds with robots is probably best suited for high-value, horticultural crops in Canada. However, large-scale grain farmers could also use the technology if they think about it differently. “Let’s say my brother and me are growing 1,500 acres of corn,” said Baresich, who […] Read more
Prairie Forecast Update: Cold and some snow coming
Issued Oct. 22, covering Oct. 22 to 25
I have been waiting to see if the weather models were going to come into agreement on the upcoming shift on our weather pattern and for the most part, they have: it’s going to get cold! A large area of low pressure has formed over the eastern Arctic and the counterclockwise rotation around that low […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
