Jodi Souter’s company J4 Agri-Science is showing that private plant breeding startups have a crucial role to play in...
Marc Zienkiewicz
Marc Zienkiewicz
Marc Zienkiewicz spent a decade working as a reporter, photographer, and finally a managing editor for what was then Canada’s largest newspaper chain. Over the years he received numerous Manitoba Community Newspapers Association awards for his writing and photography, and most recently has won Canadian Farm Writers Federation awards for his writing and podcasting. Believing that it's important to be involved in the industry you work in, he currently is a member of the Seeds Canada Advocacy and Communications Committee. He lives on a quarter-section of land in Brightstone, Man., with his wife Laura and their dog, two cats and two horses.
Alberta Grains Announces Leadership and Board Updates Following AGM
Following Alberta Grains’ Annual General Meeting, held last week during the Prairie Cereals Summit in Banff, Alberta,...
At 79 , Ed Lefsrud is Focused on the Road Ahead
The founder of Lefsrud Seed talks about the importance of expanding the seedgrower community and inspiring the next...
CSGA Opens Up its Membership to the Wider Seed Community
In a special member meeting held today in Calgary, the Canadian Seed Growers Association (CSGA) approved the...
Bad-Smelling Wheat is the Next Weapon Against Midge
Imagine you’re a tiny wheat midge, buzzing around in search of the perfect place to lay your eggs. As you fly over a...
We’re Gathering in Downtown Calgary to Draw Up a Map for the Future of Plant Breeding in Canada
We're at the interprovincial seed growers meeting in Calgary hosted by the Alberta-British Columbia Seed Growers, and...
Why Should You Invest in New Genetics? Watch our Panel Discussion to Find Out
Featured photo: Last week's panel discussion at the CrossRoads Crop Conference featured Alberta Seed Guide Editor Marc...
There’s a Revolution Going on in the Hybrid Rye Space and Alberta is Playing a Big Role
ABOVE: SU Performer hybrid fall rye from Saaten-Union. Photo courtesy FP Genetics Hybrid rye seed production is in...
We Need More Than Just Checkoff Dollars to Bring New Seed to Farmers
The funding landscape for seed development is more complicated than it used to be. While producer levies are crucial,...
Yukon’s Farming Frontier is Open for Trailblazers
Do you think the Peace River region is about the furthest north one can farm? Not so fast. Yukon is flipping the...
The Blue Book is Getting Even Better
PHOTO: Craig Lester is the new coordinator for the Alberta Blue Book. After the provincial government decided to...
Progress of the 2024 Harvest was Well Above Average
Alberta’s 2024 harvest season has reached near completion with 99% of all crops harvested, marking a significant...
How Kim Kenward Built One of Canada’s Biggest Portfolios of Molecular Tests to Benefit Farmers
This article is from our sister publication Seed World Canada. For profiles of four other seed testing innovators...
Genetic Tweaks can Make Oats More Nutritious, Increase Shelf Life
Health-conscious consumers and oat product producers will find new hope in the latest research out of McGill...
Lisa Greenan is Changing the Rules of Seed Testing
This article is from our sister publication Seed World Canada. For profiles of four other seed testing innovators...
Janek Bartel says Seed Testing is Becoming Revolutionized
This article is from our sister publication Seed World Canada. For profiles of four other seed testing innovators...
What Value does Certified Seed Bring to the Farm? We Asked a Farmer
When it comes to making decisions about seed on the farm, Henk Kamper, a seasoned grower in southern Alberta, knows...
Harvest is Virtually Complete as Farmers Enjoy Dry Weather
The provincial harvest has advanced by an additional 5 per cent over the past week, now standing at 96 per cent...
Farmer, Seed Grower Tom Jackson is Being Remembered as an Individualist who Pushed the Envelope
ABOVE: Tom Jackson in the 1960s on the family farm in Sherwood Park, Alta. The seed community has lost a legend who’s...
Harvest Nears Completion as Farmers Push Through the Final Stretch
The past week has been productive for Alberta farmers, with the provincial harvest reaching 91% completion for major...
85% of Major Crops Harvested Despite Heavy Rainfall
Harvest operations across the province made significant strides over the past week, despite being slowed by rainfall...
Bayer Acquires Canola Facility from HyTech Production
Bayer Crop Science will acquire a canola treating and packaging facility in Coaldale, Alta., from HyTech Production on...
Rain Delays Harvest but Progress Remains Ahead of Long-Term Averages
Farmers across the province are facing harvest delays due to widespread precipitation over the past week, according to...
U of Calgary and WCI Strike Partnership
Western Crop Innovations has entered a memorandum of understanding with the University of Calgary. Aligning current...
Gene-Edited Wheat, Next-Gen Oats and Cool Technology: Watch our New Webinar on Innovations in Cereals
Miss today’s Seed World webinar sponsored by SeCan? No worries!...
The Seed Community is Rallying Around WCI as it Prepares to Meet the Future
Key seed industry players SeedNet, SaskBarley and Alberta Grains are joining others around the Western Crop...
Shape the Future of Crop Innovation: Take Part in the Western Crop Innovations Survey
Western Crop Innovations (WCI), a not-for-profit crop research and development centre based in Lacombe, is calling on...
The United States has Given the Green Light to GM Wheat
Bioceres Crop Solutions Corp. has just achieved a major milestone with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)...
SaskBarley Joins Western Crop Innovations, Makes $50,000 Contribution to Bolster Breeding
The Saskatchewan Barley Development Commission (SaskBarley) has joined Western Crop Innovations (WCI) as a voting...
Calgary’s Brent Collins Talks 2 Priorities that Could Shape the Future of the Seed Business
PHOTO: Brent Collins is the new president of Seeds Canada. Photo: Svetlana Yanova Photography Brent Collins has become...
The Rail Dispute is Over. Now It’s Time to Stop Leaving Farmers and Consumers High and Dry
Last week’s railway work stoppage was a wake-up call. Farmers were anxious about getting their wheat to market,...
Railways to Resume Operating, Bringing an End to Labour Dispute
Rail operations across Canada are set to resume today following a ruling from the federal labour board that ended the...
Provincial Harvest Reaches 8% Completion, Slightly Above 10-Year Average
Harvest progress across the province has reached 8% completion for major crops, marking a 6% increase from the...
Railway Work Stoppages to Cost Growers Over $50 Million Daily, According to Grain Growers of Canada
PHOTO: Annual ryegrass, also called Italian ryegrass, is a valuable cover crop. The Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) is...
Wheat at Risk: Researchers are Tackling the Growing Threat of Tan Spot
Pictured: Reem Aboukhaddour of the Lethbridge Research and Development Centre in the field. Wheat fields stretching...
Is There a Shortage of Plant Breeders to Create New Seed Varieties? A New Study Says Yes
Valerio Hoyos-Villegas is worried. The dry bean breeder and professor at McGill University is one of several...
In a World Without Regionally Adapted Seed Varieties, Farmer Competitiveness Would Suffer
As general manager of SeedNet, Jeff Jackson understands the critical importance of breeding locally and regionally...
AgSmart Pulls in Nearly 4,000 People as Western Crop Innovations Steps into the Spotlight
PHOTO: The staff of Western Crop Innovations. The fifth annual AgSmart, held on July 30 and 31 at Olds College, proved...
The Lab Meets the Field: Some Quick Takeaways from our AgSmart Panel Discussion
PHOTO: Jeremy Boychyn addresses the crowd while panelists Russell Wildeman, Lori Oatway and Jennifer Zantinge look on....
Don’t Miss our Panel Discussion at AgSmart This Week
AgSmart 2024 is designed with the modern farmer in mind, aiming to provide producers with the tools and knowledge...
Engagement is Priority Number 1 as Calgary’s Brent Collins Takes the Seeds Canada President’s Chair
There are two main areas of focus that Seeds Canada is gearing up for, says its new president Brent Collins. Firstly,...
How Scientists are Tackling Evolving Pests and Pathogens
As plant diseases evolve, so are ways of tackling them through plant science. Watch as we delve into the world of...
Alberta Grains Bolsters WCI with $375,000 Contribution, New CFO Announced
Alberta Grains, in collaboration with the provincial government and industry partners, has announced substantial...
UFA Acquires Stake in Canterra Seeds
Canterra Seeds Holdings announced today that United Farmers of Alberta Co-operative Limited (UFA) has acquired a 17%...
Farmers are Enjoying Good Conditions Throughout the Province
It wasn't long ago that the province was bracing for major drought. What a difference a few weeks can make. According...
How the Pandemic Led to the Rebirth of the Frontier Seed Cleaning Co-op
PHOTO: The $2.8 million upgrade to the Frontier seed cleaning plant resulted in essentially building a new plant...
Want a Free Pass to AgSmart? Answer This Question
AgSmart takes place in Olds, Alta. July 30-31. The Alberta Seed Guide is giving away eight free passes to the two-day...
Farmers Hoping for Warm Weather Now That Seeding is Done
As seeding wraps up across the province, most crops now need warm weather to thrive, according to the latest...
Learn About Innovations Like Speed Breeding at AgSmart
PHOTO: (From left) Jennifer Zantinge, Jeremy Boychyn, Lori Oatway. New scientific innovations that bring new seed...
Alberta Crop Diagnostic Days to be Featured at AgSmart Next Month
PHOTO: Last year, the AgSmart show drew in over 3,000 people over two days who came to view the wealth of technology...
New Variety Designation Lists for Food Barley are Being Launched
The Canadian Grain Commission is making several grain grading changes for the new crop year following consultation...