The federal government is extending the higher interest-free portion on cash advances for 2026. Coinciding with the start of the government's new fiscal year on April 1, Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald announced the interest-free limit under the Advance Payments Program (APP) for 2026 will be maintained at $250 thousand for non-canola advances. By default in... Read More
Year: 2026
By Daryl Fransoo The op-eds have been excellent. They’ve put names and faces to the frustration so many of us feel. Darcy Pawlik has laid out, in plain, unflinching language, how the public wheat breeding system our industry helped build is quietly being taken apart. Tyler McCann and Pierre Petelle have kept shining a light... Read More
United Farmers of Alberta (UFA) has completed its acquisition of key assets of AgraCity Crop & Nutrition Ltd. after receiving final approval from the Saskatchewan Court of King's Bench on March 31. UFA's $48.2 million bid was the top offer for the Saskatoon-based crop input provider, which entered creditor protection in December 2025. The assets... Read More
Warm conditions may still feel a long way off, but early-season insect pressure is never far behind for canola growers. In this episode of RealAgriculture’s Canola School, University of Alberta associate professor Dr. Boyd Mori joins Amber Bell to speak about two key early threats: cutworms and flea beetles. Both pests target canola at emergence,... Read More
Dr. Thomas Francis Funk, PhD, passed away peacefully Sunday March 29, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of love, dedication, and lasting impact on all who knew him. Tom was the devoted husband of Jane for 55 wonderful years, and a loving father to Justin (Elisha). Tom took immense pride in being Grandpa to Isabelle and... Read More
Thanks for tuning in to today’s RealAg Radio show brought to you by Bayer Crop Science Canada! On today’s edition of the show, host Shaun Haney is joined for a panel discussion as part of the Bayer Future of Canola series. Today's panel is: Shaun Corneillie, strategy lead for the Canola & Cereals Product Team... Read More
Early-season fungicide decisions can set the tone for winter wheat performance—but timing, tank mixes, and weather all play a role in getting the most out of that first pass. In this episode of RealAgriculture’s Wheat School, host Bernard Tobin is joined by Bayer Crop Science agronomist Kurtis Pilkington in the field near Woodstock, Ont., to... Read More
As edible bean growers look ahead to the 2026 season, lessons from last year’s crop — and early signals from the marketplace — are shaping management decisions across both Western and Eastern Canada. In this first episode of the 2026 Edible Bean School, RealAgriculture’s Bernard Tobin connects with Manitoba Agriculture pulse and soybean specialist Dennis... Read More
On this episode of The Agronomists, your host Lyndsey Smith is joined by Norm Sutherland of Syngenta and Warren Bills of MNP to discuss sales relationships, team approaches to agronomy, communication, what the data says and how AI and tech is shaping client/retail/farmer relationships. The Agronomists is brought to you by RealAg on the Weekend,... Read More
The Canadian government has temporarily approved emergency use of strychnine for controlling Richardson ground squirrels (RGS) in parts of Alberta and Saskatchewan. Health Minister Marjorie Michel and Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald issued a statement late Monday confirming emergency registration under the Pest Control Act has been granted until November 2027. Strychnine use for RGS —... Read More