Hursh Comment

Remember way back when Plant Breeders’ Rights were updated in Canada. The promise from industry and from the Conservative federal government of the day was that seed companies would now receive better protection for their new varieties, but farmers would still have the ability to save their own seed. It was called farmer’s privilege. On …

Who is the oldest active farmer you know? Do you know any situations where the older generation has retained control so long that the upcoming generation has never had a chance to become much more than an employee? Some farmers are still going strong as they approach 80. Others have had enough of the stress …

While the decision has been widely applauded, the emergency registration of strychnine for gopher control in specified areas of Alberta and Saskatchewan may actually hamper gopher control. At this point, no information is available on what the enhanced mandatory training will entail. Hopefully, it’s just information a producer has to read, but it could be …

For more than 30 years, farmland values on the Prairies have been steadily increasing, leading to a prevailing attitude that land prices only increase and will never drop. That belief is now being challenged. Based on the 2025 Farmland Values Report by Farm Credit Canada, cultivated farmland prices nationally increased by 9.3 per cent last …

According to Statistics Canada, farm cash receipts increased in Canada last year. Rising livestock receipts more than compensated for a decline in crop receipts as well as a drop in direct payments. Every province saw an overall increase, except Saskatchewan where the crop sector is much larger than livestock. Total farm cash receipts in Canada …

With only a few notable exceptions, grain, oilseed and specialty crop prices are lower than last year at this time. Many prices are dramatically lower. Crop prices around this time are a major determinant of where crop insurance price levels will be set. Therefore, it’s reasonable to assume that crop insurance coverage will be much …

Most people believe it’s desirable for farmers to own the land they farm. Most people also recognize that governments are running huge deficits and there’s never enough money for education and health care. What if a way existed to address both of these issues at the same time? I can’t claim credit for the essence …

The fight against weeds, particularly kochia, seems to be a losing battle. As you travel through southern Saskatchewan and Alberta, particularly in areas challenged by dry growing conditions, the magnitude of the problem is easy to see. Some fields, especially those with pulse crops had terrible kochia infestations this year. In some cases, it was …

Contrary to prevailing public opinion, a farmer with a horrible crop or no crop at all might not be any worse off financially than a farmer with a below average crop. Assuming the farms in both scenarios are in crop insurance, and the majority of producers are enrolled, the crop insurance guarantee puts both farms …

Significant price shifts have occurred in various grains as compared to what was expected at the beginning of the calendar year. Crop Insurance prices can be used as a base for the changes. Crop Insurance prices in each of the three Prairie Provinces were set based on expectations at the end of 2024 and early …

Farmers and their organizations regularly call for improvements in business risk management programs, the farm safety nets that include AgriInsurance (crop insurance) and AgriStability. One way to do that may be allowing government support for private insurance products. Global Ag Risk Solutions has for many years offered private insurance to crop producers based on an …

“Elbows up” is a great slogan capturing the sentiment of many Canadians in response to American trade and sovereignty threats. However, in a hockey game, being too aggressive with your elbows typically leads to a penalty. Canada needs to be smart with its use of elbows. In agriculture, the upcoming game will likely be centered …