Stewart Skinner's Page

Supporting B.C.’s food security with new technology, training B.C. companies, research institutions advance food security through smart-farming systems

A new smart-farming project in Delta is helping strengthen food security for British Columbians, while two new training programs will ensure more people have the necessary skills to succeed in the growing agritech sector. “With a changing climate and uncertainty from the U.S., it’s critical that two of British Columbia's greatest strengths, technology and agriculture, come together to ensure British Columbians can rely on healthy food grown here at home,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth. “Through our Look West plan, we are connecting innovators with industry partners to turn made-in-B.C. ideas into real-world solutions that create jobs and drive our economy forward in a sustainable future.” With support from the B.C. Centre for Agritech Innovation (BCCAI), Delta-based Windset Farms is developing a new smart-farming system that automates decision-making with sensors that monitor plant stress and efficient greenhouse crop management. By using advanced data analy

Provincial AGM to include Elections and Resolutions

The Alberta Pulse Growers Commission (APG) invites farmer-members and other industry stakeholders to attend its provincial annual general meeting on January 27 in Edmonton. The AGM will take place during CrossRoads: Alberta’s Crop Conference at the DoubleTree by Hilton West Edmonton from 10:30 am to noon. The meeting will include a provincial update for growers, resolutions and director-at-large (bean and non-bean) elections. Resolutions and nomination forms must be submitted to the provincial office by January 15. Director-at-large forms are available on the homepage at albertapulse.com. “The provincial AGM is a good opportunity for pulse farmers from across Alberta to get together and help shape APG’s future,” said APG Chair Shane Strydhorst, who farms at Neerlandia. “We look forward to sharing APG’s accomplishments and plans for the future with our members and stakeholders as we work towards pulses on every farm, on every plate.” Producers who have sold pulses in Alberta in the l

New Research Takes Aim at Canola Pod Shatter

An agricultural science team at the University of Calgary has uncovered several new ways to improve shatter tolerance in canola, a breakthrough that could help farmers cut costs and reduce harvest losses. The findings, published last month in the peer-reviewed journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, address one of the most persistent challenges facing canola producers: pod shattering during harvest. Canola seeds are enclosed in small pods that can easily burst open when crops are cut, scattering seed before it can be collected. While farmers want canola plants to be dry at harvest, that dryness increases the risk of shattering. According to the research, pod shattering leads to average seed losses of about 3% — roughly $1.3 billion annually — and can climb as high as 50% in harsh weather conditions. To manage the risk, farmers typically use a two-step harvest process, first swathing the crop to dry it and later returning with a combine. The research could allow m

IGC Raises World Grains Production to Another New High

The International Grains Council is continuing to revise its 2025-26 world supply estimates higher amid monster crops in many parts of the world. In its latest monthly Grain Market Report on Thursday, the IGC revised its production forecast for total world grains (wheat and coarse grains) to a record-smashing 2.461 billion tonnes, up a hefty 31 million from the agency’s November estimate and 6% higher than 2024-25. (The IGC did not release a report in December). It marks the fifth straight month the IGC has raised its total grains production estimate, with the January increase the largest to date, topping even the 27-million tonne hike in August. Average yields are estimated up 5% year-over-year, while harvested area is expected to rise by 1%, delivering a wave of new supply across nearly all major grain categories, the IGC said. Corn and wheat are leading the production surge, with both crops expected to post bumper harvests. Barley and sorghum output is also forecast at multi-s

Bushel Plus rebrands to BranValt for global harvest-tech growth

Founder Marcel Kringe emphasized that the same experienced team and commitment to farmer success will continue under the BranValt name.