John Beardsley's Page

Canadians Back Supply Management and Dairy Farmers Ahead of CUSMA Review

As Canada prepares for a review of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), a new survey reveals most Canadians want the federal government to protect dairy farmers, maintain supply management, and preserve Canadian control over the nation's food supply.

USMCA Not Renewed - What the Decision Means

The United States has chosen not to renew the USMCA in its current form following the agreement's mandatory six-year review. The trade pact remains in force.

Former Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach Supports United Canada

Former Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach has endorsed Vote to Stay, encouraging Albertans to support a strong future within Canada and join a growing grassroots movement.

Tragedy averted as central Alberta farmhand rescued from grain bin

On an early morning in May, Aaron Dingle, an 18-year-old New Zealand man here in Alberta working as a farmhand, was rescued from a canola bin where he was buried up to his neck. The entire incident could have ended in tragedy but for the quick response of his employers, and the actions, training, and use of specialized equipment by Hardisty and Killam firefighters who answered the call. Dingle is working at the Burden farm north of Lougheed on an informal farm exchange. John Burden says, “We were part of the Ag Exchange program for many years, and now all those kids keep sending their friends and family our way.” Burden says it’s also much easier for foreign farm workers to come now than in the past. Burden, his son Graham, and Dingle were unloading a canola bin last week, one where they saw a heated core and some sprouting in a small area. Graham says he’d worked in the bin all day Tuesday with a grain vac, sucking out any problem spots, and could see that the further down towards

Canola Watch

One big spray Excess moisture, spraying delays and weeds were the top yield robbers again this week, same as last week. These challenges in combination with advancing crops and weeds, a lot of canola will get just one pass of herbicide this year. Crop stage and max labels rates depend on the system. Last kick at the blackleg can Fungicide labels may say, in many cases, that the window for blackleg on canola is from the two- to six-leaf stage...but six-leaf is usually too late to prevent early infection that drives yield loss. Application around the two-leaf stage is best, if the situation justifies a spray. Remember 2024? It was a bad blackleg year. Fields with canola this year that were in canola in 2024 will be at higher risk, especially if the cultivar is the same. Moisture could increase early infection rates. Relative humidity of 80 per cent or higher and cool temperatures of 13-18°C are conducive to blackleg infection. Tank mixing fungicide with herbicide can save a field pa