THURSDAY, APRIL 27, 2017
VOL. 95 | NO. 17 | $4.25
DAIRY TRUMP ATTACK | CANADIAN FARMERS UP IN ARMS P5
SERVING WESTERN CANADIAN FARM FAMILIES SINCE 1923
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RENEWABLE ENERGY
Prairie farmers appear to be getting a good start on their efforts to meet Soy Canada’s ambitious soybean targets. Statistics Canada’s first seeding intention survey of the year has found that farmers plan to grow almost three million acres of the crop in 2017. BY SEAN PRATT SASKATOON NEWSROOM
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ANADIAN FARMERS will be growing 10 million acres of soybeans by 2027 if Soy Canada has its way. The industry association has established a series of targets, including doubling production to 13 million tonnes. “We think these are aggressive targets but achievable,” said executive director Jim Everson. “We want to set out some goals that motivate the industry.” Average yield is forecast to increase to 48.2 bushels per acre from 44.1, but most of the production increase is expected to come from expanded acreage, and most of that will occur in Western Canada. The association is forecasting six million acres in the West, up from 1.9 million in 2016 and four million acres in the east, up from 3.6 million. Francois Labelle, executive director of Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers, said the western Canadian acreage goal is attainable. “There’s a potential to see a jump of a million acres this year,” he said. Soybeans delivered “tremendous yields” under wet conditions last year and solid economic returns. “A lot of growers are interested in looking at soybeans and are trying them and sometimes are trying them in a big way,” said Labelle. SEE THREE MILLION, PAGE 4
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BY BARB GLEN LETHBRIDGE BUREAU
GRASSY LAKE, Alta. — Alberta’s first solar-operated irrigation pivot will start making its rounds this spring as soon as water starts flowing in canals. The 136.4 kilowatt solar array was installed at Merlinds Farms Ltd., operated by brothers Cory and Lindsay Nelson, in November, so they have yet to see how it functions in terms of electrical production in the growing season. However, until the pivots begin to irrigate some of the 12 crops grown at Merlinds Farms, the solar panels are having a welcome effect on electrical bills. SEE SOLAR FARMING, PAGE 5
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CORY NELSON ALBERTA FARMER
u|xhHEEJBy00001pzYv":= APRIL 27, 2017 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Box 2500, Stn. Main, Saskatoon, SK. S7K 2C4 The Western Producer is published in Saskatoon by Western Producer Publications, which is owned by GVIC Communications Corp. Publisher: Shaun Jessome Publications Mail Agreement No. 40069240
Three million & climbing
Irrigator plans to run pivots with solar