The Western Producer

Recent rain and lower temperatures have reduced fire risk in parts of southern Alberta, so the province has lifted some fire bans that could have put a crimp in long weekend camping plans. However, the public is being encouraged to check on fire ban status and use caution with open fires regardless of region. Bans remain in place over much of northern Alberta, where fires continue to burn in the Bonnyville region. Alberta Environment has responded to more than 330 wildfires in the province since April 1. Most of them were caused by humans, the department said in a news release. A complete list of fire bans is available at [Read more]

Agriculture Canada appears ready to cut the pesticide application technology program at its research centre in Saskatoon. Sources within the department have indicated that the program and the position of manager Tom Wolf would be eliminated "on or about April 11," but no official announcement had been made as of May 17. The news comes as the federal government launches comprehensive budget cutting to reduce the deficit. "Farmers across Canada are divided on many issues in agriculture, but the one issue we all agree on being important is research," Grain Growers of Canada president Stephen Vandervalk said in a news release. "One example of going the wrong direction is the…
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Canola was mixed and soybeans fell sharply on Friday while wheat soared on anxiety about dry weather in Kansas and Russia. July canola closed at $613.20 per tonne, up $1.80 on tight old crop supply. November closed at $562.60, down 50 cents. Compared to the previous Friday close July was up $5.10 and November was up $1.20. A weaker loonie helped to lessen the impact of the falling soybean prices. Traders exited long-soybean/short-wheat spreads on worries about dry weather hurting wheat yields. Soybeans also pressured by news that China will sell 600,000 tonnes of domestic soy from state reserves next week. That could slow its imports. Wheat soared on dryness in the…
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Producers attending a recent meeting of the federal government's environment committee, said healthy soil, air and water are important to them, but they want the public to know that taking care of those resources does not come free. They urged members on the committee to push for fair compensation and recognition for ecosystem protection. The federal environment committee toured Canada to listen to groups that use the land. The committee met with energy company representatives and agriculture groups in Calgary May 17. The final results will be merged into recommendations on a national conservation plan that was first proposed last year in the speech from the throne. Ranchers…
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Oilseeds rose Thursday, supported by strong old crop U.S. soybean weekly sales. July canola closed at $611.40 per tonne, up $10.40. November closed at $563.10, up $4.70. Slow farmer selling and exporter buying for July is supporting canola but the upside for new crop is limited by expectations of record production this year. However, Canada’s competition in the coming year might not be as strong as earlier forecast. In the May 17 Western Producer on page seven is a story on Rabobank’s analysis of the canola market. It believes smaller crops in Europe and China will spur demand for canola. Weather problems in the former Soviet Union are cutting its rapeseed crop…
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A Manitoba Forage Council program that helps alfalfa growers pinpoint the optimum time to cut their crop is now underway in the province. The Green Gold project disseminates a status report on the progress and maturity of Manitoba's alfalfa crop to forage growers, dairy farmers and cattle producers. Interested farmers can access the information on the forage council website or receive an e-mail of the reports. The reports begin after the May long weekend and usually run until the middle of June, said John McGregor, program coordinator. "We put together a summary report, twice a week, up till first cut (of alfalfa)," he said. McGregor and two colleagues take alfalfa samples…
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The United Nations' top official on global food security is preparing a damning report on Canada, condemning widespread food insecurity in one of the world's most food-rich countries. Olivier De Schutter, UN special rapporteur on the right to food, offered his preliminary findings at a May 16 Ottawa news conference after spending more than a week meeting with government officials, food security and local food advocates, food bank executives and First Nations leaders. "Canada is a wealthy country with a strong record on human rights and yet one in 10 families in Canada is food insecure," he said. The UN official said "Canada should face some tough questions in the context of its…
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Agrium Inc. does not foresee anything getting in the way of its purchase of Viterra's retail network. "(It's) our latest attempt at growing and we will succeed in this one," Agrium president Mike Wilson told investors attending BMO Capital Markets' 2012 Farm to Market Conference. One investor asked Wilson about the Informa Economics report commissioned by the Saskatchewan government that raised concerns about Agrium's deal with Glencore International. The proposed deal would see Agrium acquire 232 of Viterra's 258 crop input stores and its 34 percent stake in an Alberta nitrogen manufacturing facility. "We've looked at (the report). We don't feel it's going to cause us any…
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Dry hot weather in the U.S. winter wheat belt pushed wheat and corn higher Wednesday, but oilseeds fell. Worries about the Greek debt situation continued to worry market participants and pressured many commodities lower, including crude oil. That hurt soybean oil, which in turn pressured canola. Corn was also supported by new sales of 900,000 bushels to China. The recent price decline appears to be generating new demand and some analysts expect more old crop soybean sales soon. July canola closed at $601.00, down $1.60 and above the day’s low. November closed at$558.40, down $4.00. • A large U.S. hard red winter wheat crop is still expected, but the exceptional yields…
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Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer announced today it will cut 50 jobs at its estrogen extraction plant in Brandon in 2012 and 2013, reducing the number of employees at the facility from 130 to 80. However, the cutbacks will not affect pregnant mares' urine farms in Manitoba and Saskatchewan that supply the plant. "This decision will not impact the site's rancher network who support the plant's production," Pfizer said in a written statement. A network of 26 horse ranches in Manitoba and Saskatchewan supply horse urine to the plant, where it is converted to conjugated estrogen. Pfizer uses the estrogen to make Premarin, a hormone replacement drug used to treat menopausal…
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