China consumes a huge amount of pork, but it isn’t getting any of it from Canada. Until China decides what to do about Paylean, hungry Chinese consumers aren’t likely to taste Canada’s premium pork. “It’s unfortunate we have to deal with that, because otherwise the opportunities would have been significant,” said Jacques Pomerleau, executive director […] Read more
Ed White
Stories by Ed White
Second time on farm a charm
NEW BOTHWELL, Man. – Peter and Mary Wiebe have no excuse for being farmers. They escaped the often-heartbreaking farming business when they were young, but they made a choice to return to it after only a few years away. And they have no regrets. “I love living on a farm,” Mary said of the family […] Read more
Canola, barley price may soar
Do you like $10 soybeans and what they do for canola prices? If so, you’re probably going to like 2008, according to DTN analyst Darin Newsom. Corn could easily surpass $6.50 per bushel, he says, which in turn would push soybeans to $12 and perhaps $16.50 per bu. These numbers may seem wildly high, but […] Read more
MGEX hopes contracts address market need
When the Minneapolis Grain Exchange launched cash-settled crop index contracts, they seemed like a good idea. But almost no one used them. Instead of burying the moribund contracts, the Minneapolis exchange wants to revive them. _____ Updated – Monday November 19, 2007. _____ A story in the Markets section of the November 15, 2007, edition […] Read more
Churchill has mixed year in ’07
Was it the best of years or the worst? Whether the Port of Churchill had its best crop shipping season since the late 1970s depends on whether you are talking about overall crop volume, Canadian Wheat Board grain volume or nonboard grain volume. At 621,000 tonnes, it was the best year for board grains since […] Read more
Program gives foreign agrologists a hand
Amir Farooq is an expert with experience in the on-farm production of crops like wheat and canola. After receiving his masters degree in agriculture and agronomy, he spent six years working for major multinationals, advising farmers how to best use their products to grow a good crop. But he doesn’t find much use for that […] Read more
Ag tops lake pollution hit list
Farmers worried that they will be blamed for Lake Winnipeg’s water woes would have been alarmed by the federal environment minister’s visit to Winnipeg. As he announced $11 million in research funding for water pollution control, farming was the first cause of pollution that he named. “Agricultural runoff and municipal waste water effluence have been […] Read more
Sunflower prices take bright turn
Standing sunflower crops may look like they are hanging their heads in mourning, but farmers aren’t feeling bad about prices. On top of good prices for the sunflower crop, which is being harvested and marketed now, 2008-09 bids are appearing that promise farmers a profitable coming growing season. “We’re very excited about the opportunities,” said […] Read more
Chinese favour soybeans
Canadian canola promoters can be forgiven for feeling like they have been banging their heads against the Great Wall. After years of trying to get canola imports treated equally with soybeans, the situation has not improved. It has worsened. “It just doesn’t seem to make any sense,” said Dave Hickling of the Canola Council of […] Read more
You’ve got to know when to hold ’em
Farmers spend a lot of time thinking about what crops they should be marketing at what time. Which crops should they sell now and which ones can they afford to hang on to because they are least likely to suffer falling prices? “Flax is the crop I think has the most potential to be climbing […] Read more
