U.S. farm bills, the mechanism used to support and subsidize American farmers, have annoyed Canadian farmers for decades. They say the subsidies give U.S. producers a competitive advantage and encourage surplus grain production that weakens market prices. American politicians drafting a new five- to six-year plan are split between those who want only minor changes […] Read more
Ed White
Stories by Ed White
Farming the system – Special Report (main story)
MANKATO, Minn. – Kevin Paap’s fields are lush, calm and quiet, with the fifth generation farm likely to experience one of its best years ever. It seems a world away from the carnage of the war in Iraq. But Paap worries that today’s high crop prices are lulling farmers into a false sense of security. […] Read more
Country of origin labelling part of bill – Special Report (story 2)
Most people think of the subsidy-rich American farm bill legislation as a crop farmers program, but it also has a major impact on North America’s livestock industries. Producer organizations say the coming farm bill could enshrine and worsen some of the programs that do the most damage to Canada’s livestock industry. John Masswohl, an agricultural […] Read more
Saskatoon berry promoter remembered for enthusiastic approach
If there’s a heaven, John Ritz is no doubt busily convincing the angels to start eating saskatoon berries. The Petersfield, Man., farmer, who died of liver cancer July 27, was legendary for creating markets in places no one expected to find the humble prairie fruit. His sudden death, after only a few weeks warning that […] Read more
Antibiotic resistance study checks role of livestock
LA BROQUERIE, Man. – Pigs consume antibiotics but microbes may remain in their manure that is spread on cattle pastures. So are antibiotic-resistant microbes in pig manure surviving and later infecting cattle and local water supplies? Probably not, said Denis Krause, a University of Manitoba animal science researcher. “It’s not impossible that antibiotic use, therapeutic […] Read more
Pig manure boosts forage yields
LA BROQUERIE, Man. – Spreading pig manure on perennial forages and hay crops can double or triple the yield and weight gain. That’s the conclusion of a study by University of Manitoba animal science researchers doing side-by-side comparisons of three systems. One system is a pasture and hay fields not given hog manure. Another is […] Read more
Canada sees threat in U.S. farm bill – Special Report (story 1)
Lynn Jacobson allowed himself a grim chuckle when asked how U.S. farm bills affect him. “It definitely has an effect,” said the producer from Enchant, Alta. Jacobson, a mixed farmer, says that although his area is on the doorstep of Alberta’s feedlot alley, he and many of his neighbours grow soft white wheat rather than […] Read more
Russians close to buying Manitoba tractor maker
John Buhler’s parents’ farm was seized by Soviet communists. Now, almost a century later a different breed of Russian has come to Manitoba, this time to pay for what they want. “I find that rewarding,” said the tractor manufacturer. Buhler gave preliminary agreement to the Rostselmash company to buy first a majority stake in his […] Read more
American farm bill draws unfavourable attention
When Kevin Brosch saw some friends last weekend outside Washington, D.C., they stunned him by asking about farmers. “I’ve never had that happen before,” said Brosch, an American agricultural policy researcher. “What I do is pretty obscure. None of my friends ever asks me about what I do. But they’ve all been reading about the […] Read more
Late seeded canola suffers under July heat wave
After the first week of scorching plus 30 C temperatures, analyst Don Roberts was worried. “If we remain hot, real hot, then I’ve got a concern,” the Ag Commodity Research canola expert said July 23, before a brief break in the heat wave. Since then, a series of hot days have roasted the Prairies, creating […] Read more
