Digital crop certificates called a big step toward an end-to-end digital system, and pilot project for tags is now planned
Canadian seed growers are following a road map into the digital future, the Saskatchewan Seed Growers Association heard during its recent annual meeting. Digital certification is already in place and digital seed tags are coming, said CSGA chief executive officer Doug Miller. The move is part of CSGA 2.0, a business plan developed as part […] Read more
Karen Briere
Stories by Karen Briere
PBO makes carbon tax farm bill estimate
An updated report from the Parliamentary Budget Officer shows that Canadian farmers on the Prairies and in Ontario could pay $184 million annually in carbon tax by 2030. The report released Jan. 20 outlines the cost of extending the exemption on qualifying farm fuel to natural gas and propane, as the private members’ bill C-206 […] Read more
West Coast ships back up as deliveries slow
Virtually no grain has moved from the Prairies in the previous eight to nine weeks and demurrage costs are mounting
Canada’s grain monitor says demurrage is adding up as vessels wait on the West Coast to be loaded, even though the 2021 crop was 40 percent smaller than the previous year. Mark Hemmes said the rail system hasn’t delivered much grain in weeks, at least partly due to the damage from November floods. Vessels are […] Read more
Beef sector urged to find hope in high demand
High feed costs and the divide between retail prices and producer returns are challenges, but demand remains strong
Canfax analyst Brian Perillat said there is reason for optimism in the cattle market, even if producers don’t think so. Speaking to the virtual Saskatchewan Beef Industry Conference Jan. 20, he said he understands producers’ frustration over prices. “Alberta fed cattle prices were actually the second-highest on record last year, but it sure doesn’t feel […] Read more
New APAS president sets sights on ag policy, drought
Ian Boxall says the drought is far from over and producers, particularly those who raise livestock, will be in tough shape without rain
Tisdale, Sask.-area farmer Ian Boxall was elected president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan last week. He takes the helm from Todd Lewis of Gray, who was president for six years. The new executive also includes vice-presidents Bill Prybylski of Willowbrook and Scott Owens from Maidstone. Boxall operates a grain and oilseeds farm north […] Read more
Farmers pan new carbon tax rebate
Grain Growers of Canada says farmers will not benefit equally from a grain drying rebate program the federal government announced late last year. The rebate for farmers in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario, the provinces where Ottawa administers the carbon tax, was included in the fall economic statement in mid-December but not widely publicized. GGC […] Read more
Flax processing plant opens in Sask.
Scoular Canada has opened a flax processing plant at its site just east of Regina in Richardson, Sask. The high-speed processing facility is the first new flax plant in Western Canada in nearly 10 years, according to the company. Jeff Vipond, vice-president and general manager for pulses, seeds, distilling and milling, said Scoular is targeting […] Read more
Initiative measures sustainability
The Canadian AgriFood Sustainability Initiative has taken another step with the release of an engagement report and an imminent pilot project. CASI was launched in March 2020 and is intended to be an online hub for the many sustainability programs. Sustainability in this project includes economic, environmental and social outcomes. The Canadian Federation of Agriculture […] Read more
Grain bag recycler says shut out of business
Sask. firm that collects and recycles ag plastic and then resells new products refuses to pay environmental handling fee
A Yorkton, Sask., business operator says the provincial government is stifling his entrepreneurial efforts with its regulations around grain bag recycling. However, the government says there is a place for Dallon Leger and EcoGenX if he follows the rules. Leger began EcoGenX years ago after working on a farm where they burned the bags. He […] Read more
Dairy ruling may affect processor stability
Canada will have to change how it allocates dairy tariff rate quotas from the United States after a dispute resolution panel ruling released last week. The panel, after an investigation requested by the U.S., ruled that Canada’s system of allocating all TRQs to domestic processors violated the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Trade Agreement. However, it didn’t specify how […] Read more
