The out-of-sight, out-of-mind approach to wheat midge management needs to change to an out-in-the-field-monitoring approach, says Saskatchewan Agriculture. According to the agency’s 2006 forecast, there will be a resurgence in midge populations in the eastern portion of the province, an outlook that caught some farmers off guard. “I was rather surprised that (midge) was still […] Read more
Sean Pratt
Stories by Sean Pratt
AU claims policy not contradictory
Agricore United’s new policy on the Own Use Import program is not at odds with the stance the company has taken through CropLife Canada, says an AU spokesperson. Ninety-six percent of the 136 delegates attending the grain company’s annual meeting in February voted in favour of a resolution calling on Agricore to lobby the federal […] Read more
American GM alfalfa lawsuit applauded by Canadian group
Canadian organic growers who are attempting to mount a class action lawsuit against the developers of genetically modified canola are pleased to see a similar action launched in the United States concerning GM alfalfa. A coalition of farmers, consumers and environmentalists is suing the U.S. government over its approval of the commercial release of Monsanto’s […] Read more
FNA branches into fertilizer
Buoyed by the success of its cheap glyphosate campaign, Farmers of North America is tackling another common farm input. The bulk-buying group has secured an economical source of nitrogen fertilizer that it is offering to its 5,500 members. FNA claims it can deliver rail cars of granular urea (46-0-0) at a substantial discount to product […] Read more
Hemp hot commodity in organic market
BRUNO, Sask. – Hemp is replacing flax as the crop du jour in organic markets, says one industry analyst. “We have incredible strength for hempseed,” said Duane Phillippi, systems manager for Farmer Direct Co-operative Ltd., a Regina firm that expects to sell more than $4 million worth of organic product this year. He told growers […] Read more
Organic beef organizes
BRUNO, Sask. – Sandy Lowndnes was emphatic when describing how producers should pronounce the acronym for the newly formed Saskatchewan Organic Livestock association. It is not S-O-L, a term that could best describe the past performance of the sector; it is SOL as in the newly reborn soul of what will become a thriving component […] Read more
New plant model to ease ethanol sector expansion
Saskatchewan hopes to kick start the construction of integrated ethanol-feedlot facilities with a new strategy designed to overcome the obstacles in building the dual-purpose plants. The province and the Saskatchewan Ethanol Development Council are creating customized models for 10 communities that have expressed interest in building joint ethanol-feedlot enterprises. “That’s a model that we think […] Read more
Disease could threaten U.S. wheat production
SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Neil Young was right. Rust never sleeps. A new virulent strain of the fungal disease flourishing in East Africa poses a significant threat to world wheat production, said Kay Simmons, national program leader for grain crops with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service. “Within the last year or two, […] Read more
Comparing subsidies a complex task
SAN ANTONIO, Texas – It is hard for a Canadian farmer to know where to point the finger when it comes to assessing blame for trade-distorting agricultural subsidies. The United States maintains that the Europeans have by far the richest package of supports. Yet many Canadian farmers have first-hand experience competing with American products shielded […] Read more
Expect leaner farm bill, says U.S. policy expert
SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Jim Wiesemeyer’s presentation to delegates attending the North American Grain Congress was titled What do You Get When You Mix Budget Deficits, Trade Policy and a New Farm Bill? His answer: “You get change.” Hearings on the new U.S. farm bill got under way last week and Wiesemeyer, an agriculture trade […] Read more
