Special crops growers and processors are, for the most part, embracing a Canadian Grain Commission crackdown on unlicensed operators. “It’s a good day for the industry because it is going to be a level playing field now,” said Garth Patterson, executive director of Saskatchewan Pulse Growers. “Everyone will be licensed and have security and growers […] Read more
Sean Pratt
Stories by Sean Pratt
Poor yield offsets organic premiums
Organic fruit and vegetable growers are not outperforming their conventional counterparts, says Statistics Canada. Despite achieving price premiums on 19 of the 20 types of produce that the agency analyzed during a four-year study, organic producers realized better returns than conventional farmers on only 11 of those products. “We see a price premium but it […] Read more
Organic farming rules could boost income by millions
Details of a proposed organic regulation are leaking out, including results of a report suggesting the new law would be highly beneficial to producers. Canadian Organic Growers has released the findings of a cost-benefit analysis conducted by the federal government’s Organic Task Force. The report concludes that implementing an organic law would have a net […] Read more
Organic farmers prepare for heavy weed year
Farmers who can’t rely on chemicals should be contemplating a variety of other strategies to deal with what most experts expect will be strong weed competition this spring. Topping the list of organic weed control techniques is the tried and true tillage method, said Saskatchewan Agriculture crop specialist Sherrilyn Phelps. And when it comes to […] Read more
Dry Spain profits pea growers
The rain in Spain hasn’t fallen anywhere this year, not even on the plain, a situation that should generate much-needed demand for Canadian peas. According to the country’s national meteorological institute, Spain has experienced the driest winter in the 57 years that records have been kept, leading local crop traders to forecast a total grain […] Read more
Large chickpeas will be scarce: analysts
Another chickpea crop failure in Mexico should keep kabuli prices firm through the summer months, say analysts. “They had the rain at the wrong time again for the third year in a row,” said Agricore United chickpea trader Martin Chidwick. Reports filtering out of the key kabuli exporting nation say the untimely harvest showers damaged […] Read more
Horse fancier puts his teams to work
WOLSELEY, Sask. Ñ Harvey MacFarlane will ring in Saskatchewan’s centennial by doing something he has been doing for half a century. The 58-year-old Clydesdale breeder is entering three covered wagon teams in an 11-day trek from Moosomin, Sask., to Estevan, Sask., retracing the route the North West Mounted Police took in 1886 to establish a […] Read more
Organic beef group turns corner
An organic livestock marketing association believes it has turned the corner and will soon be in a position to reimburse producers owed money for cattle they marketed through the agency in the fall of 2003. The Canadian Organic Livestock Association has spent the last 20 months trying to carve out a niche market for organic […] Read more
Weeds waiting to pounce
Farmers could be battling a mess of winter annuals and volunteer crops this spring, say weed specialists. Many areas are already dealing with a heavy infestation of the unwanted plants due to ideal soil conditions, according to the Canola Council of Canada. “Especially with stinkweed Ñ gee Christmas, it is just rampant. It seems like […] Read more
Sask. gov’t supports organic research with funding
The Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada has secured government funding to keep its prairie office at the University of Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan Agriculture is providing the centre with $250,000 over the next five years. “To help our producers maintain a leadership role in the growing of organic crops in Canada, we need to increase the amount […] Read more
