United States government support payments to American pea growers are double what they were the same time last year. As of Dec. 10, producers had received $28.6 million US in loan deficiency payments for the 2004-05 crop year, up from $14 million in 2003-04. The numbers were contained in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Vegetable […] Read more
Sean Pratt
Stories by Sean Pratt
Biodiesel advocates must work out marketing
There are a few obstacles to overcome before Canadian motorists will see biodiesel mixtures offered at gas pumps. Ted Stoner, regional vice-president of the Canadian Petroleum Products Institute, said the fledgling industry needs to iron out some kinks before the fuel business entertains switching to biodiesel blends. He told a collection of people attempting to […] Read more
Rust low threat to other beans
LONDON, Ont. – Dry edible bean growers have little to fear from Asian soybean rust, a disease rapidly travelling north from South America. Jim Kelly, a professor at Michigan State University, said unpublished research from the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows rust resistance already built into many edible bean varieties also fights off Asian soybean […] Read more
CWB vote tally shows response down
Canadian Wheat Board permit holders have spoken, albeit with a whisper compared to the relative roar of previous directors’ elections. Voting for Districts 4, 6, 8 and 10 closed Dec. 3. Results won’t be announced until Dec. 12, but one outcome is already clear – fewer farmers participated in the election compared to previous years. […] Read more
Bean seed supply short
LONDON, Ont. – Canadian dry bean traders are swapping their exporter hats for their importer hats this year. A crop wreck in Manitoba has them finding beans on the open market to fulfil contracts with buyers, said Agricore United pulse crop trader Martin Chidwick. Those who are “woefully short” are taking the rare step of […] Read more
Trans fats plan may boost canola
News that Canada is exploring legislation to “effectively eliminate” artery-clogging trans fats has hearts racing in the canola industry. Members of Parliament voted 193-73 last week in favour of a motion to develop regulations within a year to limit the amount of processed trans fat in food sold in Canada to the lowest possible level. […] Read more
Farmers frown at pea prices
Sales of the biggest pea crop in Canadian history have ground to a halt. “In terms of new business done in the last month, it has been terrible, absolutely terrible,” said Shaun Wildman, senior pea merchandiser with Saskatchewan Wheat Pool. Crop traders can’t convince growers to part with their peas at current prices and nobody […] Read more
U.S. filling plate with pulses
Pulse production in the United States is growing at a furious pace. Growers harvested 711,000 tonnes of peas, lentils and chickpeas in 2004, nearly double what was grown one year earlier. Much of the expansion can be attributed to improved yields but there was also a 45 percent increase in seeded acreage of the three […] Read more
Canada could help States meet demand for organic beef
There will be a market for Canadian organic cattle once the U.S. border opens to live animal exports, says the owner of North America’s largest integrated organic beef company. “Our market will be feeder calves. I don’t see us buying any finished fat cattle from Canada in the near future,” said Scott Lively, chief executive […] Read more
Libel charges a last resort: CWB director
The Canadian Wheat Board will take legal action against those who libel the marketing agency. During a Nov. 10 candidates’ debate in Prince Albert, Sask., board director Ian McCreary was asked by a CWB supporter why the marketing agency didn’t more strongly defend itself against outrageous claims by those intent on dismantling its monopoly. McCreary […] Read more
