Most farmers share a bleak economic outlook for agriculture over the next six months. That was one of the key findings of an Ipsos-Reid poll of 875 commercial producers with farm sales of $50,000 or more. It was a predictable sentiment given the lingering BSE crisis, disappointing crop quality and depressed grain prices brought on […] Read more
Sean Pratt
Stories by Sean Pratt
Specialty canola not as resistant to frost damage
A highly touted specialty canola that has been promoted as a healthy solution to the trans-fatty acid problem is giving growers heart palpitations. Producers are reporting high counts of green seed in samples taken from their Nexera canola fields. Fred Meister, who farms near Radisson, Sask., said most of his early seeded canola made the […] Read more
Crops broker gets state to back off
A Saskatoon special crops broker temporarily barred from doing business in North Dakota has been vindicated. The state’s Public Service Commission lifted a cease and desist order levied earlier this month against Rayglen Commodities Inc. The company can now resume grain-sourcing activities in North Dakota. Rayglen president Ray Germain said the order was rescinded after […] Read more
Special crops want commission as watchdog
The special crops industry is sticking with a producer security system overseen by the Canadian Grain Commission. Industry participants have been exploring schemes since Naber Seed and Grain Co. Ltd., a licensed and bonded Saskatchewan pulse processor, went out of business in 2002, leaving farmers on the hook for $900,000 in unpaid eligible claims. After […] Read more
Organic lawsuit scheduled for November
After numerous delays, a court case pitting organic growers against biotechnology firms has been scheduled for next month. Larry Hoffman, L.B. Hoffman Farms Inc. and Dale Beaudoin filed the original statement of claim nearly three years ago on Jan. 10, 2002. It alleges the organic growers have suffered financial losses due to the introduction of […] Read more
Schmeiser wants Monsanto to cough up $140
For those who thought Percy Schmeiser had exhausted all legal avenues in his battle with Monsanto Canada, think again. The two combatants were back in court on Oct. 18, only this time it was over small potatoes. Schmeiser again faced down his long-time foe at provincial court in Humboldt, Sask., representing his wife Louise in […] Read more
Organic crop results vary across Sask.
Ask a couple of Saskatchewan organic farmers how their harvest went and you’ll get starkly contrasting answers depending on where they live. A jagged line stretching from Meadow Lake through Moose Jaw to Ogema demarcates where conditions went from good to bad, with crops on the west side faring far better than those on the […] Read more
Poor bean crop will likely produce high prices
A deadly combination of multiple frosts, wet weather and white mould devastated navy and pinto beans this year. Bean crops were hit hard in Minnesota, North Dakota and Manitoba, causing prices to surge to near record levels in the United States. Canadian values are lagging behind due to the mitigating effect of a rising dollar. […] Read more
Chickpea crops disappoint
Kabuli chickpea prices are strengthening on reports of worldwide production problems. Agriculture Canada expects the global chickpea harvest to fall nine percent to 7.9 million tonnes, down from 8.66 million in 2003-04. Canada is expected to see a sharper drop, with production falling 19 percent due to later-than-normal crop development. Exports that peaked at 179,000 […] Read more
FCC loans at record
Farmers continue to expand their operations despite being confronted by an array of difficulties, says Canada’s largest agricultural lender. Farm Credit Canada doled out a record $3.4 billion in new financing during its 2003-04 fiscal year, taking its portfolio to a little more than $10 billion, a 14 percent increase over the preceding year. “(Farmers) […] Read more
