The United Nations is forecasting a record world pulse harvest in 2004, up 5.1 million tonnes from last year. In its first pulse outlook of the year, the agency’s Food and Agriculture Organization predicted 60.3 million tonnes of production, up six percent from the 55.2 million tonnes harvested in 2003. The June report contained a […] Read more
Sean Pratt
Stories by Sean Pratt
Plant breeder, bureaucrat spar over regulations
One of Canada’s top pulse crop breeders says he will quit his job if something isn’t done to fix regulations governing plants with novel traits. University of Saskatchewan Crop Development Centre breeder Bert Vandenberg said Canadian Food Inspection Agency regulations are stifling innovation in plant breeding programs, leaving him with two choices. “I will either […] Read more
Rain brings mixed blessing to year’s potential
Spring showers have stalled insect development across the Prairies and promoted crop disease outbreaks in some regions. Saskatchewan Agriculture insect specialist Scott Hartley said the grasshopper hatch that began two weeks ago has “pretty much died back.” In fact, wet conditions have delayed almost all insect development. The only bugs causing problems in Saskatchewan are […] Read more
Pesticide maker sees the green
A Saskatchewan crop has been sprayed on the greens of one of the most famous courses in golf, where players like Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus have shot some of their most memorable rounds. The greens manager for Pebble Beach, a California course that has been home to four U.S. Open Championships, recently sampled a […] Read more
Organic farms face EU lockout
The Canadian organic industry is going to miss an important deadline which will shut it out of markets in the European Union, says an organic official. Countries have until Dec. 31, 2005, to get on the EU’s list of approved trading partners. Successful exporting nations will be required to use organic standards similar to what […] Read more
Manitoba RM sends message to U.S.
If the municipality of Stuartburn, Man., has its way, there will be no Manitoba licence plates in parking lots of North Dakota shopping malls this summer. The Stuartburn council has passed a resolution asking Manitobans to stop shopping in the state until the American border opens to live Canadian cattle exports. The resolution was moved […] Read more
Independent adds to horse race
It’s the first nice day of spring and Nettie Wiebe is cooped up in a windowless office no bigger than a large closet. What was once a blood lab has been hastily converted into a federal election campaign headquarters for the former National Farmers Union president, who is running as a New Democratic Party candidate […] Read more
More Canadian canola moves to Mexico by rail
There has been a huge surge in Canadian canola seed moving to Mexico by rail. Year-to-date shipments from Canadian Pacific Railway have soared past 1,000 cars. “In previous years we had spot moves, so it’s really up dramatically,” said CP spokesperson Ed Greenberg. With each car capable of carrying 80-100 tonnes of cargo, that’s a […] Read more
Lawsuit filed over Indian hog barn deal
An Alberta hog barn promoter is suing a Saskatchewan Indian band over a multi-barn deal that collapsed in a heap of acrimony and accusations. Synergetik2000 Special Projects Inc. is seeking a $669,758.83 judgment against the Poundmaker Indian band, its chief and councillors. In a statement of claim filed with the Court of Queen’s Bench in […] Read more
U.S. centre raises concern over fat
An American consumer advocacy group has petitioned the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to prohibit the use of partially hydrogenated vegetable oil as a food ingredient. The nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest filed a 37-page petition with the government regulator, claiming the ban could save 11,000-30,000 lives a year. By the FDA’s […] Read more
