BEIJING, March 29 (Reuters) – China plans to scrap its corn stockpiling scheme and allow markets to set prices for the grain, pushing to boost efficiency on its farms and to narrow a gap between local and international prices that has sparked a surge of cheaper imports. The government will instead subsidise corn growers and […] Read more
Stories by Western Producer staff
La Nina expected for first time since ’12
La Nina, the counterpart to the current El Nino, might make an appearance this fall. If it does, it could stress next year’s American hard red winter wheat crop. El Nino, caused by unusually warm waters in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, is not over yet, but it is winding down, and a La Nina is […] Read more
Farm groups speak out on Alberta’s Bill 6, Alberta’s proposed farm labour changes
Many agricultural and rural groups in Alberta have issued public responses to Bill 6, the Alberta government’s Enhanced Protection for Farm and Ranch Workers Act. Here is a summary of their views. Alberta Federation of Agriculture The federation said it has met with government officials to discuss farm safety but without detail. “Specific information relating […] Read more
Agri-food sector criticism stings because it’s true
When business journalist Amanda Lang told those at the recent Canadian Agrifood Policy Institute forum that the agriculture industry should be ashamed of itself for its poor self-promotion, it smarted. Compared to the well-publicized oil and gas industry, Lang said agriculture is bigger and more important, yet few know it is responsible for one in […] Read more
CFIA baffles pork sector with transport truck rules
Heroic efforts to keep a deadly hog disease at bay in Canada may be for naught due to pending regulatory moves by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Ironically, the very federal agency tasked with keeping animal disease out of the country could increase the risk that porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus will become a greater […] Read more
Harper discovers that power brings responsibility, blame
Email transcripts from Nigel Wright, the prime minister’s former chief of staff, revealed at senator Mike Duffy’s fraud trial last week, gave Canadians stark insight into questionable actions by prominent members of the Prime Minister’s Office, including an attempted cover-up and tampering with a Senate audit report. However, what could turn out to be most […] Read more
Federal election presents prairie voter opportunities
The federal election offers the prairie provinces an excellent opportunity to use their clout to a much higher degree than in previous campaigns. Voters should do so enthusiastically. The table is set for an intensely competitive campaign. For the first time in many elections, the federal Conservatives cannot count on unfailing support across Manitoba, Saskatchewan […] Read more
Improved rotations in spotlight as clubroot resistance weakens
New information showing the rapid evolution of clubroot disease types that can overcome the resistance built into new canola varieties is shocking. It proves the danger that short canola rotations present to individual growers and the whole canola industry. It also illustrates the wrongness of an attitude creeping into some farmers’ minds that they can […] Read more
Weather problems lift crop futures
Excess moisture in the United States and dry conditions in Canada lifted crop futures prices on Wednesday. July canola closed up $6 at $497 per tonne. July climbed as high as $500 at one point but could not break through that barrier. Most-active November canola rose $6.80 to $496.20. A fairly widespread area of the […] Read more
Celebrity hype often trumps truth on food versus science issues
It is a sad comment on the priorities of modern culture when the biggest international coverage two respected plant scientists get is when they counter claims made in the inflammatory best selling book Wheat Belly by William Davis. University of Saskatchewan researchers Ravi Chibbar, the Canada research chair for crop quality, and wheat breeder Pierre […] Read more
