MIT research may explain why it can be hard to change people’s minds on the safety of GM food and pesticides
As it turns out, there’s a reason why some people believe that vaccines cause autism, exposure to glyphosate causes Alzheimer’s disease and genetically modified food causes allergies. The reason is that lies spread faster than truth, especially on social media. In a paper published March 8 in the journal Science, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute […] Read moreNews
Bunge’s Argentine plants behind ADM bid
Soybean crushing facilities are said to be the key reason why Archer Daniels Midland is attempting to take over Bunge
ROSARIO, Argentina/CHICAGO, (Reuters) — On the banks of the Parana River, machines hum 24 hours a day in Argentina’s grain ports, churning out soybean-based animal feed and shooting it straight into the hulls of ships bound for buyers worldwide. The wind stirs up fine meal dust, creating a protein-filled haze. Rosario is the biggest soybean-crushing […] Read more
China hog prices plunge after barn boom
A rapid expansion of large hog farms in the country has outpaced demand, driving down prices and slowing imports
BEIJING, China (Reuters) — Chinese pig prices hit their lowest in nearly four years during the week ending March 9, plunging farmers there into the red. The situation underscored concerns that a rapid expansion of large pig farms in China has outpaced demand growth. The sudden downturn, one of the steepest declines over such a […] Read more
India not a guaranteed market for pulses
The Indian government has been placing tariffs on pulse imports over the last few months to help its farmers
WINNIPEG — Despite positive developments between Canada and India in regards to pulse crops, the chief executive officer of Pulse Canada is warning producers not to rely on India as a market for pulses. “India is not the market that it was eight months ago and it emphasizes the need to find alternate markets,” said […] Read more
Price transparency promised
Farmers Business Network started operating in Canada in December and says it has already signed up members who farm more than 1.5 million acres
ANAHEIM, Calif. — A U.S. company promises to bring chemical and fertilizer price transparency to Canada. Farmers Business Network (FBN) launched in Canada in December and has already signed up members who farm more than 1.5 million acres of cropland combined. Charles Baron, cofounder of the business, describes FBN as a farmer-to-farmer network where growers […] Read morePrairie climate already changing
A five-year study of Western Canada’s climate and hydrology reveals that farmers better be ready and willing to adapt. “Climate and landscape in Western Canada are changing probably faster than anywhere else in the world,” said Howard Wheater, director of the Global Institute for Water Security at the University of Saskatchewan. “We are undergoing the […] Read more
Railway service plans ‘underwhelming’
Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway posted plans last week in response to a request from Ottawa
Canada’s grain growers say the plans released last week by Canadian National and Canadian Pacific railways to improve service could be too little, too late. Both railways had until March 15 to submit plans to Transport Minister Marc Garneau and Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay after farmers raised the alarm in Ottawa that poor rail service […] Read moreSask., Ottawa continue tussle over carbon tax directive
The first meeting between Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, unsurprisingly, did not result in an agreement on carbon pricing. Saskatchewan continues to oppose a carbon tax and is the only province that hasn’t signed the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change. The province is currently consulting on the climate […] Read more
Sask. PST exemption has limits
Saskatchewan farmers shouldn’t be confused when it comes to the provincial sales tax exemption on some insurance premiums. During the recent Saskatchewan Party leadership campaign, now-premier Scott Moe promised to restore the exemption on crop, hail and livestock insurance, and health and life insurance. The PST had been added to insurance premiums as of Aug. […] Read more
Grazing proposal stalls
BROOKS, Alta. — A proposal to modernize the fee structure for Alberta grazing leases remains in provincial government hands as leaseholders await developments. Alberta Grazing Leaseholders Association chair Pat Rutledge told those at the group’s annual meeting March 7 that the proposal approved by this group and four others with an interest in lease rates […] Read more
