A new report in British Columbia calls for reforms to increase farming in the province’s Agricultural Land Reserve. The report, called Protection is not enough: policy precedents to increase the agricultural use of British Columbia’s farmland, was released by the Institute for Sustainable Food Systems at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. According to the paper, about 50 […] Read more
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Reform needed to encourage ALR use in B.C., study finds
Ag committee holds grain movement meeting
An amended Bill C-49, enacted as soon as possible, is the best hope for prairie grain shippers at this point, witnesses told the House of Commons agriculture committee March 19. Railways and shippers may disagree on the reasons for the current grain backlog, but all of them say the transportation legislation, with some key changes, […] Read more
Oil, corn tout duelling biofuel studies in U.S.
Both sectors are attempting to persuade the American government to rule their way on biofuel blending credits
NEW YORK, N.Y. (Reuters) — Big oil and big corn are touting opposing studies on proposed biofuel policy reforms under consideration by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump. It illustrates part of an ongoing clash between the two sides over the future of Washington’s biofuel program. Valero Energy Corp, a major oil refiner, funded […] Read moreCanadian feeders imports more dried distillers grain from U.S.
WINNIPEG (CNS Canada) — A better quality Canadian grain crop in 2017 has opened the door to increased imports of distillers dried grains with solubles from the United States as Canadian livestock feeders look for other options. Canada imported about 700,000 tonnes of the ethanol byproduct from the U.S. in 2017, the largest imports since […] Read more
U.S. farmers say steel tariffs are ‘disastrous’
American farmers are angry at Donald Trump. On March 8, farm organizations such as the American Soybean Association, the National Corn Growers Association and the National Association of Wheat Grower, all released statements condemning the U.S. president’s decision to impose tariffs on imported steel and aluminum. The soybean association used particularly strong language in its […] Read more
Canola council deals with Richardson pull-out
Council was forced to review its spending plans after grain company left, which members say was a valuable exercise
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. — There was no panic at the Canola Council of Canada’s recent annual meeting in the California desert, far from the tense canola industry politics surrounding Portage and Main in Winnipeg. Conversations with farmers and the companies that serve the canola industry suggested that Richardson International’s decision to quit the council is […] Read moreSask. run-off risk increases after snowfall
Recent snowfall has raised the prospects for near normal runoff in parts of Saskatchewan. The Water Security Agency in its updated spring runoff outlook March 13 said between 20 and 45 centimetres of snow March 3-5 changed initial projections for a below normal runoff. “Assuming near normal conditions going forward to the melt, a band […] Read more
Researchers use non-GMO to modify alfalfa
Agriculture Canada scientists hope that the genome editing method will allow forages to be more marketable
Leduc, Alta. — Researchers are in the preliminary stages of potentially modifying forages like alfalfa and sainfoin, using a method they say is not likely to scare off GMO opponents. Stacy Singer, a molecular breeder in Lethbridge with Agriculture Canada, is part of the team conducting the project. She said the goal is to create […] Read more
Caution urged with renewable energy contracts
Landowners told protections provided when dealing with oil and gas companies don’t apply to wind and solar sectors
TABER, Alta. — Southern Alberta’s abundance of sun and wind continues to attract proposals for wind and solar farms, but landowners should be wary about the contents of any contracts they sign, says a landowner advocate. Daryl Bennett, vice-president of industry and government regulatory affairs for the My Landman Group, said those who negotiate contracts […] Read moreLeases safe in new regional land-use plan: Alta.
Province says review of the North Saskatchewan watershed region will guide decisions on how to best use the land
As government officials begin work on a massive plan to help shape agriculture and development in north-central Alberta, they’re making it clear that changes won’t affect ranchers’ lease agreements. “The short answer is lease agreements won’t be affected at all,” said Alberta Environment and Parks Minister Shannon Phillips. “The intent, always, is to underline to […] Read more
