Rural Albertans can expect more RCMP officers on the ground, more civilian staff and more crown prosecutors to fight crime in their communities. The strategy, outlined by the province Friday, will cost $10 million. It includes 39 new officers, 40 civilian staff and anywhere from eight to 10 crown prosecutors. As well, the plan includes […] Read more
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Alberta’s $10M rural crime strategy includes more officers, better co-ordination
Tracking technology for farm equipment and vehicles will also be utilized
Feds monitoring grain transportation issue closely: Goodale
The federal government is well aware of grain transportation issues in western Canada and is monitoring the situation closely, says Saskatchewan MP and public safety minister Ralph Goodale. But he stopped short of promising an immediate order in council. He said the government is waiting for documentation from both major railways about their plans to […] Read more
Study says neonicotinoid ban not the answer
A study into the presence of neonicotinoids in Canadian waterways suggests a ban or restriction of neonicotinoid seed treatments is not necessary. The Environmental Monitoring Working Group (EMWG) was set up to monitor the presence of imidacloprid, clothianidin and thiamethoxam in waterways after Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) 2016 decision to phase out […] Read more
Canadian ag groups applaud CPTPP signing
Winnipeg (CNS Canada) – Canadian agriculture groups are welcoming the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) signed by the Canadian government and 10 other nations in Santiago, Chile on March 8. “Canadian farmers are export dependent. This agreement not only opens up new market opportunities which will translate to added profitability for this industry, […] Read more
Trade bloc Mercosur, Canada launch talks for trade deal
ASUNCION (Reuters) – South American trade bloc Mercosur formally launched discussions for a trade deal with Canada on Friday, in a move officials said would signal an embrace of free trade at a time other countries are moving toward protectionist policies. For Canada, the talks with the group, which includes Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, […] Read more
Anhydrous application in jeopardy this spring
It appears the federal government might have used regulations to freeze up to 80 percent of the NH3 nurse tanks in Canada for this spring. Approximately 20 percent of the cropped acres in Western Canada are fertilized with anhydrous ammonia, and most farmers and fertilizer dealers can’t make major operational changes in the remaining time […] Read more
U.S. farmers say steel tariffs are ‘disastrous’
Corn and soybean growers worried about retaliation
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 statement, saying the decision was a “disastrous […] Read more
Lies spread faster online than the truth: MIT study
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 more
‘Shipping season has been a disaster’
OTTAWA — The House of Commons agriculture committee was scheduled to hold an emergency meeting March 7 to discuss the grain transportation backlog, even though Parliament is not sitting this week. Four committee members representing both the Conservative and NDP opposition forced the meeting after delivering a request to the committee clerk March 1. That […] Read more
Rural shooting in Alberta sparks calls for action
Ranchers vow to support landowner charged in shooting, but rural crime watch group warns against using guns
Sympathies and concerns are both being expressed in rural Alberta following charges laid against a rural Okotoks-area man alleged to have shot and injured a person whom he believed to be stealing his property. Edouard Maurice, who lives just outside Okotoks, is scheduled to appear in court March 9 on charges of aggravated assault, pointing […] Read more
