NEW DELHI (Reuters) – A top Indian cotton-growing state has told two local companies that seeds they sold to farmers may have contained traces of an unapproved GM strain from Monsanto, according to government notices seen by Reuters that warn of action against the firms. U.S. agrochemicals company Monsanto Co told Reuters late last year […] Read more
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Care and handling manual for rabbits released
The Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Rabbits was officially released Feb. 15 by the National Farm Animal Care Council and the Syndicat des producteurs de lapins du Quebec. It is the first code ever developed in Canada for rabbits and is among many developed by the NFACC for other types of […] Read more
Drought to persist in Argentine Pampas through February – experts
BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – Drought in the heart of Argentina’s Pampas grains belt is likely to persist through the second half of February, further reducing yields of soy and corn in the 2017-18 season, climate experts said on Wednesday. A three-month dry spell has led the U.S. government and the Buenos Aires Grains Exchange to […] Read more
Plant protein proposal to share $950 million in federal supercluster funding
A western Canadian group that hopes to expand economic opportunities in the plant protein industry is one of five so-called industry superclusters to receive a share of $950 million in federal funding under the Innovation Superclusters Program. (PDF format) Protein Industries Canada (PIC) is an industry-led alliance that consists of more than 120 private-sector companies, […] Read more
Prominent cattle industry figure dies
John Vander Heyden, a well-known figure in southern Alberta’s feedlot industry, died Feb. 12 at the age of 85. Born in Gemert, Netherlands, Vander Heyden moved to Canada in 1957 and settled near Picture Butte, Alta. He and his wife raised six children while establishing and operating Vander Heyden Ranches Ltd. That initial operation remains […] Read more
Simplot orders more fries in Manitoba
Note: This story was updated 3:00 CST Feb. 14/18 Today is St. Valentine’s Day, not St. Patrick’s Day. Nonetheless, Manitoba’s potato growers may have been blessed with the Luck O’ The Irish because demand for potatoes may soon explode in the province. This morning, J.R. Simplot announced it will spend $460 million to expand its […] Read more
New federal ag program announced
Six federal programs designed to get new agriculture and food projects up and running and support the existing industry launched Feb. 13. Lawrence MacAulay chose Canada’s national agriculture day to set the $3-billion ball rolling down a five-year lane. Included in the federal minister’s announcement were $2 billion in federal and provincial cost-shared programs […] Read more
Canada, U.S. exchange barbs over NAFTA talks as stresses
OTTAWA (Reuters) – Canada and the United States exchanged barbs on Tuesday over sluggish negotiations to update NAFTA, reflecting mounting tensions over trade talks that appear unlikely to conclude on schedule. The talks have effectively stalled as Canada and Mexico seek to address wide-ranging U.S. demands for changes to the North American Free Trade […] Read more
Western Canadian winter wheat crop conditions no cause for alarm
WINNIPEG (CNS) – While it has been a cold winter with little snow cover there is still hope for the Canadian Prairies’ winter wheat crop as soil temperatures haven’t hit danger levels yet. “I checked the soil temperatures this morning across the Prairies and most of the soils are about -10 C and winter […] Read more
South Africa declares drought a national disaster
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South Africa has declared a national disaster over the drought afflicting southern and western regions including Cape Town, though the city pushed back its “Day Zero”, the day the city’s taps will run dry. The flow of running water in the port city of four million has been affected by a […] Read more
