It remains to be seen how Saskatchewan farmers and rural municipalities will be affected by government efforts to balance the provincial budget. But delegates who attended the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities’ annual convention in Saskatoon this week were bracing themselves for the worst. In a March 15 interview, SARM president Ray Orb said he […] Read more
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Potato research receives federal funding
Federal government funds to help expand markets for Canadian potatoes were announced March 15 in Winnipeg. The agriculture department announced $274,000 in funds through Growing Forward 2, which will be used to expand foreign and domestic markets for potatoes “through trade shows, targeted advertising, incoming missions, market research and development, and product promotion.” Announcement of […] Read more
Survey seeks to improve ag services
Saskatchewan farmers, ranchers and agribusiness operators have until the end of this month to let the government know how they prefer to receive advice and information. Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart last week announced an online public survey on agricultural extension services. He said the ministry wants to ensure it is meeting farmers’ needs. “We’re asking […] Read more
Ont. vegetable processors accuse gov’t of creating problem to play white knight
Commission dismisses entire marketing board and appoints trustee to manage negotiations; growers form new group
CHATHAM, ONT.— Just three days after learning the Ontario government had fired their marketing organization’s board of directors and appointed a trustee, the province’s processing vegetable growers established a new group with their former leadership at its head. About 100 growers voted on whether to create the new group March 6 in an impromptu meeting […] Read moreIndia’s pulse fumigation rule unresolved
A policy decision that could disrupt Canadian pulse shipments to India is once again coming down to the wire. “We have never been as concerned, but we have reason to be optimistic,” said Gord Bacon, chief executive officer of Pulse Canada. India has stated that as of March 31 it will no longer provide exemptions […] Read more
Cattle futures jump on gains in cash prices, wholesale beef
CHICAGO, March 15 (Reuters) – Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures rose about 1 percent on Wednesday, rebounding from declines in the previous session on the back of higher cash cattle trades in the southern U.S. Plains, traders and analysts said. Beef packers paid higher values for cattle to take advantage of big profit margins […] Read more
Canola drifts lower as loonie rises on stronger crude oil
Canola futures drifted lower Wednesday following weakness in Chicago soybeans and oil. A stronger loonie today also weighed down canola. May closed at $511.90, down $2.30. New crop November closed at $496, down $1.20. Spring wheat rallied more than one percent on technical factors and ideas that the price had fallen enough to generate new […] Read more
Favourable weather boosts hopes for Russia, Ukraine grain crops
MOSCOW/KIEV, March 15 (Reuters) – Favourable weather ahead of spring sowing in Black Sea grain producers Russia and Ukraine is boosting hopes of a large harvest, analysts, officials and traders said, although it will likely fall short of last year’s record. Spring grain sowing in Russia, one of the world’s largest wheat exporters, started a […] Read more
EU chemical agency says weed killer glyphosate not carcinogenic
By Jussi Rosendahl and Tuomas Forsell HELSINKI, March 15 (Reuters) – Glyphosate, the key ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide, should not be classified as a substance causing cancer, the European Chemical Agency concluded on Wednesday, potentially paving the way for its licence renewal in the EU. A transatlantic row over possible risks to human health […] Read more
MLA proposes ending daylight savings time in Alberta
Less than two full days after Albertans “sprung ahead in the spring” with daylight saving time, NDP MLA Thomas Dang introduced a private member’s bill to eliminate the twice-yearly time change in the province. In a March 14 news release, Dang said he’s heard from the public that “stopping the practice of changing our clocks […] Read more
