The Western Producer had an excellent showing in the 2017 North American Agriculture Journalists (NAAJ) awards in the column category. Journalists from the major agricultural publications in North American covet the recognition this very competitive category brings. The column category “allows the writer to express personal observations, humor or feelings on a topic,” according to […] Read more
News
Big haul for Glacier Farm Media at NAAJ awards
Market wrap: canola falls $9.70 on the week
Crop futures prices were again under pressure Friday from expectations of huge South American harvests. This week the USDA lifted its forecast for Brazil’s crop to 108 million tonnes from 104 million. It lifted the forecast for global year end soybean stocks by about 2.5 million tonnes to 82.8 million tonnes and raised corn stocks […] Read more
Bayer, Monsanto start $2.5 billion asset sale to get merger clearance
FRANKFURT, Germany (Reuters) — Bayer and Monsanto are launching asset sales worth US$2.5 billion as they seek regulatory clearance for their $66 billion merger, sources close to the matter said. To kick off an auction process, Bayer’s advisers will send out information packages this week to prospective bidders for the businesses, which have been divided […] Read more
Frost may threaten U.S. Midwest soft wheat next week
CHICAGO, March 10 (Reuters) – Freezing temperatures next week could threaten soft red winter wheat in about 10 percent of the U.S. Midwest, where a recent warm spell advanced the crop’s development, an agricultural meteorologist said. The coldest air should arrive early Wednesday and Thursday in southern Indiana, southern Ohio and northern Kentucky, with temperatures […] Read more
Thousands of pigs die in Oklahoma wildfires at Smithfield Foods hog farm
March 10 (Reuters) – Wildfires devastated a Smithfield Foods Inc. hog farm in Laverne, Oklahoma, killing an uncertain but potentially huge number of pigs, company and local officials said on Friday. “Several thousands were lost,” said Luke Kanclerz, spokesperson for the Oklahoma Forestry Services. “Such a large area was impacted by these fires, it’s taking […] Read more
One sample, two verdicts
A western Manitoba farmer has been frustrated by vomitoxin testing this winter because inconsistent results may cost him $70,000 on his barley crop. Ashley Mackedenski, who manages 2,500 acres with his brother near Rossburn, Man., seeded barley on about half of the farm last year. Like thousands of other western Canadian farmers, fusarium was a […] Read more
Feeder cattle up 1 pct, live cattle firm on demand
CHICAGO, March 9 (Reuters) – U.S. feeder cattle futures gained 1 percent and live cattle futures were narrowly higher on Thursday amid rising demand for animals, especially for grazing, traders and analysts said. Greening pastures in the Plains region boosted demand for lighter-weight cattle to feed on grass, with beef packers aggressively buying slaughter-weight cattle […] Read more
Bayer hopes merger will aid wheat program
Potential merger with Monsanto should accelerate work with hybrid wheat varieties, says Bayer’s research head
SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Wheat will be one of the crops that benefits most from Bayer’s acquisition of Monsanto, say the heads of research for both organizations. “Wheat is one of the areas that this potential merger is going to really accelerate,” Adrian Percy, global head of research and development with Bayer, told reporters attending […] Read more
Carbon pricing sparks frustration at CFA meeting
Western Producer reporter Karen Briere attended The Canadian Federation of Agriculture annual meeting in Ottawa and filed this report Frustrated farmers lined up at a microphone during the Canadian Federation of Agriculture annual meeting last week to vent about provincial carbon policies. One delegate noted Saskatchewan, which is staunchly opposed to any scheme, probably has […] Read more
Glyphosate presence in honey raises concerns
Public pressure forced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to test for chemical residues, but testing is not done in Canada
For years, environmentalists have said insecticides must be banned to protect bees. Now, some of those same environmental groups are saying that glyphosate must be banned to protect consumers from tainted honey. Last fall, the U.S. Organic Consumers Association and Beyond Pesticides filed a lawsuit against Sue Bee Honey of Sioux City, Iowa, because its […] Read more
