RED DEER — Government compensation to ranchers who lost cattle in a bovine tuberculosis outbreak could reach $36 million. The investigation continues on the thousands of cattle caught up in the TB net, and final testing may not be done for another month, said Rick James-Davies of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Producers are eligible […] Read more
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TB bill could hit $36 million
Ag Notes
Alberta Canola elects directors Greg Sears was re-elected chair and Renn Breitkreuz was re-elected vice-chair of Alberta Canola during the FarmTech Conference in Edmonton. Five new directors were also elected: Mike Ammeter of Sylvan Lake, Region 7 Dan Doll of Fairview, Region 1 John Mayko of Mundare, Region 4 Cale Staden of Mannville, Region 10 […] Read more
Alberta grain producers change wheat checkoff
EDMONTON — Alberta farmers are no longer seeing two deductions from their wheat cheques. “You were paying two levies for the past four years. Now it will be one,” said producer and Alberta Wheat Commission board member Henry Voss, who brought the motion to the annual meeting of the Alberta Wheat Commission in Edmonton during […] Read more
Bunge shares surge eight percent after profitable fourth quarter
(Reuters) —Bunge Ltd. has reported a better-than-expected quarterly profit and forecast strong earnings growth in 2017 on expected massive corn and soybean harvests in South America. Earnings were propelled by higher sugar and ethanol prices and improved edible oil margins in Brazil. Bunge reiterated its optimistic outlook for 2017. The company expects its agribusiness unit, […] Read more
EU-Canada deal clears another hurdle
STRASBOURG, France (Reuters) — The European Union and Canada secured clearance Feb. 15 for their contentious free trade deal and the removal of import duties that supporters say will boost growth and jobs on both sides of the Atlantic. The two parties can claim success for their open markets policy following months of protest and […] Read more
Italy’s pasta labelling plan raises concerns
WINNIPEG/ROME (Reuters) — Canada has raised concerns with Rome about Italy’s plan to require country-of-origin labels on pasta sold there. The move is alarming Canadian wheat exporters just as a free trade deal gained European approval. Rome sent a draft decree to the European Commission in December, seeking approval for labels on pasta sold in […] Read more
Russia, EU vie for top wheat markets
MOSCOW/PARIS (Reuters) — Russia and the European Union are expected to return to strong competition for the rank of the world’s biggest wheat exporter in the new 2017-18 marketing season because prospects for their crops are bright, analysts say. For global consumers, especially in North Africa and the Middle East, this intense rivalry, together with […] Read more
Pesticide concentration info not at your fingertips
Various agencies and researchers may have information, but Canada doesn’t have a central pesticide website like the United States
Finding data on pesticides in water can be a gruelling task in Canada. Scott Teed, a scientist and risk assessment specialist with Intrinsik, an environmental consultancy, checks with a number of sources to cobble together data on pesticide concentrations. He speaks with Environment Canada scientists, university re-searchers and provincial experts to see if anyone has […] Read moreChinese scientist convicted of theft
(Reuters) — A Chinese scientist in Kansas has been convicted of conspiring to steal samples of genetically modified rice seeds from a U.S. research facility. Weiqiang Zhang worked as a rice breeder for Ventria Bioscience Inc., which develops GM rice used in the therapeutic and medical fields. He stole seeds and provided them to employees […] Read more
Education dropping among young male farmers: study
LONDON, Ont. — The education level of young male farmers in southwestern Ontario has slipped, according to research published by the Alliance of Crop, Soil and Environmental Science Societies. “Why I think this is interesting is that there appears to be a correlation between the degree of education and environmental behaviour,” study co-author Silke Nebel […] Read more
