Tax relief is available for livestock producers affected by drought last year, and more of them are now eligible. The federal agriculture department released a list Feb. 2 of regions that will be eligible for tax deferrals as a result of last year’s dry conditions. The new list expanded on a preliminary list of drought-affected […] Read more
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More tax relief available for livestock producers hit by drought
Weather market underpins CME live cattle futures
CHICAGO, Feb 2 (Reuters) – Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures rose modestly on Tuesday, helped by inclement weather in the western corn belt that delayed delivery of livestock to packing plants, said traders. Blizzard conditions in the central United States shut down some Cargill and Tyson Foods beef and pork processing plants in the […] Read more
Three new cases of PED confirmed in Ontario in January
Three new cases of porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus were reported on Ontario hog farms in January. One new case was confirmed Jan. 15 in a farrow to partial finish operation in Bruce County, a second was confirmed Jan. 21 in a Huron County finishing barn and a third was confirmed Jan. 28 in another […] Read more
New livestock research centre in Sask. fraught with complications
SASKATOON — The push is on to build the new Saskatchewan Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence before construction funding expires. However, there is still uncertainty about where one of the facilities will go and what will happen to the existing research operation at the Termuende farm near Lanigan. The $25 million centre was announced […] Read more
Canola falls as loonie rises
The Canadian dollar trade that has helped keep canola relatively strong unwound a bit more Monday, helping canola fall further than its peers. “Ever since the (Canadian) dollar bottomed, that’s been the trend,” said Ken Ball, a broker with P.I. Financial in Winnipeg. “Traders were massively long canola and short soy, playing the dollar all […] Read more
Defending agricultural practices called ineffective
Many farmers and commodity groups use social media to explain and defend agricultural practices. The goal is typically to clear up misperceptions about farming and food production. The communication may be changing a few minds, but defending farming practices isn’t going to build consumer trust, says a new report on the future of Canada’s agri-food […] Read more
CN to appeal revenue cap ruling
Canadian National Railway is attempting to appeal a Canadian Transportation Agency ruling that the railway exceeded its revenue cap by nearly $7 million in 2014-15. “CN believes the CTA did not apply the revenue cap properly, which erroneously caused it to conclude CN had exceeded its revenue entitlement,” company spokesperson Mark Hallman said in a […] Read more
Grain Millers Inc. firm on glyphosate-treated oats ban
Grain Millers Inc. is standing by its decision to avoid buying western Canadian oats that have been sprayed with pre-harvest glypho-sate. Procurement manager Terry Tyson told growers in Saskatoon that it will buy only oats that have been allowed to mature naturally, either standing or in the swath. Tyson said use of glyphosate as a […] Read more
Herbicide tolerant flax project progressing
Western Canada’s flax breeding program has taken a hit in recent years, but there is encouraging news coming out of the United States. The flax industry is struggling with the loss of two of its three breeding programs with the closure of Agriculture Canada’s program in Morden, Man., and Crop Production Services’ program in Saskatoon. […] Read more
Producers talk of hog barn expansion
New hog barns could soon be built in Manitoba, after eight years of little to no construction. The weak loonie, combined with the repeal of U.S. country-of-origin labelling and relaxed manure regulations in Manitoba, have produced the right conditions for new barn investment. “There are barns that are going to be built. We talked to […] Read more
