Demolition began this morning on old buildings at Regina’s Evraz Place in preparation for construction of the new International Trade Centre. The numbered barns that house horses, sheep and goats during Canadian Western Agribition were among the first to go. Materials, seating and other equipment was salvaged for re-use where possible. Mark Allan, chief executive […] Read more
News
Neonics benefit corn, soybean growers: PMRA
Health Canada has determined that neonicotinoid seed treatments do provide economic value for Canadian corn and soybean growers. For corn, the national economic benefit is $74.2 to $83.3 million annually. “Or about 3.2 to 3.6 percent of the national farmgate value for corn in 2013,” the PMRA said. “The majority of these benefits appeared to […] Read more
Cargill’s second quarter operating profit drops 13 percent, revenues slide 10 percent
CHICAGO, Ill. (Reuters) —Cargill has reported a 13 percent drop in quarterly earnings before special items, citing lower commodity prices and weaker demand in some markets. A milder-than-normal start to the winter in North America curbed earnings from products such as road salt and pressured prices of natural gas and power, which hurt the privately […] Read more
Listening to the rhythms of Earth
An Alberta researcher is listening for climate change. However, instead of standing beside a field in the hopes of seeing and hearing a bird, Erin Bayne has mounted hundreds of computerized microphones around Alberta to listen to wildlife year round. “There are all kinds of animals that make sounds at all times of the year. […] Read more
Monsanto increases job cuts as corn, chemical sales slump
Jan 6 (Reuters) – Monsanto Co said a souring farm economy and currency woes will push its 2016 earnings to the lower end of expectations, while a cost-cutting drive will lead the world’s largest seed company to slash more jobs. Low commodity prices also should lead to more consolidation in the agricultural sector, Chief Executive […] Read more
PMRA finds neonics do not threaten bee health
Health Canada says seed coated with imidacloprid, an insecticide known as a neonicotinoid, does not pose a risk to bee health. Scientists with the Pest Management Regulatory Agency, which oversees agricultural pesticides, released a preliminary report today on imidacloprid and its potential impact on pollinators. The agency said there was “no potential risk to bees,” […] Read more
Canola rises with crusher, exporter buying
WINNIPEG (Reuters) — ICE Canada canola rose on Wednesday, lifted by crusher and exporter buying. A weaker Canadian dollar is stimulating demand, a trader said. The lower loonie improves margins for crushers and makes exported canola more attractive in world trade. The most-active March canola gained $1.80 at $486.10 per tonne. ICE reported 1,039 January […] Read more
Slumping stock market pressures CME live cattle futures
CHICAGO, Jan 6 (Reuters) – Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle contracts posted modest losses on Wednesday amid investor jitters over fallen U.S. stock futures and uncertainty about cash price direction, traders said. Funds heavily invested in equities typically have a wide range of commodities in their portfolios, including CME livestock. February live cattle closed 0.250 […] Read more
AWC seeks new director at large
Alberta wheat growers will have a chance this month to elect a new director to the Alberta Wheat Commission. The commission announced yesterday that a director-at-large election will be held during its Jan. 27 annual meeting in Edmonton. Three Alberta growers are vying for the seat. Kevin Bender of Bentley, Darrel Stokes from Hussar and […] Read more
EPA finds neonic Gaucho threatens bees
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has found that imidacloprid, a neonicotinoid insecticide, poses a risk to bee colonies. In a preliminary risk assessment released this morning, the EPA said imidacloprid, a Bayer product with the brand name Gaucho, is a threat to bee hives when imidacloprid residues on a crop reach 25 parts per billion. […] Read more
