Saskatchewan’s Farm Land Security Board issues a second decision that Skyline Agriculture Financial Corp. is violating rules for foreign ownership
Saskatchewan’s Farm Land Security Board has issued its second decision on a case that could transform the way land is bought and sold in the province. The decision reaffirms an earlier ruling that ordered Skyline Agriculture Financial Corp. to reduce its land holdings to the allowable 10 acre limit for foreign investors. Skyline is attempting […] Read moreNews
Farmland board rules against investment group
Alta. farm group debates suing railways for poor performance
RED DEER — A resolution to allow railways to be sued for poor performance was defeated in a tie vote during the Alberta Federation of Agriculture meeting. Round Hill farmer Bernie von Tetternborn said grain companies and farmers need a way to hold railways accountable if they don’t meet their contracts to haul grain. “Grain […] Read more
Former agriculture minister leaving Alberta politics
Former Alberta agriculture minister Doug Horner has announced his resignation from Alberta politics after 14 years. Horner said it was with “mixed emotions” that he will resign Jan. 31 as Progressive Conservative MLA for Spruce Grove-St. Albert. He was first elected in 2001 and served as deputy premier, minister of agriculture, minister of advanced education […] Read more
Minimize tillage to fight compaction
Careful tillage can prevent issues with soil compaction, says researcher
Tillage destroys soil structure, which is the No. 1 defence against soil compaction for farmers, says an American researcher. Jodi Dejong-Hughes, who studies soil compaction at the University of Minnesota, told the recent CropSphere conference in Saskatoon that soil with good structure can carry greater loads. That’s because small pieces of soil bound together with […] Read moreCWB plans to continue business at competing facilities
Company hopes expanding elevator network will ease deliveries
Managers at CWB say they will continue to take grain deliveries at facilities owned by competing elevator companies. However, they acknowledged that delivery opportunities at non-CWB elevators have been hit and miss and delivery challenges might not disappear overnight. Delivery issues, combined with inconsistent car spotting at some producer car loading sites, has placed added […] Read moreAlberta working on updated rules for RMs
The Alberta government has signed a memorandum of understanding with the province’s municipalities to have new governance rules in place by next year. The Municipal Government Act is the framework that allows municipalities to operate. “It’s the document we live and breath under as municipalities,” Al Kemmere, president of the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts […] Read more
CP launches land development plan
Thousands of unused acres could be developed under partnership with real estate company
Canadian Pacific Railway has a plan to convert surplus North American real estate into revenue. The Calgary-based railway company announced Jan. 20 that it has formed a joint venture with Toronto-based Dream Unlimited Corp., a publicly traded real estate company that specializes in office, industrial and retail space. The arrangement is aimed at developing CP’s […] Read moreSmall shippers want big changes
Small volume crops suffering from service shortage, says oat growers group
Small volume grain shippers hope their concerns about inadequate rail service will receive a sympathetic reception among members of a federally appointed panel charged with reviewing the Canada Transportation Act. Small block shippers, including shippers of milling oats, malting barley and other small volume crops, say poor or unpredictable rail service over the past year […] Read moreGrain woes linger despite greater service
Canada’s grain monitor says railway performance in Canada has returned to normal and is setting new records for volumes of grain moved to port. Mark Hemmes, president of Quorum Corp., said Canada’s major railways moved record amounts of grain to port position in the 2013-14 crop year and are on pace to set another record […] Read more
New trucks may not suit all farmers
Industry group wants to see more efficient trucks on the road
RIDGETOWN, Ont. — The shift to better fuel economy in the trucking industry may be bad news for farmers looking for a used tractor trailer. Many units on the roads today were designed for high-speed highway travel and may not be a good fit for short-haul duty, said Mike Roeth, executive director of the North […] Read more
