Farmers, consumers all have role to play when it comes to food safety
In 2012, Canada experienced its largest beef recall of the year, all because of E. coli. XL Foods Inc. in Brooks, Alta., was shut down and its license temporarily suspended for several months that fall. The plant was not to be reopened until the Canadian Food Inspection Agency was certain it could produce safe food […] Read moreNews
E.coli vaccine effective but underused, says researcher
Monsanto’s new herbicide tolerant crops approved in U.S.
(Reuters) — Monsanto has received final U.S. approval for herbicide tolerant crops that will be used with a new herbicide the company says will fight problematic weed resistance. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service said the genetically modified cotton and soybean plants are granted “non-regulated” status. Monsanto is still waiting […] Read more
U.S. rules open Cuba to agricultural exports
New regulations loosen restrictions on American travel and trade into Cuba
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Reuters) — The United States has announced details of measures designed to ease sanctions on Cuba, opening up the communist-ruled island to more agricultural trade from the U.S., as well as travel, trade and financial activities. Defying hardline critics in Congress, U.S. president Barack Obama made good on his commitment last month to […] Read moreCoyote hunt poses no threat
Hunting competition won’t affect coyote numbers in Alberta, says biologist
Alberta’s coyote population is in no danger from a coyote hunting competition, says a wildlife biologist. University of Alberta professor Lee Foote said less than 20 coyotes would have been shot in a recent coyote hunting competition, which raised the ire of animal activists. There is no accurate coyote count, but Foote estimates more than […] Read moreWith a big farm show comes big responsibilities
Western Canadian Crop Production Show is growing in popularity — and running out of room
As agricultural equipment continues to get bigger, so too does the need for a co-ordinated effort at the Western Canadian Crop Production Show in Saskatoon. Organizing the set-up schedule starts a month before the four-day show, held this year Jan. 12-15. Larger pieces of equipment and some smaller exhibitors are given a specific move-in time. […] Read moreFederal bill would enable CGC to track grain containers
The Canadian Grain Commission is seeking the authority to start tracking containerized shipments of grains, oilseeds and pulses. It is one of the changes outlined in Bill C-48, the Modernization of Canada’s Grain Industry Act. “There is increasing pressure for transparency in statistics of grain volumes and grain handling in Canada for exports,” chief commissioner […] Read more
News briefs – January 22, 2015
Trade WASHINGTON, D.C. (Reuters) — The World Trade Organization has rejected Argentina’s bid to overturn a ruling in favour of the United States, European Union and Japan against the South American country’s licensing rules used to restrict imports. The WTO’s appellate body recommended Argentina fix its trade rules after it upheld an earlier WTO panel […] Read more
Cash hogs plunge pushing CME hogs to 2-year low, cattle weaker
By Theopolis Waters CHICAGO, Jan 22 (Reuters) – Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hogs drifted to a two-year low for a third straight session on Thursday, pressured by the steep drop in cash and wholesale pork prices, traders said. February closed 0.750 cents per pound lower at 71.600 cents, and April fell 1.350 cents to 72.875 […] Read more
Spring wheat port prices weaken, durum mixed
Spring wheat port prices have fallen for a third straight week while durum prices are up on the West Coast, but down at the St. Lawrence, according to the Agriculture Canada weekly price summary. As of Jan. 16 the West Coast price for No. 1 CW hard red wheat was $329.87 per tonne, down about […] Read more
Monsanto plans first seed plant in Russia
PARIS (Reuters) — Monsanto, the world’s largest seed company, plans to open its first plant in Russia in coming years, stepping up its activities in the world’s fourth largest grain producer as it seeks to counter the effects of a plunging rouble. The rouble has almost halved in value against the dollar in the past […] Read more
