Canola futures hardly moved today and ended mixed, while over the week the March contract edged down only $1.60 per tonne. That works out to a decline of only 0.35 percent, much better than the 5.8 percent decline in March soybeans. The weaker Canadian dollar, investment fund buying and the tighter supply-demand situation in canola […] Read more
News
Canola closes week little changed, fairs better than soybeans
Crop Production Week 2015
The Western Canada Crop Production Show is up and running for another year and farmers from across the Prairies are gathering in Saskatoon for an action-packed week of meetings, presentations and educational lectures on all things crop-related. Western Producer reporters are there, too, covering everything of interest to our readers. From Crop Production Week to […] Read more
NFL playoff fever prompts cheese ban
SEATTLE, Wash. (Reuters) — In a friendly slap at Green Bay Packers fans, popularly known as “cheese heads,” the manager of a city near Seattle has banned cheese in municipal headquarters before Sunday’s NFL playoff game between the Packers and Seattle Seahawks. Bainbridge Island city manager Douglas Schulze, a devoted Seahawks fan, banned the possession […] Read more
Prairie farmers to benefit from low ocean freight rates
WINNIPEG — Western Canadian grain farmers are expected to benefit from recent lower ocean freight rates. The Baltic Dry Index (BDI), a measurement of ocean freight rates, has dropped significantly over the past couple of months. The BDI was quoted at 749 points Jan. 16, up from a low of 709 points seen earlier in […] Read more
Canola industry in fight against bad information
Misinformation abounds about the healthfulness of canola oil
A recent email to The Western Producer warned that vegetable oil does far more harm to human health than good and that canola oil was the worst offender. It said the “GMO oil” has been linked to muscular disorders and fatty degeneration of the heart, kidneys, adrenal and thyroid glands. The email contained no research […] Read more
Farmers need an integrated pest plan
American researcher says neonicotinoids aren’t an answer to every insect problem
RIDGETOWN, Ont. — The neonicotinoid interaction between soybeans, slugs and predatory ground beetles provides an argument for integrated pest management, says a Penn State researcher. “I didn’t come here to bang on neonicotinoids. I came here to talk about pesticides in general,” John Tooker told the recent Southwest Agricultural Conference in Ridgetown. “There can be […] Read more
‘Odd and unusual’ images sought for updated Alberta bird book
Ellis Bird Farm working on new, expanded book about bird feeding
Ellis Bird Farm is looking for photographs as it updates its backyard bird feeding book. Farm manager Myrna Pearman said she has plenty of pictures of common birds eating at feeders but is looking for odd and unusual pictures. “I know photographers may have spent time at feeders and may have captured some of the […] Read more
U of S strikes deal for U.S. pea distribution
Canterra Seeds signs 10 year deal, which could generate $100,000 per year in royalties
Canterra Seeds has signed a deal that gives it exclusive U.S. distribution rights for field pea varieties developed at the University of Sask-atchewan’s Crop Development Centre. The Winnipeg-based seed company announced Jan. 6 that it had acquired the distribution rights in an open bid competition. CDC’s yellow and green pea varieties will be sold in […] Read moreCorporate scrutiny of production methods new reality
Farmers may not like filling out sustainability forms, but they better get used to it and soon, says a baking industry leader. Walmart, Unilever and other Fortune 100 corporations have entrenched sustainability into their business models, and they are exerting pressure on suppliers. Paul Hetherington, president of the Baking Association of Canada, said there was […] Read more
Video: WWF takes aim at food production issues
The World Wildlife Fund says it doesn’t want to be one of those environmental groups that complains a lot about agriculture but offers little practical help. The organization hopes to become more relevant by helping companies and stakeholders in the food supply chain develop strategies that make food production more sustainable. Jason Clay, WWF’s senior […] Read more
