Patty Smith dispersed one of her two purebred sheep flocks at Canadian Western Agribition last month. It wasn’t a matter of downsizing as much as it was sharpening her focus on the real reason she got into the business in the first place. “My ultimate goal was genetic advancement,” she said. That means bringing in […] Read more
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Sheep producer sells purebreds to focus on improved genetics
Video: Industry praises flax growers for reducing Triffid from system
The Flax Council of Canada says growers have made tremendous strides in ridding the system of an unwanted genetically modified variety. “We’ve come a long way,” said council president Don Kerr. “We’re still seeing the odd positive test, but the numbers are reduced considerably.” The industry has found 20 positive Triffid tests out of 2,000 […] Read more
Heifer sale raises almost $48,000 to honour Arnal brothers
SWIFT CURRENT, Sask. — It’s the season for giving, and Saskatchewan people did that in a big way last week as they built a bursary fund established to honour three brothers killed in farm accidents. Three bred heifers from Bircham Ranch at Piapot, Sask., one each for Blake, Sean and Lyndon Arnal, sold for a […] Read more
Bird flu continues to expand in southwestern B.C.
Eight poultry farms in British Columbia’s Fraser Valley are now infected with H5N2, a virulent and highly contagious form of avian influenza. Harpreet Kochhar, chief veterinarian with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, confirmed the total earlier today after two broiler-breeder operations within three kilometres of the first infected barn near Abbotsford were found to be […] Read more
Canola, soybeans fall in profit-taking despite smaller USDA stocks outlook
By Reuters News Agency And Western Producer staff U.S. soybeans fell more than one percent on Wednesday, reversing from an earlier one-month high in a profit-taking selloff in the wake of a U.S. Department of Agriculture report that showed smaller-than-expected ending stocks of the beans. ICE Futures Canada canola futures also fell, but not as […] Read more
Cattle growers pocket more bread as wheat fields heal from drought
CHICAGO (Reuters) — U.S. cattle ranchers are taking advantage of healthier pastures recovering from a protracted drought to further fatten their animals as prices for meat touch record highs, experts said. Less-expensive grain is already benefiting the entire cattle industry, from supplies of replacement calves to slaughter-ready animals, they said. The price of corn at […] Read more
USDA cuts U.S. corn, soy stocks view on demand hikes
By Mark Weinraub WASHINGTON, Dec 10 (Reuters) – Strong demand for U.S corn and soybeans will cut into the abundant domestic supply stockpile by more than expected, according to government data released on Wednesday. The U.S. Agriculture Department projected that ending stocks of corn for the 2014-15 crop year will come in at 1.998 billion […] Read more
Poland’s top court says ban on kosher slaughter unconstitutional
WARSAW (Reuters) ¬— Poland’s top court ruled on Wednesday that a ban on traditional Jewish slaughter methods was unconstitutional, bringing relief to Jews in a country scarred by Nazi Germany’s Holocaust. A previous 2012 court verdict had effectively banned Jewish production of kosher meat, backing animal rights groups who said it was cruel to kill […] Read more
Russia’s grain exports to remain high in December – analyst
MOSCOW, Dec 9 (Reuters) – Russia’s grain exports will remain at high levels in December, fuelled by a weaker rouble and adding to officials’ concerns about rising domestic prices, according to SovEcon, one of the leading Moscow-based agriculture consultancies. Russia, one of the world’s largest wheat exporters, is exporting grains at a record pace this […] Read more
Alberta man donates land for new provincial park
An Alberta farmer has donated 940 acres of native prairie, just outside Hanna, to the provincial government to be used as a provincial park. Gottlob Schmidt, 90, has asked the park be named Antelope Hill Provincial Park. It will be Alberta’s 76th provincial park. “I am very happy to make this donation to the province […] Read more
