MARKHAM, Ont. — Problems for Ontario beekeepers haven’t disappeared, despite changes to the way farmers planted neonicotinoid-treated corn and soybeans this year. Paul Kozak, an apiarist with Ontario’s agriculture ministry, said the province imported 33,000 honeybee queens, 8,100 bee packages and 1,600 colonies this year. “These first three numbers speak to the fact that we’ve […] Read more
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Ontario bee deaths up, but lower during seeding
Attractive prices help boost show atmosphere
Reed Andrew attended the first Canadian Western Agribition when he was 15 and has never missed a show. So he speaks with some authority when he dubbed last week’s edition the best ever. “The atmosphere, the festivities, the prices have just been incredible,” he said as the last day of the show got underway. Andrew […] Read more
Low dollar, strong U.S. economy good for exports: RBC
Canadian household finances | Economist says spending is being stifled because consumers are carrying high debt loads
The Canadian dollar is expected to weaken over the next year, and oil prices could settle around $85 a barrel. However, commodity prices are likely to remain strong. Much of Canada’s fortunes and continuing stability depend on what happens in the United States, where growth is approaching 3.3 percent, says the assistant chief economist for […] Read moreOttawa, railways glossing over shipper concerns: SSRA
Saskatchewan short lines say new car allocation policies will do nothing to improve communication or service to short-line operators and producer car loaders. However, they say the new rules will limit the number of unfilled car orders on the order books of Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway, which will leave the impression that […] Read more
Neonic threat to wild birds questioned
The CBC Radio show Quirks & Quarks ran a 25-minute documentary on neonicotinoid seed treatments this fall that suggested the insecticides are killing wild birds in Western Canada. The documentary reported on the research of Christy Morrissey, a University of Saskatchewan toxicologist who says neonics are poisoning aquatic insects and endangering the birds that depend […] Read more
Mustard prices softening, but oriental holding its own
WINNIPEG — Mustard prices have been drifting lower, but oriental varieties have been showing relative strength. Despite a turbulent growing season complete with hailstorms and excess rain, a prominent mustard merchant says most of the samples he’s seen to date are No. 1 grade. Walter Dyck, a buyer with Wisconsin-based Olds Food Products, says he’s […] Read more
Canada, South Korea ratify free trade agreement
Canadian cattle and pork producers received an early Christmas present with the ratification of the Canada-South Korea Free Trade Agreement. The Dec. 3 ratification means Korean tariffs on Canadian beef and pork will start to reduce Jan. 1, 2015, and once again be competitive against Canadian and Australian exporters. The agreement means the 40 percent […] Read more
UPDATED: Two more barns quarantined due to bird flu
UPDATED at 10:15 a.m. CST: Two more poultry farms in British Columbia’s Fraser Valley are under quarantine as a precaution to contain the spread of avian influenza, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said yesterday. The two broiler breeder farms are located between two farms near Abbotsford and Chilliwack where avian influenza was announced Tuesday. Avian […] Read more
ABP presents stewardship award to Nanton family
Alberta Beef Producers presented its environmental stewardship award to the Chattaway family of Nanton during the organization’s annual meeting held in Calgary Dec. 1-3. The Bar S Ranch is a fourth generation cow-calf and yearling operation in the Porcupine Hills region of southwestern Alberta. Clay Chattaway, along his sons, Morgan and Scott, work together on […] Read more
Beef brochure explains growth hormones
More than 90 percent of Canadians have no connection with agriculture even though everyone eats food every day. Karin Schmid wants to dispel some of the myths and answer some of the questions that consumers may have about beef by producing a series of information brochures, Schmid, the beef production specialist at Alberta Beef Producers, […] Read more
