The Ontario government’s plan to cut neonicotinoid use by 80 percent is unwarranted and unacceptable, says the Grain Farmers of Ontario chair. “This new regulation is unfounded, impractical and unrealistic and the government does not know how to implement it,” said Henry Van Ankum, who farms near Alma, Ont. “With this announcement, agriculture and rural […] Read more
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Ont. farmers balk at neonic reduction plan
U.S. farm profits to slump along with grain prices: USDA
WASHINGTON (Reuters) — Falling grain prices and rising expenses will drag 2014 U.S. farm sector profits to their lowest since 2010 and have resulting effects that include less capital investment and a moderation of growth in farmland values, the Department of Agriculture said on Tuesday. At the same time farm sector debt is expected to […] Read more
U.S. beef prices are still rising
WASHINGTON (Reuters) — Retail prices for U.S. beef and pork, already at record highs, will increase significantly again in 2015 on a combination of disease and the drought in Southern Plains, the Department of Agriculture said on Tuesday. “Meat prices will likely continue to experience the effects of the Texas/Oklahoma drought and porcine epidemic diarrhea […] Read more
Ontario plans to cut neonic use by 80 percent
The Ontario government wants to reduce the use of neonicotinoid seed treatments by 80 percent. In a release issued this morning, Ontario’s ministry of agriculture and the ministry of the environment said the reduction is necessary to protect bees and other pollinators. “Improving pollinator health is not a luxury but a necessity. Pollinators play a […] Read more
Kentucky auctioneer wins Agribition competition
Trey Morris of Murray, Kentucky, won the 2014 Winners Circle Auctioneers Competition at Canadian Western Agribition yesterday. Morris is the 2012 Kentucky state champion, and his smooth patter won over five judges during the annual Regina event. The other competitors were Tyler Slawinski from McCreary, Man., and Curtis Wetovick from Fullerton, Nebraska. The competitors auctioned […] Read more
India, U.S. hold first trade dialogue in four years
NEW DELHI (Reuters) — The United States and India held their first round of formal trade talks in four years on Tuesday, seeking to capitalize on the resolution of a global trade dispute to repair a dialogue that had fallen into neglect. While the two sides reported no breakthroughs at the Trade Policy Forum, they […] Read more
Bad weather hits Black Sea winter grain crops, dents 2015 harvest
KIEV/MOSCOW (Reuters) — Major Black Sea wheat producers Russia and Ukraine may fail to harvest a record wheat crop next year due to the poor condition of their winter plantings, traders and forecasters said. “As of now the development (of winter grains) and the level of moisture in the soil are worse than the long-time […] Read more
In wake of China rejections, GMO seed makers limit U.S. launches
(Reuters) — China’s barriers to imports of some U.S. genetically modified crops are disrupting seed companies’ plans for new product launches and keeping at least one variety out of the U.S. market altogether. Two of the world’s biggest seed makers, Syngenta AG and Dow AgroSciences, are responding with tightly controlled U.S. launches of new GMO […] Read more
U.S. biofuel groups say reform of renewable fuel mandate unlikely
WASHINGTON (Reuters) — U.S. biofuel producers expressed confidence on Monday that the industry would be able to fend off any attempt by lawmakers to reform the federal renewable fuel program in 2015. Critics of the U.S. biofuel mandate have intensified calls for reform of the program after the Environmental Protection Agency said on Friday that […] Read more
Home announced for Sask. manufacturing centre of excellence
Saskatchewan Polytechnic will host the Saskatchewan Manufacturing Centre of Excellence at its Saskatoon campus. The Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME) officially launched the centre Nov. 24, which coincided with the start of Saskatchewan Manufacturing Week. “Manufacturing is going on at an unprecedented rate here in our province,” said Bill Boyd, the province’s economy minister. He […] Read more
