A left-leaning Ottawa research centre is warning that impending government cuts in an expected March budget could mean the loss of hundreds of Agriculture Canada jobs and deep spending cuts. In a Jan. 23 report, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives projected that more than 600 Agriculture Canada positions could be eliminated and $220 million […] Read more
News — page 2502
Budget cuts may hit Ag Canada
Cargill expands beef storage
Cargill’s beef slaughter plant in High River, Alta., is upgrading its facilities to increase boxed beef storage and use its own waste products to produce electricity. Steve Molitor of Cargill said the plant can store 45,000 boxes of beef but produces 35,000 boxes daily. That has required it to ship and store boxed beef in […] Read more
Events for Feb. 2, 2012
Coming events Feb. 1-9 FLC-CIGI online biodiesel workshop Feb. 1-2 Manitoba Swine Seminar Victoria Inn Hotel and Conference Centre Winnipeg (Dallas Ballance 204-475-8585 dallas@goodwinballance.ca www.manitobaswineseminar.ca) Feb. 2 Dairy Farmers of Canada Dairy Policy Conference Fairmont Chateau Laurier Ottawa (613-236-9997 elizabeth.west@dfc-plc.ca) Feb. 2 Managing Success seminar Manitou Springs Hotel Watrous Sask. (306-946-3220) Feb. 7-March 8 FLC […] Read more
Secret to parasite resistance found in African sheep
Mapping genome | Identifying traits that increase tolerance to infection can help determine best breeding combinations
LINDELL BEACH, B.C. — Scientists have discovered genetic resistance to a parasite nematode that infects sheep. Researchers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Kenya detected quantitative trait loci (QTL) genetic locations on chromosomes for resistance to gastrointestinal nematode parasites while studying a double-backcross population of African native […] Read moreLetters — for Feb. 2, 2012
Trade deal on beef sparks hope for pork producers
Canada’s recent deal with South Korea to resume trade in Canadian beef should be an impetus to resume free trade talks that would help the pork sector, say industry players. However, there is no guarantee that will happen. So far, Ottawa has been silent on the prospect for renewed free trade talks with Korea, which […] Read more
Maintain livestock handling equipment
Cattle producers may dream big after hearing Temple Grandin talk about proper animal handling, but they have to be careful not to slip back into old ways. Grandin, arguably the world’s most famous animal behaviour specialist, spoke to a standing room only crowd Jan. 19 as keynote speaker at the Lethbridge College Tiffin Conference. “You’ve […] Read more
Hoppers expected this spring in Alberta
Grasshopper forecast | Saskatchewan, Manitoba predicted to have few troubles with grasshoppers this spring
EDMONTON — Saskatchewan and Manitoba look safe from grasshoppers this year, according to the 2012 forecast, but Alberta farmers need to beware. “Alberta gets to be the lucky contender with grasshoppers this year,” said Jennifer Otani, an Agriculture Canada entomologist. “The forecast in Alberta has pockets with severe populations, but that depends what happens in […] Read more
Flooded Manitoba farmers blame western neighbour
KAP convention | Saskatchewan farm group leader accepts partial responsibility and says stricter laws are needed on illegal drainage
Some Manitoba farmers at the Keystone Agricultural Producers convention picked a familiar and easy target to blame for the Assiniboine River’s flood last year: Saskatchewan producers. “This is about the longest flood I’ve ever seen, this spring and summer,” George Harrison of Oak Lake told Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan president Norm Hall. “My understanding […] Read more
Researchers deliver ‘hard’ news
EDMONTON — The head of a seed germination lab says last spring’s excess water has created seed characteristics never before seen in this country: pulse seeds impermeable to water. Lentils and peas from southern Alberta are showing signs of hard seed, said Sarah Foster of 20/20 Seed Labs in Nisku, Alta. “There is not a […] Read more
