Farmers can’t assume that boosting biosecurity levels is enough to protect against the threat of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus, an Ontario government veterinarian told the Manitoba Swine Seminar. The disease can grow silently and suddenly burst out if not identified. “Just raising your biosecurity might give you a false sense of security,” Tim Blackwell said […] Read more
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Environmental sampling essential to ensure PED protection
U.S. will see ideal weather, moisture: climatologist
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — An El Nino is expected to arrive this spring, bringing good growing conditions to the Western Hemisphere but doom for drought-ravaged Australia. The weather phenomenon, which is caused by warm ocean water, should deliver much needed rain to the southwestern United States and good growing conditions for the U.S. Plains, said climatologist […] Read more
Record beef prices boost U.S. packer margins
CHICAGO, Ill. (Reuters) —U.S. beef packers are reaping their best profits in 2 1/2 years after beef prices hit historic highs. Processor margins will continue to widen as long as they are able to pass on their costs for record-high cattle prices to wholesale buyers, analysts said. “This is the time of year when packer […] Read more
Chinese focuson food security, rural environment
‘Number one document’ | China’s top policy paper has focused on rural matters since 2003
BEIJING, China (Reuters) — China’s top policy priorities for this year will be improving the rural environment and maintaining food security, according to a key policy document. The “number one document,” which is issued every January by the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Committee, sets the country’s policy priorities for the year and has focused on […] Read moreCOOL ‘travesty’ needs fixing: NCBA
Cattle group fears retaliation | NCBA estimates the cost to implement new rules at $100 million
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The battle against country-of-origin labelling is not lost, says the president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, even if the U.S. farm bill is now law. “We are going to continue to work on this issue and we are getting more support,” Scott George said in an interview during the NCBA convention […] Read moreUrban, rural municipalities differ on changes to governance act
Rural Albertans need to speak out in support of their rural governments in upcoming Municipal Government Act sessions, said the head of the rural municipalities group. Bob Barss said rural municipalities are looking for different things in a new Municipal Government Act than urban municipalities. Urban governments would like to make it easier to absorb […] Read more
Western solutions to African ag decried
High-tech answers irrelevant Zambian ag minister tells western countries to stop trying to think for them
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (Reuters) — Paternalistic thinking from western firms will not solve Africa’s agricultural problems, which need to be addressed from African viewpoints, Zambia’s agriculture minister told a global forum. Four out of five panelists who debated the issue at the two-day agricultural forum in Abu Dhabi were non-Africans. South African Johan […] Read moreCrop insurance a click away
Saskatchewan Crop Insurance has an enhanced CropConnect system that allows customers to do business online from a computer or mobile device. Customers can now add land to a contract, fill out forms, calculate premium and coverage levels, report production data and file claims on the go.
Sask. improves corn coverage, introduces bee loss insurance
Saskatchewan’s crop insurance program for 2014 will include improvements for grain corn coverage. Corn acres grew 46 percent last year compared to the previous year, rising to 20,000 acres from 9,000. Farmers and ranchers have been asking for production insurance, said agriculture minister Lyle Stewart. “As a result of the high demand, we are introducing […] Read more
EU set to lift duties on most U.S. goods as part of trade deal
Some tariffs remain Beef, poultry and pork would remain protected but import quotas will be raised
BRUSSELS, Belgium (Reuters) — The European Union will offer to lift tariffs on nearly all goods imported from the United States as part of negotiations toward the world’s largest free trade deal, say officials familiar with the proposal. The offer was expected to be made Feb. 10, after this issue’s deadline, a week ahead of […] Read more
