2006 deal fell through | China is the world’s biggest beef importer but the U.S. has been shut out since the BSE crisis in 2003
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — China could import beef from the United States by summer, but analysts warn nothing is certain until the first container ship sets sail. “We had some commitment that they will allow beef in China before the middle of the year,” said Al Almanza, administrator of the U.S. Food Safety inspection Service’s meat, […] Read moreNews
Some skeptical on U.S. beef export deal with China
Japanese buy Aussie grain firm
Australia’s fifth largest grain company has been sold to a Japanese buyer. Tokyo-based commodities trader Sumitomo Corp. announced Feb. 5 that it has acquired full ownership of Australia’s Emerald Grain. Sumitomo had previously acquired a 50 percent share in Emerald Grain, which handles 4.5 million tonnes of Australian grain annually. The deal will see Sumitomo […] Read more
Case made to keep WIT independent
Weyburn Inland Terminal | Farmers discuss proposal, many speak out against offer from Parrish & Heimbecker
WEYBURN, Sask. — Shareholders opposed to the proposed sale of Weyburn Inland Terminal have urged others to vote against the deal at an upcoming special meeting. The dissident shareholders said the terminal should remain independent and will be profitable. Eleven men put their names forward as nominees for the board of directors, including two who […] Read moreRNAi key to glyphosate resistance
Promising research | Glyphosate mixed with RNAi molecules effective against resistant plants
VANCOUVER —Weed scientists have worried for years about the lack of new technologies and chemistries needed to fight herbicide resistant weeds. However, something new is now on the horizon. Monsanto has discovered that it is possible to kill glyphosate resistant weeds with a biological technique called RNA interference (RNAi). Doug Sammons, a senior fellow with […] Read more
PED found in 11 Ontario barns
Eleven Ontario hog operations had been infected with porcine epidemic diarrhea virus as of Feb. 10. Feed may be connected with its arrival and spread. Ontario Agriculture confirmed PED DNA has been found in swine feed samples but did not provide further details. Livestock feed supplier Grand Valley Fortifiers of Cambridge, Ont., issued a voluntary […] Read more
Wheat commission takes research, marketing focus
A potential settlement between Canadian National Railway and the Teamsters union is one worry off Kent Erickson’s mind. The chair of the fledgling Alberta Wheat Commission says he can now concentrate on developing and implementing policies and priorities. “Obviously, our two key priorities for the wheat commission are re-search and market development. Communication would be […] Read more
Taiwan OKs more Canadian beef
WINNIPEG (Reuters) — Taiwan has agreed to accept Canadian bone-in beef and other products from cattle younger than 30 months of age. The arrangement was signed Feb. 3 and was to go into effect no later than 30 days later, agriculture minister Gerry Ritz and trade minister Ed Fast said in a statement. Taiwan is […] Read more
Non-reversionary rule hinders land leasing
Some federal land must be offered to the ag department and government agencies before it is offered to patrons
SASKATOON — The Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association says the federal government should exempt the non-reversionary land in some of its pastures from the Treasury Board disposal process. Non-reversionary land is land that the federal government owns but can’t transfer to the province without first offering it to the federal agriculture department and other government agencies. […] Read moreHaney Farms founder, seed developer dies at 98
Leonard K. Haney, a southern Alberta seed farmer and national leader in pedigreed seed development, died Jan. 31 at the age of 98. The former Iron Springs, Alta., resident founded Haney Farms, one of the largest seed farms of its generation, and served as president of the Canadian Seed Growers Association in the early 1980s. […] Read more
Portion of insurance is tax deductible; proceeds tax free to shareholders
Insurance can be complicated, but introducing tax implications related to corporate life insurance plans raises the complication factor enormously. There are four types of life insurance: Group term life insurance may be offered by a company or partnership for life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) coverage to an employee or to the employee and […] Read more
