NEW YORK, Feb 8 (Reuters) – U.S. farmers will plant 11.26 million cotton acres in 2014, up 8 percent from the previous year, as cotton grows increasingly competitive against corn and soybeans, a survey of growers conducted by the National Cotton Council showed on Saturday. That total would mark the end of a trend over […] Read more
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Farmers seen planting 11.26 mln acres of cotton in 2014
Icy Illinois River impedes barge traffic, little relief seen
CHICAGO, Feb 7 (Reuters) – Icy waters on the Illinois River brought barge traffic to a virtual halt this week, slowing transportation of grains and other raw materials to export terminals at the U.S. Gulf with no relief expected as forecasts call for more bitter cold weather in the coming days, officials said on Friday. […] Read more
Video: Weekly Canadian agricultural news & markets update – Feb. 8, 2014
The weekly agricultural news and markets cast from The Western Producer brings the week’s top stories and latest markets headlines to life. Western Producer markets editor D’Arce McMillan and Managing Editor Mike Raine deliver a look behind the headlines in this weekly video segment. In this week’s news and markets cast they, along with WP […] Read more
Hemp production for research now legal in U.S.
Growing hemp is now legal in the United States, provided it is produced solely for research. Vote Hemp, an advocacy group, announced today that president Barack Obama has signed the U.S. farm bill, which contains a provision permitting industrial hemp production at universities, colleges and state agricultural department farms, in states that have legalized hemp […] Read more
Would cap removal help farmers?
Be careful what you wish for | Critics say cap removal won’t boost efficiency, just rail profits
Grain groups should reconsider their calls for an end to the railway revenue cap, says a grain transportation expert. “I would urge caution on the part of anybody who is looking to take away the revenue cap,” said Mark Hemmes, president of Quorum Corp., the government appointed monitor of Canada’s prairie grain handling and transportation […] Read moreSurvey hopes to gauge wildlife damage to cattle producers
Alberta beef producers are being asked to tally their costs related to wildlife interaction and damage. A survey, available at www.surveymonkey.cm/s/beefsurvey, is designed to compile data on the expenses related to feed losses, livestock predation and other damage incurred by wildlife to Alberta farm and ranch operations. The survey is open for input and will […] Read more
Rail service legislation showing little effect
A law passed last year designed to improve service for railway customers has delivered no noticeable benefits for Canada’s agricultural shippers, says an executive with the Western Grain Elevators Association. That’s because no major grain companies have attempted to negotiate service agreements with Canada’s major railway companies since the Fair Rail Freight Service Act was […] Read more
Syngenta will sell GM corn not approved by China -USDA head
By Roberta Rampton ON BOARD AIR FORCE ONE, Feb 7 (Reuters) – Syngenta AG , the world’s largest crop chemicals company, has commitments to sell its entire supply of a genetically modified corn variety that is not approved by China, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said on Friday. Vilsack said whether or not China eventually […] Read more
Prairie fruit growers fight fire with fire
Fire blight | Producers have learned that controlled burns are an effective way to control this devastating disease
An ancient way is new again. Forrest Scharf of Saskatchewan Agriculture says burning saskatoon berry plants infected with fire blight is a proven method of controlling the disease. “The way people are handling fire blight is unique and somewhat new,” the fruit crop specialist told the Saskatchewan Fruit Growers Association conference held last month during […] Read more
Grain industry mobilizes to debunk persistent anti-wheat claims
Promotional effort Healthy Grains Institute says more funds are required to educate public
EDMONTON — Farmers need to arm themselves with facts and defend their industry against bogus anti-wheat claims, said Christine Lowry, a nutrition and policy adviser with the Healthy Grains Institute. “We think having the farmer give the message may be the most acceptable way for the consumer to accept it,” she said. Industry associations established […] Read more
