Shorter rotation advice shocks agronomists
There is a big divide between two influential canola groups on the issue of crop rotations. The Canola Council of Canada says more intensive rotations can be managed sustainably, but Joan Heath, past chair of the Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission, is uneasy with the suggestion. “SaskCanola thinks differently,” she said during an interview at the […] Read moreNews
Canola sector ponders risk in pushing for oil premium
The Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission has passed a resolution to determine whether farmers should push for premiums based on oil content of their canola. SaskCanola will be investigating the positives and negatives of component pricing and reporting back to growers. The group has contracted an independent industry expert to study the issue. Results are expected […] Read more
P & H plans to buy Weyburn Inland Terminal
One of Western Canada’s first and largest farmer-owned grain terminals could soon be sold to a private sector grain company. Weyburn Inland Terminal (WIT) announced Jan. 24 that it has entered an agreement to sell all outstanding shares in the company to Parrish & Heimbecker for $94.6 million, or $17.25 per share. The deal is […] Read more
Officials continue search for PED source in Ontario
Officials are looking into how the deadly pig virus porcine epidemic diarrhea found its way into an Ontario pig barn, the first positive case in Canada. The source of the virus is still unknown, but investigators are retracing the activity of trucks, people and animals on the southwestern Ontario farm. Douglas MacDougald of South West […] Read more
Pork producers must enhance biosecurity
Pork producers must learn to be more vigilant than a Russian security guard at the Sochi Olympics if they want to keep porcine epidemic diarrhea out of Canada. Pork officials and veterinarians believe the deadly PED virus, which became a reportable disease in Alberta Jan. 20, will likely sneak across the border from the United […] Read more
Rail service gets Ottawa’s ear
Parliament to hear complaints | Car shortages, unsatisfactory service cause food supply issues
As Parliament opens a new session next week, the government can expect political pressure over inadequate rail service that has left many prairie farmers unable to deliver their crop. Grain Growers of Canada wrote a letter to the minister last week urging the Conservative government to “seriously assess the evolving rail capacity issues for Canadian […] Read moreFood makers feel retailers’ strength
Big and powerful | Supermarket chains are demanding food suppliers to cut prices
As Canada’s food retailing sector becomes more concentrated and economically powerful, some companies are beginning to throw their marketplace weight around with demands for lower-cost products from suppliers. In recent weeks, Canada’s second-largest supermarket chain, Sobey’s Inc., indicated that it expects suppliers to cut prices by one percent and hold that level through 2014. The […] Read moreConsumer push for GM labelling growing in U.S.
Canada will feel pressure | Consumers are becoming more leery about safety issues and food makers are listening
The push for GM labelling is gaining momentum in the United States and could spill over into Canada, says a consumer group. “There is growing consumer, food chain and political interest in GM labelling at this time,” said Charlie Arnott, chief executive officer of the Center for Food Integrity, which builds consumer confidence in the […] Read moreRoofs, trees, grain bins destroyed by raging winds
Wind toppled trees, downed power lines, blew semi-trailers off the road and generally wreaked havoc on the Prairies Jan. 15. Gusts were clocked at up to 117 km-h in Prince Albert, Sask., and Saskatoon. All three prairie provinces were under a wind warning throughout the day. The winds also blew exceptionally warm air for this […] Read more
Saskatchewan ranchers win grand champion bull class at Denver stock show
DENVER, Colo. — Callie Gibson skipped her first week of university classes to go to a cattle show. The decision to travel to the National Western Stock Show in Denver paid off when her family won grand champion Red Angus bull Jan. 13. The young bull is owned by Gibson’s 12-year-old brother, Coy, who has […] Read more
