European Union members to vote this month | Countries sharply divided over the production of genetically modified crops
OXFORD, U.K. (Reuters) — Britain’s farm minister wants the European Union to approve a strain of genetically modified corn later this month, saying such a move was supported by scientific evidence. “If approval is granted … then it will be the first GM food crop authorized for planting by the EU for 15 years,” Owen […] Read moreNews
U.K. farm minister wants EU to approve GM corn
Gluten quality studied in Ont.
Ottawa is spending more than $400,000 to fund a research project that will examine gluten quality in Ontario winter wheat. Pierre Lemieux, parliamentary secretary for agriculture minister Gerry Ritz, made the funding announcement Jan. 7 in Guelph, Ont. The government is committing $422,000 to the project, which will be conducted by the Ontario Cereal Industry […] Read more
Global food prices steady in Dec., down in ’13
Situation likely to persist | The Food and Agriculture Organization says crop prices have dropped because of large supplies, while beef and dairy prices have reached record highs
(Reuters) — Global food prices rose slightly in December after staying flat the previous month, says the Food and Agriculture Organization. However, prices on average declined 1.6 percent in 2013 from the previous year, according to the United Nations’ agency. The FAO’s price index, which measures monthly price changes for a basket of cereals, oilseeds, […] Read moreAudits study both sidesof implement
Saskatchewan Research Council lead researcher Monique Wismer said her team looks at two different components when it studies carbon footprints. “First we look at the manufacturing of the farm implement. We study the energy and the materials that go into building an implement. “Then we look at the actual use of that implement on the […] Read more
Organic wheat commands premium prices over conventional
Organic wheat is selling for 500 percent higher than conventional wheat and there is no indication it will drop soon. Jay Crandall, a grain commodity merchant with Wetaskiwin Co-op, said the little organic wheat that is available is selling into the milling market for $20 a bushel, or $735 per tonne. This year, organic feed […] Read more
Seed later, lose yields with canaryseed
New research | Canaryseed reacts differently to temperature changes than wheat, oats
Preliminary research on canaryseed plant development indicates what researchers have long suspected: it responds differently to its environment than other cereal crops. “We want to understand how canaryseed grows because there is no benchmark data, period, anywhere,” said University of Saskatchewan Crop Development Centre breeder Pierre Hucl. He has suspected for some time that canaryseed […] Read moreFarmers latch onto ‘felfie’ craze
The selfie craze has arrived on Canadian farms. Farmers across the country have taken to Twitter recently to post pictures of themselves with their livestock and farm equipment or at work on their farms. The resulting pictures — selfies taken by farmers, hence #felfies — have been retweeted worldwide, led to websites devoted to felfies […] Read more
Meat plants pass U.S. safety audit but receive only ‘adequate’ rating
From 2012 | Many concerns related to the XL Foods recall
A U.S. audit rated Canadian meat plants as only “adequate” but did not affect trade patterns or border inspections. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently released its report of a food safety review it conducted between Oct. 22 and Nov. 2, 2012. It was part of a routine auditing process, said Richard Arsenault, director of […] Read moreU.S. not a solution to grain rail woes: Hemmes
Plugged system sparks frustration | The head of the prairie grain monitor says Canadian transportation more efficient
It’s unlikely that more Canadian grain will be exported through the United States this year, says a grain transportation expert. Growers are frustrated with the lack of grain movement off their farms, and some have suggested in online agriculture discussion forums that Canadian shippers should be using U.S. rail lines and export terminals to get […] Read moreCrusher finds cash
Legumex Walker Inc.’s Pacific Coast Canola subsidiary has new agreements with Macquarie Bank to provide the capital and liquidity needed to help the canola crusher with operations and marketing. The agreement covers a total of $45 million US. “PCC is adding new customers weekly and these new $45 million facilities significantly expand our ability to […] Read more
