Canada’s canola industry has set a new production target after meeting its 2015 goals well ahead of schedule. The new objective is to produce 26 million tonnes of canola by 2025, up from the 18 million tonnes harvested in 2013. “That’s a bold target, no doubt about it,” said council chair Terry Youzwa. “But we […] Read more
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Canola industry sets new production target
Middle East investors ask Alta. man to help buy farmland
OLDS, Alta. — Canadian farmers know land is a good buy, but a growing number of foreigners also want to buy it as a way to guarantee food security. Investors from Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates have asked Ed Smith, a southern Alberta hay exporter, to help them buy land in North America. “For […] Read more
Walmarts in China recall donkey products after fox meat found
SHANGHAI (Reuters) — Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world’s largest retailer, has recalled donkey meat sold at some outlets in China after tests showed the product contained the DNA of other animals. Walmart will reimburse customers who bought the tainted Five Spice donkey meat and is helping local food and industry agencies in eastern Shandong province […] Read more
Cattle genomics only one factor in boosting profit
Many still focus on the basics | ‘Don’t go all the way off the cliff thinking you are going to get all the answers with genomics’
EDMONTON — Genomics can objectively screen animals at a feedlot, but that knowledge is not going to change what the feeder has to work with. “We are not changing the genetics at the feedlot,” said William Torres of Cattleland Feedyards in Strathmore, Alta. “Cattle come in from all different sources from commercial herds.” Cattleland has […] Read moreInvasive plant council expands focus to include animals
Watching wildlife Organization says need to monitor aquatic invasive species led to new, broader mandate
The Alberta Invasive Plant Council has blossomed into the Alberta Invasive Species Council, with a change of name and an expanded mandate. Council chair Oscar Anderson said the name change addresses a gap. “There seemed to be kind of a hole with the aquatic invasives, zebra and quagga mussels especially,” he said. The freshwater mussel […] Read moreEU governments fail to agree on limit for food-based fuel
BRUSSELS, Belgium (Reuters) — European Union energy ministers have failed to agree on a compromise deal to limit the use of transport fuel made from food crops. Critics say using food crops to make biofuel pushes up food prices and can do more harm than good to the environment. Energy commissioner Guenther Oettinger said the […] Read more
Prairies coping in deep freeze
The answer to that age-old question — cold enough for ya? — was a resounding yes across the Prairies last weekend. Tractors and trucks froze and farmers layered up to move more feed and check water bowls in extreme wind chills of -50 C. Bill McMurtry, a meteorologist at Environment Canada in Calgary, said it […] Read more
Fears raised over farmer terminals up for sale
Weyburn and Lethbridge on the block | Terminal association’s influence might weaken
The potential sale of two farmer-owned grain terminals in Western Canada may force the Inland Terminal Association of Canada to review its operations. Kevin Hursh, executive director of ITAC, said the sale of facilities in Lethbridge and Weyburn, Sask., would leave ITAC with seven members, down from 11 just a few years ago. Officials with […] Read moreAsian fruit tempts troubled soft drink industry
Monk fruit | Melon’s fruity taste masks bitterness of artificial sweeteners
NEW YORK, N.Y. (Reuters) — An obscure melon once cultivated by Buddhist monks in China to sweeten tea could give the diet soda industry a shot at winning back consumers concerned about artificial ingredients. Consumers won’t find monk fruit in any of the soft drinks at their local convenience store because shaky supplies and limited […] Read moreU.S. company buys Man. tile drainage pipe maker AccuPipe
A Minnesota company is expanding into Canada to take advantage of the growing demand for tile drainage. Prinsco Inc. of Willmar, Minn., announced just before Christmas it had bought AccuPipe, a high density polyethylene pipe manufacturer in Winkler, Man. In addition to the Winkler plant, Prinsco plans to build a drainage pipe manufacturing facility in […] Read more
