Equity for grain Farmers would receive $5 equity in the company for every tonne they sell
The former Canadian Wheat Board has taken its first steps toward privatization. It has unveiled a two-pronged plan that includes establishing a network of grain handling facilities across Western Canada and promising prairie farmers an equity stake in the soon-to-be privatized company. Gord Flaten, CWB’s vice-president of grain procurement, said farmers across Western Canada will […] Read moreNews
Glencore sells Viterra pasta plant to cereal maker
Another asset formerly owned by Viterra is being sold off by Swiss commodity trader Glencore Xstrata. Glencore confirmed today that is selling Dakota Growers Pasta Company in North Dakota to Post Holdings Inc. for $370 million. Post, a St. Louis, Missouri, based cereal maker whose products include Honeycomb, Alpha Bits, Raisin Bran and Shreddies, said […] Read more
Rollover simulator shows sad story
The white, much-decaled pick-up truck rolled three times. Then a body flew out the driver’s side window and was squashed beneath the vehicle. It was another casualty incurred by failure to buckle up. Fortunately, the incident was a simulation involving a dummy, but it was nevertheless a graphic example of what can happen when drivers […] Read more
Nigeria focusing on agricultural self-sufficiency
ABUJA, Nigeria (Reuters) — Nigeria is reforming its farming sector to bolster production and draw investment. However, companies say more must be done to tackle entrenched corruption, poor infrastructure and rogue government agencies. Nigeria’s annual economic summit focused on agriculture for the first time, in line with president Goodluck Jonathan’s commitment to fixing the country’s […] Read more
Native grasslands are safe: ag minister
Conservationists fear demise | Safeguards are in place to protect grassland, says Lyle Stewart
Saskatchewan conservationists say the government should find out exactly how much grassland, both publicly and privately owned, is left and where it is located. They also suggest a moratorium on breaking any grassland until a policy for managing it can be developed. Agriculture minister Lyle Stewart said neither is planned. “We’re not contemplating a review […] Read more
Questions raised over future of GM patents
Generic GM crops coming | Industry must prepare to manage GM traits once patent protections are removed
The first GM crops were grown commercially in 1995. That is nearly 20 years ago, which is the usual life cycle of a patent. It means a lot of traits are going to be coming off patent over the next few years, and companies will be entering the market with generic traits, much like what […] Read more
Sage grouse under threat; protection order issued
Emergency order issued for the first time since the Species at Risk Act created
The federal government plans to introduce an emergency protection order for the greater sage grouse. The emergency order will protect the endangered bird by imposing restrictions on provincial and federal crown lands in Saskatchewan and Alberta. Private land and provincial and federal grazing lands will be free of these restrictions. “A balanced approach to species […] Read more
International food waste costs add up
$750 billion annually | Waste from production higher in developing countries, says UN report
An estimated 1.3 billion tonnes of food are wasted annually in a world where more than 800 million people are counted as chronically hungry or malnourished, says the United Nations. The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization said in a September report that wasted food costs at least $750 billion annually. The volume of water used […] Read more
Publicly funded breeding delivers value: report
Yield improvements exceed world average | Reduction in funding for public breeding programs reckless, says scientist
Wheat yields on western Canadian farms have increased at an average rate of 1.4 percent per year since the early 1990s, says a study co-authored by a pair of Agriculture Canada scientists. That rate of gain is well above the worldwide average of 1.16 percent per year, suggesting Canadian farmers have accrued greater gains in […] Read more
Ont. beekeepers want further restrictions
Neonicotinoid use | Ontario Beekeepers’ Associations calls for complete ban on neonicotinoids
The Ontario Beekeepers’ Association says proposed Health Canada guidelines don’t go far enough to protect bees from insecticides. The Pest Management Regulatory Agency announced in mid-September that agricultural practices around the use of neonicotinoid seed treatments on corn and soybean seeds are “not sustainable.” In a notice of intent, the PMRA said it intends to […] Read more
