COOL lawsuit filed in U.S. court

A preliminary injunction to stop the implementation of the latest version of a country-of-origin labelling law was filed in a U.S. District Court yesterday by a coalition of North American meat processors and livestock organizations. The injunction should be considered within weeks, although there is no specific timeline, said a news release from the Canadian […] Read more

A lady bug on a canola plant in the early flower stage.  | William DeKay photo

Canola research targets seven goals

Canola council to lead project | Federal government contributes $15 million to projects

The federal government will contribute $15 million toward a new research cluster for canola, which will focus on sustainable production and differentiating canola from its competitors. Combined with industry contributions, the investment represents a $20 million commitment in canola research and innovation over the next five years.  The $15 million commitment, through Growing Forward 2, […] Read more

A pump jack in a canola field near Fairview, Alberta.

Ottawa’s support for biofuel industry cools

Ethanol mandate | Farmers cannot meet the current mandate without imports, so a higher content is not feasible, says Ritz

HALIFAX — The federal government is closing the tap to increased support for the biofuel industry after more than $1 billion in support, says agriculture minister Gerry Ritz. “I think the investments made early on have built the industry as large as it’s going to get,” he said. Ritz said the industry lobby for an […] Read more


Heavy rain, hail and tornadoes are becoming familiar events across the Prairies, prompting discussion about water management.

Manitoba wrestles with storms, drainage issues

Severe storms | 
Man-made drainage and lack of wetlands blamed for increased flooding

Residents of southwestern Manitoba can’t seem to catch a break from wet and stormy weather this summer. Severe weather once again roared through the region July 21, dumping more rain on already soggy soil. At least one tornado was confirmed between Deloraine and Boissevain, and two others near Waskada and Goodlands were being investigated. A […] Read more

Two farmers appointed energy commissioners in Alberta

Two Alberta farmers will bring an agricultural perspective to provincial hearings on provincial energy projects. Terry Engen, a fifth generation farmer and municipal reeve from Eckville, and Jurgen Preugschas, former chair of the Canadian Pork Council and hog producer from Mayerthorpe, have been appointed as hearing commissioners for the Alberta Energy Regulator. Their appointments and […] Read more


University of Saskatchewan soil scientist Richard Farrell, centre left, and Trevor Carlson, environmental affairs director at Federated Co-operatives Limited, centre right, review soil samples taken at a former Co-op petroleum site at Colonsay, Sask.  |  Federated Co-operatives ltd Photo

Trees show promise in petroleum site restoration

Healthy trees, clean soil | Roots, bacteria attack soil contaminants and 
help restore land

An experiment using trees to clean up heavily contaminated soil is working. Federated Co-operatives Ltd. and the University of Saskatchewan’s soil sciences department have pioneered the process during the past 15 years to restore contaminated petroleum sites to their original state, leaving green spaces in five rural locations in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The groves of […] Read more

Bob Armstrong stands at the entrance to his country property near Maymont, Sask. Armstrong signed a conservation easement agreement with the Nature Conservancy of Canada to ensure the property will remain in its natural state forever.

Land’s future in safe hands with NCC easement

Protecting natural habitat | Property owner says he felt an obligation to preserve the land’s unique characteristics

Different people see beauty in different things. Retired businessperson Bob Armstrong sees it in the trees and grass and rolling hills that border the North Saskatchewan River. So when four quarters of native prairie and untouched riverbank came up for sale near Maymont, Sask., in the late 1990s, Armstrong was determined to buy the land […] Read more

Operating costs of the recycling program for grain bags, twine, wrap and other ag plastic could mean a hike in prices next spring.

Farmers will pay for recycling with higher ag plastic prices

A program to recycle agricultural plastic in Saskatchewan will likely result in higher prices for grain bags, baler twine and other plastic products, perhaps as early as next April. Organizers of the Saskatchewan Agricultural Plastics Stewardship Program, who met in Saskatoon July 4, said the cost of running a provincial program could increase the price […] Read more


Producer car shipment numbers falling

Shipments down 40 percent | Farm group blames decline on elimination of single desk

The amount of Canadian grain shipped on producer cars is down sharply in 2012-13, according to figures obtained through the Canadian Grain Commission. Producer car shipments as of early July were down almost 40 percent from the previous year, according to the CGC figures. As of July 10, the number of hopper cars filled by […] Read more

Organic, GM alfalfa co-existence ‘not possible’: opponents

The Canadian seed industry’s best practices guide for co-existence of organic and genetically modified alfalfa is scientifically indefensible, says a study by GM alfalfa opponents. They lashed out last week after the Canadian Seed Trade Association heard an update on a co-existence plan that is a precursor to a likely application to register a GM […] Read more