Can a six-month review of business risk management programs ordered by federal and provincial ministers July 10 come up with ideas on how to improve the margin-based AgriStability program? Industry leaders said last week that has to be the focus. “The margin approach simply isn’t working for large areas of the industry,” Canadian Federation of […] Read more
News — page 3166
Gov’t explores fixes to farm safety net
New Sask. law could net trespassers $2,000 fine
Trespassers could face a $2,000 fine under a new Saskatchewan law that took effect July 1. Under the Trespass to Property Act, police can issue a ticket to anyone who refuses to leave private or commercial property or who ignores posted no trespassing signs. Police can also arrest people who refuse to comply with the […] Read more
Charity group helps women in need
After 10 years of thrills and few spills, the Chickwagon has become a permanent fixture at the Calgary Stampede chuck wagon races. The dream child of 10 Calgary women entrepreneurs, the rig started in 1999 as a fun way for them to participate in the 10 day cowboy festival. Since then, the concept of the […] Read more
Traceability helps findmarkets
McDonald’s Canada has decided that its ground beef from Canadian cull cows will come from Quebec, in part because it has a beef traceability program. A Japanese restaurant chain has also decided to invest in a Quebec facility that will supply product for Japanese consumers based on Quebec’s ability to guarantee the lineage of the […] Read more
Do you know your farm’s liquidity situation?
It’s often difficult during the busy growing season for farmers to complete all the jobs on their to-do lists. Some office-related tasks, such as financial management, are easy to postpone. However, given narrow profit margins, market volatility and the impact of weather, it is increasingly important that farmers take time to work through a summer […] Read more
Western Producer Crop Report
Alberta South Ten to 30 millimetres of rain fell. Surface moisture is reported as 28 percent poor, 45 fair, with the remainder average or better. Cereals heading, canola bolting, pulses flowering. Hay yields disappointing. Crop conditions down 15 percent from average. Wheat midge emerging in the central and eastern areas. Cabbage seedpod weevil being watched. […] Read more
U.S. dairy subsidies upset WTO delegates
When the United States was challenged at a July meeting of the World Trade Organization agriculture committee over its return to dairy export subsidies, it had a simple explanation. Other countries made us do it. “Replying to concerns from China and New Zealand, the U.S. said it was forced to reintroduce export subsidies on dairy […] Read more
When good ideas fail – Special Report (about)
Value-added processing is often seen as a solution to inadequate farm income. Farmers and community backers often start companies with the intention of adding value to the commodities they produce to increase incomes and create local jobs. Some projects succeed but many fail. Western Producer Regina bureau news reporter Karen Briere talked to experts and […] Read more
Farmer’s lawsuit against CN travels slowly through court
Gordon Wallace is learning first-hand that legal time isn’t the same as regular time. In January, the farmer from Unity, Sask., launched a lawsuit alleging the two national railways have been overcharging farmers for freight for at least two decade. Six months later, nothing much has happened, because the lawsuit has been derailed by a […] Read more
When good ideas fail – Special Report (main story)
Prairie farmers and ranchers are an optimistic lot. After the initial shock of the door slamming shut to Canadian cattle exports in May 2003 following the discovery of BSE in Alberta, many sought to make the best of a bad situation. Cut off from American feedlots and packers and with more cull cattle than existing […] Read more
