Nuisance complaints | North Dakota Farmers Union opposes referendum measure
North Dakotans will vote Nov. 6 on a referendum to prevent activists from meddling with the state’s agricultural industry. The referendum, known as Measure 3, is a proposed amendment to North Dakota’s constitution. It bars the passing of laws that curtail “the right of farmers and ranchers to employ agricultural technology, modern livestock production and […] Read moreNews
North Dakota votes on right to farm
Avonlea farmer donates hay to campaign
Freight a factor in donations | Organizers hope truckers will volunteer to haul hay at reduced rates
Joel Miller believes the tough times that eastern Canadian farmers faced this year because of drought are sure to hit him someday. That’s why the young farmer from Avonlea, Sask., and newly minted mayor of the village, donated a truckload of hay to the HayEast 2012 campaign. It arrived in Ontario last week and was […] Read moreHayEast needs more hay to save Ontario herds
Ottawa slow to commit | Costs have more than doubled since the HayWest program, when Ottawa covered the cost of sending 300 rail cars
Organizers of the HayEast 2012 program say they need more of everything. They’re asking for money, volunteers, and commitments from truckers, railways and the federal government, but first and foremost they need more hay. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture estimates livestock producers in that province require 70,000 bales. The plan is to find 20,000 from […] Read moreLessons learned in biosecurity exercise
A simulation of a poultry disease outbreak held in early October provided lessons for animal health experts. Thirty-five animal health practitioners participated in the simulation, held at the University of Alberta research farm. They included personnel from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Alberta Agriculture. Brad Andres, emergency program manager for Alberta Agriculture, said the […] Read more
Puratone gets more time to secure buyer
Puratone Corp. was expected to be in a Winnipeg courtroom Oct. 30 asking for more time to secure a buyer. According to an affidavit filed by Puratone chief executive officer Raymond Hildebrand and two associated companies, extending protection under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act until Nov. 12 should result in a sale. Puratone entered court […] Read more
Poverty not only factor influencing world hunger
Gender equality also a factor | World Bank official says women’s role in feeding their families can’t be overlooked
MONTREAL — World Bank nutrition specialist Marie Chantel Messier calls it the south Asian enigma. The region, which includes India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, has been recording substantial economic growth in recent years, but rates of hunger and malnutrition have not been falling, she told a recent McGill University conference on food stability. “Before, we […] Read moreE. coli vaccine available, but few are using it in herds
Few incentives Cattle can carry virus without becoming ill, so cattle producers reluctant to vaccinate
A cattle vaccine exists that protects against the strain of E. coli that resulted in the XL Foods beef recall, but its use remains low. The vaccine, which has been commercially available since 2008, can’t guarantee that E. coli outbreaks won’t occur, says a vaccine research expert, but it can significantly decrease the likelihood. “The […] Read moreBarley council plan runs into conflicting vision
Corporate interests forming grains council | The Barley Council of Canada intends to go it alone if necessary
Plans to establish a national barley council are moving ahead, but it remains to be seen whether the council’s membership will include grain handling companies. Brian Otto, a barley grower from Warner, Alta., said the Barley Council of Canada’s working group has conducted an industry survey and will soon begin work on a draft business […] Read moreCGC changes may save feds but cost farmers
Producers affected | National Farmers Union said revamped commission will mean fewer services, less protection
Proposed changes to the Canadian Grain Commission are expected to save the federal treasury tens of million of dollars annually. However, some farm organizations say those savings will come at a high cost to farmers. Terry Boehm, president of the National Farmers Union, said efforts to revamp the grain commission will mean fewer services, less […] Read moreToo soon to see shipping pattern changes: Quorum
Rail service issue | The elevators association says there is a large shortfall of rail cars
The company that monitors the efficiency of prairie grain movement says it is still too early to make definitive statements about changing shipping patterns in Western Canada. Mark Hemmes, president of Quorum Corp., said patterns have not changed significantly since the elimination of single desk marketing. After a slow start to the 2012-13 crop year, […] Read more
