China will continue to increase imports of Canadian flax, but some Chinese importers aren’t just looking for flax seed. Linda Braun, executive director of the Saskatchewan Flax Development Commission, says they also want consumer-ready food products. When Braun participated in a Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership mission to China In September, she talked to Asian […] Read more
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Chinese interest in flax likely to rise
CFIA cuts, fewer inspectors, cause E. coli crisis: Mulcair
Opposition leader Thomas Mulcair says agriculture minister Gerry Ritz “should be booted out” for overseeing budget cuts that put food safety at risk and refusing to accept responsibility. He used a 70-minute speech on the government budget implementation bill Oct. 24 to slam the government for trimming food inspection budgets and for bungling the E. […] Read more
Manitoba corn area predictions curtailed for 2013
Corn acres in Manitoba are forecasted to increase in 2013 but by less than expected because there isn’t enough seed to meet demand, say dealers. For example, NorthStar Genetics Manitoba has already booked its Maisex corn sales for next spring. “We were basically sold out from the time we had access to our allocation, so […] Read more
Big Four honour recognizes importance of ag innovation
Air drills, tractors, sprayers and combines were recognized Nov. 1 as the Big Four of agricultural innovations that led Saskatchewan to build a $6 billion grain industry. The Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute, based in Humboldt, Sask., celebrated 35 years of innovation by naming the equipment as critical tools in the industry and looking ahead to […] Read more
Sask. plans ag awareness summit
Saskatchewan’s agriculture ministry is planning an agricultural awareness summit in Regina in February. The idea is to find ways to improve public perception of the industry and promote its benefits. Agriculture minister Lyle Stewart said when he was first appointed in May that this was one of his priorities. “Our industry has a great story […] Read more
Safety compliance system ‘stupid’
New system needed | Industry veteran says existing meat safety system too convoluted
The E. coli contamination at XL Foods highlights the need to get rid of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s deeply flawed compliance verification system, says an industry veteran. “That thing needs to be chucked out. It needs to be chucked out, not revamped,” said Gerald Third, who spent 32 years in the meat packing business […] Read more
Hog industry seeks assistance
Farms at risk | Increasing feed costs, import restrictions and a surging loonie cripple hog production
Canada’s hog industry, hit by a 60 percent increase in feed costs, import restrictions into the United States and a strong Canadian dollar, is appealing for government help. Soon. “We already have lost 30,000 sows from the herd in Manitoba and if this isn’t reversed, the cobwebs will be rolling into barns with the spiders,” […] Read more
Petroleum spill prompts farmer to seek tougher gov’t regulations
The petroleum branch is responsible for discipline but also benefits from tax revenue
Carlyle Jorgensen was driving down a gravel road near his farm near Cromer, Man., last winter when he detected the bitter odour of petroleum. A short distance away, Jorgensen discovered an oil spill in the ditch alongside the road. After taking a close look at the spill of oil and salt water, Jorgensen realized it […] Read moreSyngenta enters Canadian canola market with SY branded seed
Syngenta Canada is joining the hybrid canola market with its own seed. SY4135 will be the first canola that the company offers but it won’t be the last, says Duane Johnson, the company’s head of operations for Western Canada. Johnson said Syngenta obtained the genetics from outside breeders, selecting the best genetics in the marketplace. […] Read more
California referendum on GM labelling too close to call
Going into next week’s U.S. election, Greg Palla, a California farmer, isn’t sure if the state’s referendum on the labelling of genetically modified foods will succeed or not. But Palla is certain of one thing — farmers and the agricultural industry need to explain GMOs to the public because consumer ignorance and related fears are […] Read more
