E. coli a virulent bacteria | Food safety protocols, safety training critical at every point of production
It takes only 10 to 100 E. coli O157:H7 bacteria to cause serious disease or even death, say microbiologists. “E. coli is one of the most virulent pathogens we know. Ten cells can cause illness,” said Keith Warriner, a microbiologist at the University of Guelph, Ont., who researches food safety and serious pathogens such as […] Read moreNews
Bacteria: adaptable adversaries
Disease, loss of habitat hurts honey production
total production yields
American beekeepers are unlikely to ever produce as much honey as they did in the 1990s, when yields regularly topped 200 million pounds a year, says an industry representative. In fact, this year could be the worst honey crop ever in the United States, said Troy Fore, director of government relations for the American Beekeeping […] Read moreSask. gov’t forms wheat, barley commission committees
Saskatchewan’s efforts to establish provincial wheat and barley commissions have taken another step forward. Saskatchewan agriculture minister Lyle Stewart announced today that two interim committees have been formed to oversee the creation of permanent wheat and barley commissions in the province. The interim committees — one for wheat and one for barley — held their […] Read more
A series of unfortunate events
Economic crises at two of the Prairies’ largest hog companies are the latest events in a tumultuous 15 years for the industry. While the number of hog operations contracted, the number of hogs soared and then contracted. Low cost feed and a cheap loonie initially prompted expansion but a currency now at par, expensive feed […] Read more
U.S. customs gets nasty surprise in shipping container
Where they’re found
U.S. customs officials have discovered one of the world’s nastiest grain storage pests in a box crossing the border from Canada. Officials at the Pembina port of entry in North Dakota found live khapra beetle larvae on the outside of a plastic bag of food items in a shipment declared as clothes and gifts being […] Read more
Animal, vehicle collisions come with steep costs
Southern Alberta project | Collision data help identify problem areas and pressure government to build more wildlife underpasses
It seems like they come out of nowhere, but suddenly a deer darts out of the ditch or is illuminated by headlights. Smash. In the drama of wildlife versus car, the vehicle usually wins, but there is always a cost. People can be injured or killed, vehicles are almost always damaged and the animal and […] Read moreWesteel takes metal grain storage to the world
WINNIPEG — There are agricultural statistics that grab your attention and other stats that grab you by the throat. The annual crop loss in India falls into the throat category. “The minister of agriculture of India claims they lose 22 percent of everything they crop. So they grow 400 million tonnes of crop every year […] Read more
Online petition calls for Ritz’s resignation
As thousands of XL Foods meat products are being pulled from the market because of E. coli contamination fears, opposition New Democrats insist that agriculture minister Gerry Ritz’s best before date also has expired. The party is sponsoring an online petition, collecting citizen signatures calling for the minister to resign. It will be presented to […] Read more
Ritz sticks with the familiar in three senior appointments
Federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz, faced with the need to make significant appointments to organizations under his political control, has chosen to stick with the familiar. In appointments this week to Farm Credit Canada, the Canadian Grain Commission and the CWB, Ritz stayed loyal to those he knows. Greg Stewart was re-appointed president of FCC […] Read more
Hermanson re-appointed chief commissioner of CGC
Elwin Hermanson has been re-appointed chief commissioner of the Canadian Grain Commission for another three years. Federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz made the announcement yesterday. Hermanson’s re-appointment will take effect Jan. 13, 2013. “I’m very pleased to announce the re-appointment of Mr. Hermanson as chief commissioner for the CGC,” said Ritz. “Since taking on this […] Read more
