Supply management | Conference Board of Canada says changes will be needed to access foreign markets and increase milk volumes
Canada’s influential business-friendly think-tank, the Conference Board of Canada, has weighed in on the politically sensitive supply management debate, predicting changes are inevitable. As it released a George Morris Centre report Aug. 23 on the 1970s origins of dairy supply management, the conference board noted that Canada’s protectionist and regulated supply management systems for dairy, […] Read moreNews
Pressure to abandon dairy protection rises: report
Sweat and satisfaction of harvesting for foodgrains
PICTURE BUTTE, Alta. — The golden dust of barley harvest settled on Andre Visscher Aug. 21 as he stood in a field and thought of other harvest gold he saw in Ethiopia last year. The Alberta regional co-ordinator for the Canadian Foodgrains Bank visited recipients of funds from Canadian charitable farm projects. One couple received […] Read more
Potential lies in native prairie perennials
CARMAN, Man. — Farmers have wanted more perennial crops since the earliest days of cultivation. There are numerous benefits if commercially viable cereals and oilseed crops can advance to the state of sophistication reached in forages. Perennial crop breeder Doug Cattani of the University of Manitoba plant science department is exploring commercializing or extracting favourable […] Read more
Lethbridge College expands rural college network
Just in time for the start of a new semester, Lethbridge College has opened its fifth rural campus. Vulcan, about 75 kilometres north of Lethbridge, will be offering college courses using video conferencing as well as direct instruction. The town joins the ranks of rural college campuses in Fort Macleod, Claresholm, Pincher Creek and Crownsest […] Read more
Search for antibiotic replacements gets boost
Recently announced federal funding will support a Saskatoon-based company researching substitutes for antibiotics in livestock feed. A $101,000 parcel will assist Prairie Plant Systems as it develops technologies to replace antibiotics using plants like mustard seeds. The company believes it can use feed supplements to stimulate an animal’s immune system to resist infection, improving herd […] Read more
Pediatricians want minimum age for ATV operators
The Canadian Paediatric Society says children shouldn’t be allowed to drive all-terrain vehicles unless they are 16 years or older. Updating its previous policy on ATVs, the society announced Aug. 30 it is adopting the same position as numerous health and safety organizations in North America. The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of […] Read more
Moose are loose; government moves to quell numbers
An extra 350 moose hunting licences were made available in southern Saskatchewan last week as the government moved to curb the moose population. Environment minister Ken Cheveldayoff said a second draw for tags was held to try to keep moose numbers down in areas where more people live. “It’s a public safety concern first of […] Read more
Churchill shipping season well underway
The shipping season at Churchill is underway and changes to the CWB and a federal incentive to keep the grain moving are having an effect. A $9 per tonne federal government incentive makes shipping out of the northern port more attractive. Churchill provides the shortest shipping distance to Europe from a Canadian port capable of […] Read more
Canola’s bright light dims
What appeared to be a bumper crop of canola heading into harvest has turned into a huge disappointment for some Manitoba growers. “Yields are much below expectations. I just started harvesting two days ago and our best field did 26 bushels an acre and typically we expect to harvest about 40 bushels per acre,” said […] Read more
Bison snack hits new heights
Those who think the taste of Trails End Buffalo Stix is out of this world will be happy to know the Saskatchewan-made bison jerky will soon be, well, out of this world. The smoked bison and cranberry jerky developed in 2004 by Livelong, Sask., ranchers Judy and Kevin Wilkinson is among 12 products heading to […] Read more
