A farm group suing the federal government over changes to Canadian Wheat Board election rules says Ottawa is stalling to prevent the case from being heard in a timely fashion. On Sept. 17, Friends of the CWB filed suit in Federal Court alleging the government violated the CWB Act when it ordered the board in […] Read more
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Ottawa stalling court case, says farm group
Rescued from ruin – Special Report (main story)
Mayo Schmidt faced a formidable challenge when he became Saskatchewan Wheat Pool’s chief executive officer in January 2000. “There was a significant debt load that required immediate attention,” he said, reflecting back on his first days with the prairie grain icon. The debt burden became nearly insurmountable after back-to-back droughts in 2001 and 2002 slashed […] Read more
APAS president resigns
Glenn Blakley resigned as president of Saskatchewan’s general farm organization last week, citing numerous difficulties with board members and staff. In a scathing three page memo to representatives of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan Oct. 10, he said he “can no longer in good conscience continue to support a board of directors that focuses […] Read more
P. 76: New game plan left casualties on field – Special Report (story 3)
Mayo Schmidt played wide receiver for a brief stint with the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League but it is his role as quarterback of Canada’s largest grain company that has people talking. Analysts generally agree that Schmidt, Viterra’s chief executive officer, has executed a masterful game plan with foresight and precision but the […] Read more
Sask. crop insurance changes suggested
Yield trending and cushioning could be among the program improvements next year at Saskatchewan’s crop insurance agency. The two methods were recommended in a report to agriculture minister Bob Bjornerud from Meyers Norris Penny last week. Officials are now analyzing the suggestions and costing them out. Cam Swan, general manager of the Saskatchewan Crop Insurance […] Read more
Company harvests profit from Canadian farmland
Doug Emsley has some advice for investors contemplating a 30 percent decline in their stock portfolios since September – put your money in farmland. “With the market coming down around everybody’s ears, this is a very stable asset class,” he said. “Arguably it is an even better hedge against turbulent times than gold is.” Of […] Read more
Prairie crops get rave reviews
Grain inspectors are starting to get a handle on 2008 crop quality after reviewing hundreds of samples and it appears producers have done an exemplary job. “We have a good crop,” said Norm Woodbeck, manager of quality assurance standards and reinspection with the Canadian Grain Commission. “Canola is looking fabulous. One of the nicest canola […] Read more
Weather co-operates in Alberta
Sunny but cool weather allowed Alberta farmers to continue combining last week while showers kept machines idle in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Good harvest progress slowed in early October as rain came and cool weather hampered the drying of crops. Warren Bills of GeoFarm Solutions in Calgary passed a smattering of harvesting operations during a drive […] Read more
Prairie farmers stick with people food
The Canadian Wheat Board wants the public to know that prairie farmers are growing wheat to feed people, not automobiles. The marketing agency last week released the results of its 2008 variety survey. In a News release news accompanying the survey, the board noted that 88.4 percent of the wheat seeded in 2008 was destined […] Read more
Ontario Pork loses marketing power
Ontario hog producers are losing their central desk marketing board first established more than half a century ago. Last week, after being petitioned by some producers and holding hearings last summer, the Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission announced Ontario Pork no longer has the mandate to be involved in almost all hog marketing in the […] Read more
