Saskatchewan’s long-running Kinsmen Telemiracle raised a record $5.9 million last weekend, thanks in large part to donations from people in agriculture. The largest single donation was a bequest from the late Roy Wudrick, a cattle producer from the Rural Municipality of Aberdeen, who left $1.46 million to the annual telethon that raises money to help […] Read more
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$1.46M donation from rancher
Drop in membership worries Llama Canada
Group’s main source of funding is dwindling
The treasurer of Llama Canada fears the demise of the organization unless the group can find new members or convince former members to return. Christina Lanz of Etzikom, Alta., said membership has dwindled to 26 members from a high of 146 in 2006. Membership fees are the main source of income for Llama Canada, and […] Read moreTransportation slowed by deteriorating U.S. infrastructure
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — American farmers say crumbling infrastructure on the country’s major river systems is hampering their ability to export grain and oilseeds. Some of the locks and dams on the Mississippi River are 50 years old, far exceeding their intended lifespan. “It has deteriorated to the point that it is in danger of experiencing […] Read more
Gov’t urged to support food processing sector
Loss of processing plants means more food imports
Canada’s food processing industry is shedding jobs, plants and competitiveness under the weight of chaotic rules, lack of investment capital and a strong Canadian dollar, says a senior processing official. During the past four years, the food processing industry has seen 58 plants close and 35,000 jobs lost, Alberta Food Processors Association president Ted Johnston […] Read moreHigh meat costs bite into Maple Leaf profit
An unexpected rise in the cost of meat is partially to blame for lower Maple Leaf Foods’ fourth quarter results, says chief executive officer Michael McCain. Maple Leaf announced Feb. 28 net earnings of $9.2 million for the quarter, down from $30.6 million last year, although its adjusted operating earnings on the full year rose […] Read more
Recommendations fall short: bison producer
A Saskatchewan task force looking into malignant catarrhal fever didn’t go far enough with its recommendations, says a bison producer who has lost an animal to the disease. Robert Johnson, who raises bison in southeastern Saskatchewan, has gone to court unsuccessfully to try to force the provincial Agricultural Operations Review Board to hear his concerns […] Read more
Plant changes processing to expand pork markets
Staff at Thunder Creek Pork in Moose Jaw, Sask., are working four-day weeks as the processing plant undergoes a major renovation to install new equipment. The equipment will allow the company to switch from the hot skinning processing method to scalding carcasses. Tony Martinez, vice-president at Donald’s Fine Foods/Britco Pork in Langley, B.C., which owns […] Read more
Iowa company proceeds with western Canadian regional distribution on its own
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Vermeer Corp. is taking its forage equipment directly to farmers, rather than using a western Canadian distributor as it has in the past. Prairie producers who own the Iowa company’s equipment will be able to get service and parts and buy new machines locally through a new network of distributors. Joe Michaels […] Read more
U.S. farmland values soar
Prices as high as $22,000 an acre in Iowa | Correction expected as commodity prices soften
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Land prices jumped last year in the U.S. Great Plains, playing catch-up to soaring Midwest farm values. Prices for farmland in Kansas, Nebraska, the Dakotas and Minnesota increased by 25 percent year over year, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City in its February land price review. The organization surveyed […] Read moreGrid soil sampling has limitations but still beneficial, says scientist
CALGARY — A good understanding of a farm’s soil is the foundation to accurate variable rate fertilizing, and soil sampling is key. But how much sampling is required to obtain reliable results that can be used for a precision agriculture management zone? A lot, says Raj Khosla, a Colorado State professor and president of the […] Read more
