Japan has promised to review its import regulations for beef, which could lead to expanded access for Canada. Japan’s Food Safety Commission is planning public hearings and a risk assessment on each country requesting greater market opportunities. Canada and the United States are allowed to ship beef from cattle younger than 21 months, and the […] Read more
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Japan inches toward expanded beef access
Preparation required to reap malting premiums
BANFF, Alta. — It is relatively easy to grow feed, but malting barley requires finesse, says an Alberta grain merchant. “This year, the barley was exceptional, probably the best I have seen in 25 years in the industry,” said Rod Green of Central Ag Marketing at Airdrie. He told a recent Alberta Barley Commission meeting […] Read more
Farm like Mother Nature: researcher
It’s not enough to make a farm plan for next week or next month or next year, says South Dakota State University professor Dwayne Beck. Farmers should also consider the next 100 years, embracing the methods used by Mother Nature to en-sure soil health and farming sustainability. Beck, who spoke at the Farming Smarter conference […] Read more
Sask. farm group offers members weather info
The Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan hopes to increase its membership by offering online, local weather service. At its recent annual meeting, APAS launched a new web portal network called myRM.ca. Residents in rural municipalities that are APAS members will be able to access community information such as events or road closures through the sites, […] Read more
Delegates suggest change to assistance programs
Delegates to the recent Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan annual meeting in Regina have advice for policy makers. They passed several resolutions calling for changes to farm assistance and other programs. One recommends that disaster programs such as the excess moisture program be unlinked from other income programs so they aren’t clawed back. Another suggested […] Read more
Albertans told to voice property concerns
Albertans are invited to keep those cards and letters coming so that the government knows where they stand on property rights. The government does not want the concept of land use planning to fail, said agriculture minister Evan Berger, who is vice-chair of a task force that will travel the countryside to hear what changes […] Read more
Don’t let crop prices dictate rotations
Favourable commodity prices might tempt producers to work more canola into their crop rotations, but good prices haven’t changed the science. Crop rotations are still a good idea, Agriculture Canada researcher Neil Harker reminded producers at a canola industry meeting in Sask-atoon Dec. 7. “For us, it’s easy to say. For them it’s harder to […] Read more
Producers know who’s where, when
Telematics is a 10-cent word for what some farmers are already doing, but a farm business expert says its greater potential has yet to be realized. Jay Breggencate, managing partner with Farmer’s Edge in Alberta and Saskatchewan, defined telematics as the technology of sending, receiving and storing information via telecommunications devices to affect things happening […] Read more
Exporters put hope in bilateral deals
GENEVA — The stalemate at last week’s World Trade Organization ministerial meeting means more of the same for Canadian farm groups that sent delegations to lobby for their often-conflicting interests. Exporters represented by the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance can expect a continuation of Canada’s emphasis on bilateral commodity agreements and no foreseeable progress on domestic […] Read more
Strict safety rules threaten food sovereignty: food advocate
LONDON — A government obsession with one-size-fits-all food safety rules could kill local abattoirs within years and deny consumers a local meat alternative, says a former abattoir owner and local food advocate. Freeman Boyd, co-ordinator of a local food project in southern Ontario, ran a small abattoir near Owen Sound, Ont., for 24 years. He […] Read more
