REGINA — There may have been a few moments when Billy Elmhirst considered flipping a coin while judging the Angus show at Canadian Western Agribition. “There were so many good cattle it was a hard decision,” he said of the Nov. 24 show, which is probably Canada’s largest Angus show. Elmhirst looks for overall soundness, […] Read more
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Angus judge calls on personal show success
Agriculture not prominent is Sask. legislative session
The Saskatchewan government’s throne speech read in Regina by lt. gov. Gordon Barnhart Dec. 5 made no new promises for Saskatchewan farmers. The speech was largely a recitation of campaign promises made by the Saskatchewan Party, which was re-elected Nov. 7 with a larger majority. Agriculture did not figure prominently in the campaign although rural […] Read more
Chinese appetite for crop grows
China was a prolific buyer of Canadian canola during the first three months of 2011-12 and is about to develop an even bigger appetite, according to an industry official. The grand opening of Viterra’s jointly owned 680,000 tonne crush plant in the southern Chinese province of Guangxi was set for Nov. 30. “In its simplest […] Read more
Montana firm custom maps Canadian topography
Printed topographic maps have been around for centuries, but an American company has added a bit of modern technological sophistication to the map printing business. MyTopo provides customized printed topographic maps of locations in Canada and the United States within 24 hours, said marketing manager Paige Darden. “It’s a pretty straightforward service,” she said. “It’s […] Read more
Remington dispersal sale tabulates results
Sale results have been released from the Oct. 17-19 purebred herd dispersal at Remington Ranch in southern Alberta. The ranch sold its purebred Simmental, Angus and Yieldmaster stock as a part of a move to commercial herds on its ranches near Del Bonita, Alta., and Morse, Sask. About 1,600 animals were sold, as well as […] Read more
Government to appeal CWB ruling
The Harper government will appeal today’s Federal Court ruling that Canada’s agriculture minister broke the law when he introduced a bill to remove the Canadian Wheat Board’s single desk role in the marketing of Western wheat and barley. Human Resources minster Diane Finley says her government plans to appeal Judge Douglas Campbell’s decision. Campbell’s decision […] Read more
Increase in crop acres expected after last year’s floods
Pulse and special crops acreage is expected to bounce back from last year’s flooded out mess but won’t return to the glory days. Stat Publishing editor Brian Clancey is forecasting 6.7 million acres of the crops, up from 5.64 million last year but well below the 2008-10 average of 7.83 million. “Competition for acreage has […] Read more
Colour sorter key to sales; reaping top doallar for crop
Colour sorters will become necessary pieces of equipment if rural seed cleaning plants are to survive, says an official of an Alberta seed cleaning plant. Beaver County deputy reeve Ron Parham said a new colour sorter has extended the life of the county’s 1950s-era seed cleaning plant in Holden for several more years. “If you […] Read more
Strong sales wow sheep producers
Two strong sheep sales highlighted the final day of Canadian Western Agribition as the industry continues to benefit from high demand. The Saskatchewan Sheep Breeders Association and the Saskatchewan Katahdin Sheep Association both held sales Nov. 26. Kim MacDougall, president of the SSBA and an Agribition director, said producers are enjoying good prices at all […] Read more
Oversupply may see flax prices tumble
Flax prices are on the way down, say a buyer and a market analyst. Keystone Grain was paying growers $16.50 per bushel for their flax two months ago. Late last week, the price was barely touching $15 and it could be down to $13.50 by Christmas. Prices are falling because of overproduction in the Black […] Read more
