Ducks Unlimited Canada’s efforts to restore wetlands and attract more ducks to the Prairies have been going swimmingly, says a DUC official. Mother Nature was a big help last year, delivering record or near-record rainfall over much of the West. Potholes are full, duck numbers are plentiful and wetland areas that were once under cultivation […] Read more
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Ducks Unlimited works on relationship with farmers
Adopt a tree program grows in popularity
CRESTON, B.C. – A cherry orchard acts as an adoption service in a lush valley in the mountains of southeastern British Columbia. The adopted trees belong to an exclusive and widespread family. Up to 300 in number, they are monitored by people from all over Western Canada via website and in person. When the time […] Read more
Equine herpes scare restricts vet college surgeries
The Western College of Veterinary Medicine has stopped performing elective surgeries on horses after treating an animal with a confirmed case of the neurological strain of equine herpes virus June 18. Dr. Chris Clark, assistant professor of large animal medicine at the college, said offsite procedures would still be performed. He also said that while […] Read more
Western Producer Livestock Report – for Jun. 23, 2011
CASH HOGS RISE Tightening supply drove U.S. cash hog prices up. Warm weather in the Midwest is slowing weight gain. Hog weights in Iowa-southern Minnesota were down two pounds from the previous week. Iowa-southern Minnesota cash hogs delivered to plants rose to $70 US per cwt. June 17 from $68-$68.50 June 10. The U.S. pork […] Read more
Carbon footprint tied to production not transport: Pulse Canada
European consumers should not assume Canadian crops have a bigger environmental footprint than locally produced product because of how far they have to travel, says Pulse Canada. It argues that production is a far bigger factor than transportation when it comes to measuring food’s carbon footprint, and says Canadian crops offer distinct advantages in the […] Read more
Bison producers can’t keep up with demand
BIG SKY, Mont. – American bison producers are enjoying high prices for slaughter animals, but similar to the Canadian situation, demand is outstripping supply. Producers attending the National Bison Association convention in Montana June 16-18 were repeatedly encouraged to expand herds and attract new ranchers. Prices are approaching $4 per pound on the rail, said […] Read more
Federal budget approved; contains key agriculture plans
The federal budget was approved in principle last week in record time, supported by Conservatives and Bloc Québécois MPs. The NDP, Liberals and Green Party leader Elizabeth May opposed it. The budget’s approval in the new majority Parliament was not in doubt, but the speed of the vote, sup-p orted by all sides as they […] Read more
Canadian meat inspection staff increase disputed
The Conservatives say the Canadia n Food Inspection Agency has increased its food inspection staff significantly since they came to power in 2006. “At the end of fiscal year 2010-11, CFIA inspection staff had increased by a net total of 733 members since this government was formed in 2006,” agriculture minister Gerry Ritz told the […] Read more
Ranchers seek compensation in wake of B.C. drought, fires
PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. – British Columbia ranchers hit hard by wildfires and drought last summer continue to wait for aid. The B.C. Cattlemen’s Association asked the province last December to process its request for federal aid through Agri-Stability and Agri- Recovery programs, but little has happened. “We are now nine months after the fires and […] Read more
Contracts in future for barley
Most malting barley growers might not see big changes once the Canadian Wheat Board marketing monopoly ends. But they should expect to see current trends continue, probably at a faster pace, say advisers on both sides of the Canada-U. S. border. That means closer producer-malting company contracting and more pre-seeding contracting. “Every year an increasing […] Read more
