The case against two Manitoba hog producers charged with animal neglect won’t be resolved until spring, says the farmers’ lawyer. Martin and Delores Grenier of Notre Dame, Man., were charged last fall with 23 violations of the Manitoba Animal Care Act and six offences under the Criminal Code of Canada. The charges include failing to […] Read more
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Animal neglect case remanded
Protesters fear GM pig could trigger consumer backlash
GUELPH, Ont. – The sharply divided sides in the genetically modified food debate were on display last week as activists marched in bitter cold while researchers and MPs discussed biotechnology’s potential inside. On Feb. 9, the House of Commons agriculture committee listened as researchers and agribusiness representatives discussed the inevitability of GM material in the […] Read more
Canadian Wheat Board contract signups hit high
The last week of January was an unusually busy one for Canadian Wheat Board employees. During that week, the board processed slightly less than one million tonnes of pricing contracts with prairie grain producers. The last day totalled 300,000 tonnes. “It was an extremely long day for a lot of people,” said Dave Gallant, the […] Read more
Snowfall numbers don’t always measure up
I’ve handled the weather page for more than 17 years as part of my job. We’re a newspaper, so I don’t have a big green screen behind me while I talk about rain, snow and low pressure systems, but I still get to interact with readers who call with weather questions. A couple of weeks […] Read more
Wheat tops decline in pedigreed seed acres
Canada’s pedigreed seed acreage fell to its lowest level in decades last year. Dale Adolphe, executive director of the Canadian Seed Growers Association, said 1.1 million acres of pedigreed seed were inspected in 2010. That was more than 38,000 acres less than 2009 and Canada’s lowest acreage in at least 17 years. Wheat acreage saw […] Read more
Topigs launches new boar line
Topigs Canada officially launched its new Duroc line boar, Talent, at last month’s Banff Pork Seminar. The event featured Canadian country music performer Paul Brandt, who entertained special guests representing 20 percent of Canadian sow herds. The company also announced that Sergio Sosa has joined its staff as business development representative. He will develop sales […] Read more
Research looks for tasteful ways to end castration
Eliminating castration would be a change for the North American hog industry, but it doesn’t have to be a disaster. Intact males have greater feed efficiency, nitrogen retention and lean gain, making them as much as 36 percent better in gross margin, James Squires of the University of Guelph told the recent Manitoba Swine Seminar. […] Read more
Canada, U.S. investigate cross-border red tape
Food industry lobby groups are applauding a new joint Canada-U. S. council to consider how to reduce regulatory differences that slow trade between the countries. However, critics warn that it could erode Canada’s ability to set its own rules and decide what crosses the border. The Canada-U. S. Regulatory Cooperation Council was unveiled in Washington, […] Read more
Rule changes a concern
I am commenting on an article submitted by David Anderson MP (Grasslands). He seems to heap scorn on those who would like to change regulations in developing new varieties of crops. New varieties are expected to yield more or be better than existing ones. The chemical companies have taken over the research for new varieties […] Read more
Hang onto hemp until price is right, producers advised
The president of Parkland Industrial Hemp Growers advises western Canadian hemp producers to hold out for the best price before signing a contract in 2011. “With $600 canola and $350 wheat, you should be pricing your hemp, non-organic commercial hemp, at 90 cents per pound, said Chris Dzisiak, a grower from Dauphin, Man. “If you’re […] Read more
