REGINA – It is fitting that a family with as much grit as the Hereford breed should win the supreme championship at Canadian Western Agribition during the 150th anniversary of the red and white breed in Canada. It was a happy but tearful moment for Buddy and Frances Leachman of Big Gully Farm near Maidstone, […] Read more
News
Smiles, cheers and tears
Case highlights difficulties surrounding right to farm
The right to farm using acceptable farming practices is a long accepted tenet for those living on the Prairies. Farming is the backbone of the region’s economy. It defined how the Prairies were settled and how we live today. In clashes involving the right to farm, it has usually involved acreage owners who moved from […] Read more
Europe opens door to Canadian beef
Canada has gained duty-free access to ship beef to the European Union, up to a maximum limit, but considerable work is needed to take advantage of what could be a lucrative market. Canadian exporters may immediately compete for about 20,000 tonnes of duty-free quota previously shared by the United States and Australia. The EU also […] Read more
New farm safety council for Alberta
The Alberta government is creating a new advisory body to address farm safety. It made the announcement following consultations with stakeholder groups in 2009-10. The Farm Safety Advisory Council will prepare a plan to reduce farm related injuries and include representatives from municipal governments, agricultural organizations, farm workers’ groups and farm safety organizations. Representatives from […] Read more
AWB OKs Agrium buy
Agrium’s friendly takeover bid for AWB Limited, the former Australian Wheat Board, is expected to be approved by Dec. 3. AWB shareholders endorsed the bid by Canadian fertilizer maker and farm input retailer Agrium in November. Calgary-based Agrium will spend $1.1 billion buying AWB Ltd. It will also assume more than $500 million in AWB […] Read more
CWB payments take a hike
Prairie grain farmers will soon be getting cheques to cover increases in the initial payments for wheat, durum and barley. The increases range from $42.45 to $91.30 per tonne for wheat, depending on grade and class. They were announced by the Canadian Wheat Board Nov. 26 and took effect Dec. 2. This increase followed a […] Read more
Federal agriculture minister revealed to have little leadership leverage
Although agriculture has been a joint federal-provincial jurisdiction since 1867, history is replete with stories of strong federal agriculture ministers making their mark or being seen as the face of farm policy. John Carling, Jimmy Gardiner, Alvin Hamilton and Eugene Whelan come to mind. They fought to create a network of national research stations, farm […] Read more
Realistic import policies needed on GM: expert
Canada’s agricultural exports face increased disruption because of strict rules in many countries to reject imports that contain even trace elements of unauthorized genetically modified material, says a trade expert. Dennis Stephens of the Canada Grains Council said the current widespread policy of zero tolerance for unapproved GMO presence is impossible to meet as GM […] Read more
Organic producers eager for Canada thistle control
Canada thistle has long been a thorn in the side of organic growers, and the problem is getting pricklier. “It’s a growing problem on my farm,” Jim Robbins, a producer from Delisle, Sask., said during a research session at the 2010 Organic Connections conference. In an interview after the session, Robbins said he summerfallowed an […] Read more
Heed year end deadlines to avoid tax hits, program penalties
Certain benefits will disappear if you don’t act before their rapidly approaching Dec. 31 deadlines. This includes AgriStability/AgriInvest forms for the 2009 program year. Although the deadline to submit the forms without penalty was Sept. 30 (June 30 for Ontario participants), there is one last chance to submit the forms for the 2009 program year, […] Read more
