The federal government recently announced increased funding to the Canadian Bison Association to boost its marketing and traceability initiatives. The $370,000 in funding will support two projects to increase the appetite for bison products around the world. About half of the money will come through the AgriMarketing program to promote bison products in trade shows, […] Read more
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Ottawa funds bison promotion
Reid family, Hereford breed go together like salt and pepper
REGINA – Herefords have always been in fashion for the Reid family of Saskatoon. A five generation dedication to the white-faced breed has resulted in the family owning the longest running herd under the same surname in Canada. A family in the Maritimes has had registered Herefords longer but under different surnames. “When we have […] Read more
Canola growers keep truckin’
LANGDON, N.D. – The Borgens don’t seem to be able to keep away from the frigid centre of the Prairies. Tom and Nola Borgen escaped the cold winters and tough economics of North Dakota in 1967 by moving to Seattle where Tom had been spending his winters working in the construction industry. By 1981, they […] Read more
Loonie, french fry demand reduce potato acres in Canada
After hitting a high of 100,000 acres of potatoes in 2003, Manitoba producers harvested only 69,000 acres in 2010, based on Statistics Canada data. “Whether it has bottomed out or not yet, we don’t know,” said Garry Sloik, Keystone Potato Producers general manager. “We hope they don’t (continue to fall) but it’s a possibility.” Statistics […] Read more
Ottawa decides against rail cost review
OTTAWA – The Conservative government has deflected calls for a rail freight costing review by arguing the current rail revenue cap is a better balance. In the House of Commons Nov. 25, New Democrat agriculture critic Alex Atamanenko noted that a broad array of agriculture and forestry industry groups are complaining about rail freight rates […] Read more
Golden day for canola
WINNIPEG – Monsanto Canada officially unveiled its $12 million canola breeding centre in Winnipeg Nov. 23. Company representatives say the substantial investment in canola should pay off in two ways: • push the company toward its goal of doubling canola yields by 2030; • help Monsanto grab a greater share of the market for hybrid […] Read more
Feedlots approved to accept American cattle
Fourteen Alberta feedlots have been approved to receive feeder cattle from the United States. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency also approved permits for two feedlots in the British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley, and one approval is pending for Saskatchewan. Ontario has not had any applications for the program. A permit was issued last year for one […] Read more
CWB unveils feed wheat program
The large quantity of weather damaged feed wheat produced this year has prompted the Canadian Wheat Board to introduce a new pricing program. It is based on the existing Early Payment Option and allows users to lock in prices based on their assessment of the market and cash flow needs. Details about the program can […] Read more
Hog leader says Ottawa favours grain farmers
OTTAWA – Ontario hog industry leader Curtiss Littlejohn said publicly last week what many Ontario farmers have only been willing to say privately – government farm support is biased toward grain and the West. At a House of Commons agriculture committee meeting Nov. 23, Littlejohn said his once prosperous hog operation southwest of Toronto now […] Read more
Larger Chinese hog operations could fuel corn imports
In commodity markets these days, the story is all about China. On the one hand is the Asian giant’s effort to rein in inflation, particularly food inflation that is running at about 10 percent annually. On the other hand is its voracious appetite for imported oilseeds and, potentially, corn. Last week, China declared it was […] Read more
