Agriculture minister Gerry Ritz admits the government is running out of time to change the voting rules for the autumn Canadian Wheat Board election. Rules governing the 2010 CWB election will likely be the same as those that governed the 2008 election unless Liberal MPs Wayne Easter or Ralph Goodale “have an epiphany on the […] Read more
News
A spot in a sea of green
Calculator determines need for insecticide
A new tool is expected to be available soon to help Ontario soybean producers control soybean aphids while reducing insecticides, lowering production costs and minimizing negative environmental effects.The dynamic action threshold calculator developed by Rebecca Hallett, Yingen Xue and student Christie Bahlai at the University of Guelph in Ontario audits aphid numbers and their natural […] Read more
CLA study targets obesity
A natural component of dairy and beef products could help with the battle of the bulge.In a new study at the University of Alberta, researchers are looking at natural conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in fighting obesity and related conditions such as Type 2 diabetes and the metabolic syndrome. Vaccenic acid will also be evaluated.“The knowledge […] Read more
Ag minister confident in farm programs
On the eve of a federal-provincial ministers’ meeting that will have prairie flooding on the agenda, federal minister Gerry Ritz insists the situation is not as bleak as many assume.In a late June interview, the Saskatchewan MP predicted that available safety net programs will provide solid support and carryover of grain from last year will […] Read more
Reusable biochip boosts genetic research
It could become cheaper and easier to genetically analyze crops, livestock and fish.Fluidigm Corp. from the United States recently announced it has developed the world’s first reusable biochip for the commercial market.The new technology will be part of a U.S. Department of Agriculture program aimed at reducing the cost of genotyping to a penny per […] Read more
Letters to the editor – for Jul. 1, 2010
Rebate questions It is common practice in a normal competitive business environment to see volume discounts or rebates offered to customers. The savings that these efficiencies generate are often shared between a business and the customer. For example, if a farmer has large hopper bins, a high capacity auger and easy hauling over good roads […] Read more
Farmers paying higher rail shipping rates post WGTA
Prairie farm organizations want a rail costing review in light of a study showing farmers paid $275 million more to ship grain last year than what was considered fair under previous legislation.Allen Oberg, chair of the Canadian Wheat Board, said a Travacon study showing farmers paid $8.81 per tonne more to ship in the 2008-09 […] Read more
Looming interest rate hikes pose serious farm threat
With record farm debt and looming interest rate increases, Canadian farmers could face a financial calamity if they don’t take steps to protect themselves, says an eminent agricultural economist.George Brinkman, former chair of the department of food, agriculture and resource economics at the University of Guelph, said June 14 many farmers are over-exposed with debt […] Read more
Floods will show flaws in farm programs: Grits
Liberal opposition MPs left Parliament Hill for a summer parliamentary break last week vowing to return in autumn demanding more effective safety net programs to help farmers in distress.They expect the spring flooding on the Prairies to expose the inadequacy of support and timeliness of payments that are available through existing Growing Forward programs.Heading into […] Read more
Feds blame Liberals for voters list delay
Liberal MPs say there is no chance government proposals to reform Canadian Wheat Board voters list rules will be in effect in time for fall elections.Agriculture minister Gerry Ritz introduced bill C-27 in May as a way to limit voting rights to farmers who have produced at least 40 tonnes of one of the seven […] Read more
