Provincial and federal governments should revamp Canada’s farmland ownership laws to keep land out of the hands of foreigners, non-farmers, corporate farming entities and large investment companies, says the National Farmers Union.NFU president Terry Boehm said Canadian farmland is increasingly slipping out of farmer control and into the hands of large investors or corporate agribusinesses.In […] Read more
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NFU seeks land ownership laws
Ditch mowers expect surprises
Rick Suntjens takes pride in keeping the ditches neatly mowed when he cuts about 30 kilometres of highway right-of-ways for hay for his livestock.“I do as much as I can and make it as neat as possible,” said the Drumheller, Alta., farmer.Suntjens tries to make three passes with his 15 foot swather to make sure […] Read more
Merger forces animal health firms to sell select assets
PHILADELPHIA/FRANKFURT (Reuters) – Sanofi-Aventis has attracted strong initial interest for its animal health operations, with at least four suitors lining up to bid.Bayer Ag, Pfizer, Boehringer Ingelheim and Novartis Ag were among the bidders eyeing the assets, sources said.It was unclear whether all the suitors will submit formal offers, but each has expressed interest in […] Read more
One-time centre of grain industry leaves Winnipeg’s Portage & Main
Standing at the intersection of Winnipeg’s Portage and Main, there’s no getting away from signs of how important the city’s commodity exchange has been for more than a century. The first standalone Grain Exchange building, built in 1892, is now the centerpiece of a famous faade restoration that fronts the new Red River College campus. […] Read more
GM alfalfa would increase feed costs: grower
A board member with the Irrigated Alfalfa Seed Producers Association of Alberta says alfalfa seed producers are not the only ones who should be concerned about the commercialization of Roundup Ready alfalfa.Weldon Hobbs, an alfalfa seed producer and IASPA board member from Lethbridge, said dairy and beef producers have been quiet about the issue of […] Read more
U.S. trade regulator seeks reboot
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Scott O’Malia’s early exposure to cutting-edge technology was a primitive Apple computer and a prototype laptop “as big as a sewing machine.”Now he’s grappling with the complexities of sub-millisecond trades and terahertz processors, seeking strategies to outfox programmers and computer-aided algorithmic traders.O’Malia and the four other federal commissioners who oversee the $33 […] Read more
CWB elects new chair
Allen Oberg has been elected the new chair of the Canadian Wheat Board’s board of directors.Oberg runs a 6,500 acre farm at Forestburg, Alta., where he grows wheat, barley, canola and peas. He also raises commercial cows.“It is both a great opportunity and a tremendous responsibility to lead this organization and serve the farmers of […] Read more
Ottawa requests more money for Ag Canada
The federal government is asking Parliament to approve an additional $43 million in spending for Agriculture Canada this fiscal year, bringing projected spending to $3.68 billion.New spending proposals have been tabled in the House of Commons for the fiscal year that started April 1.Supplementary spending projections can be reviewed by the Commons agriculture committee but […] Read more
Rural postal service threatened by bill
Passage of the federal government’s budget implementation bill within the next two weeks could have dire implications for rural postal service, warns a rural opposition MP.A small part of the massive bill that the Conservatives are trying to force through Parliament in June would end the Canada Post monopoly on international mail service.The Canadian Union […] Read more
Mitchell Grain Company goes out of business
An Alberta feed grain company has gone out of business, leaving behind farmers who are owed money.A recorded message at Mitchell Grain Company Inc. said the company ceased operations as of June 2, 2010.“If you are calling about accounts payable, you will receive written information from a third party with instructions on what to do […] Read more
