MILLARVILLE, Alta. – An Alberta ranch family has won an appeal court decision upholding $70,000 in damages from an Imperial Oil sour gas pipeline leak in 2002. The dispute between Agnes Ball and Imperial Oil Resources stems from an incident in which some of her cattle out on pasture were exposed to hydrocarbon contamination from […] Read more
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Ranch wins appeal in legal wrangle over pipeline leak
Spring: here today, gone tomorrow
It seems like a distant memory after a cold, wet beginning to May, but Manitobans and residents of eastern Saskatchewan enjoyed the warmest March and April ever this year, said David Phillips, Environment Canada’s senior climatologist. Using data from the Brandon weather station as an example, Phillips said the average daily temperature this spring was […] Read more
EU considers less strict GMO tolerance limits
More signs are emerging that Europe may soften its zero tolerance stance toward unapproved genetically modified crops. “It is our understanding that there is a proposed policy on this that has been developed within DG Sanco (Europe’s director general of health and consumer affairs),” said Dennis Stephens, consultant with the Canada Grains Council. The health […] Read more
Canola oil exports to China set torrid pace
WINNIPEG (Reuters) – Canada is shipping a near-record amount of canola oil to China, which analysts say shows an upside to Chinese barriers against canola seed. The country exported 225,082 tonnes of canola oil to China between August 2009 and February 2010, the first seven months of its current crop year. That’s up 57 percent […] Read more
Too many rules, little competition top complaints
After a week in Western Canada listening to complaints about barriers facing young and beginning farmers, Conservative MP Larry Miller is beginning to develop ideas on what must be done. The Ontario cattle producer and chair of the House of Commons agriculture committee said he accepts the repeated testimony that domestic farm support programs are […] Read more
Ensuring public safety
Since 1987, the United States Department of Agriculture has overseen genetically modified organisms through its Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, which regulates GMOs based on “plant pest risk.” GMO developers must petition APHIS to grant their GMOs nonregulated status, which is permission to grow the plants without official oversight. To win approval, the companies […] Read more
Firm rejects market test plan for GM
WINNIPEG (Reuters) – The head of Syngenta’s Canadian division has warned of enormous consequences to Canada’s trading reputation if Ottawa passes a bill that changes how genetically modified crops are approved. The legislation, now before the House of Commons, would require Ottawa to analyze the possible harm to export markets before approving new GM varieties. […] Read more
Fear of GM contamination shelves Alta. GM flax field trials
Farmer and industry fear has prompted the developer of new genetically modified flax to voluntarily withdraw his varieties from open air testing this summer. “In order to alleviate some of the concerns, we have decided to cancel the field trial and we’ll stick with the production of seed in a confined greenhouse,” said University of […] Read more
Intellectual property rights hinder durum research
Crop scientists in Australia have developed a salt tolerant high yielding durum wheat. But farmers in Western Canada shouldn’t expect it to show up at their local seed dealer any time soon. The first step in getting it here would be to gain access to the Aussie scientists’ genetic material and test it under Canadian […] Read more
Intensive grazing managed with fixed and flexible systems
NANTON, Alta. – Intensive summer grazing is one way to save winter feed costs. Well managed summer pastures allow producers to stockpile forage for winter rather than making hay, which is labour intensive and expensive, says grazing consultant Jim Gerrish. Grazing managers attempt to control pasture and grazing efficiency as well as forage quality and […] Read more
