Saskatchewan’s environment minister says legislation that could see crown land taken out of wildlife habitat protection and sold to the producers who lease it should pass this session despite recent controversy. Nancy Heppner last week apologized to conservationists who said they hadn’t been fully consulted about changes to the Wildlife Habitat Protection Act. But after […] Read more
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Sask. wildlife habitat changes spark controversy
New fusarium found more toxic
The rapid emergence of a new and more toxic type of fusarium head blight may force the Canadian Grain Commission to alter its grading protocols for the disease. Researchers at Agriculture Canada, in collaboration with scientists at the grain commission and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, have determined that 3 acetyl deoxynevalenol (3-ADON) is now […] Read more
Twin colts exciting start to season
OKOTOKS, Alta. – The safe delivery of twin foals at an Okotoks ranch arrived like a hidden treat from the Easter bunny. Calamity Cash Bar, a 10-year-old registered Quarter horse mare, successfully delivered a healthy set of twins on Easter Sunday at Widney Ranch Paints. The birth surprised veterinarian Troy Borque and Roy and Ranae […] Read more
Farmers eager to buy protected land, but few have money
Reg Schellenberg and other Saskatchewan ranchers would like to buy some of the crown land they now lease. Many of them tried after the province announced an agricultural crown lease land sale in late 2008, only to find the land is protected under the Wildlife Habitat Protection Act and not eligible. “When you go to […] Read more
Pushing rotations increases risk of blackleg
Canadian canola growers have been able to keep blackleg at bay for the past 15 years by following strict rotations and growing resistant varieties. Recent research shows the importance of adhering to that practice. Randy Kutcher, a research scientist at Agriculture Canada’s research centre in Melfort, Sask., said the blackleg pathogen is evolving so that […] Read more
Higher prices, lower feed costs slow pace of hog herd reduction
WINNIPEG (Reuters) – Canadian hog farmers continued a four-year herd shrinking trend in the first quarter, but the pace slowed as higher hog prices and lower feed costs boosted profits. Statistics Canada said farmers reduced the national pig herd 2.1 percent from a year earlier to 11.635 million head as of April 1, the lowest […] Read more
Fallout from Greek economic crisis could make itself known in Canadian agriculture
Prairie farmers are feeling the tremors of Greece’s economic crisis, even though they do little direct agricultural trade with the country. “Who do they take down with them?” George Morris Centre economist Al Mussell said about the impact of a possible Greek debt default. “We might care a lot about that.” Greece has an enormous […] Read more
Canola crushing becomes cleaner with new process
A chemist thinks he might have found a way to lift a hex from the oilseed crushing industry, potentially making it greener, safer, more efficient and less costly. “The industry would rather not use volatile solvents, but distillation works pretty well,” professor Philip Jessop of Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont., said about why crushers use […] Read more
Wal-Mart plans tighter standards on beef safety
BANGALORE, India (Reuters) – Wal-Mart said it will implement additional beef safety measures to protect customers against food-borne illnesses. The new program requires Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club beef suppliers to implement controls to reduce potential contamination levels. Suppliers who do not operate slaughterhouses must comply with the new standard by June 2011. Beef slaughterhouse suppliers […] Read more
Alberta biodiesel plant soon to have company
Alberta’s lone biodiesel plant should have plenty of company starting in 2010, say industry proponents. Western Biodiesel Inc. opened its 19 million litre plant in July 2008. The High River, Alta., facility is now shipping 12 to 14 rail cars of biodiesel per month to customers in the United States and Europe. The primary feedstock […] Read more
