Gwen Donohoe from a farm near The Pas in northern Manitoba showed the kind of optimism and enthusiasm the touring MPs wanted to hear. She told members of the House of Commons agriculture committee April 29 when they visited Manitoba on a young farmer tour that she sees a future in the business despite advice […] Read more
News
Help us build industry, says young farmer
Ag Notes – for May. 6, 2010
Traceability partnership The governments of Canada and British Columbia are strengthening traceability and biosecurity systems. B.C. minister of agriculture and lands Steve Thomson and member of Parliament Andrew Saxton recently announced an investment of $3.5 million at an event called Discover Agriculture in the City held in Burnaby, B.C. “A strong traceability system will help […] Read more
Alberta welcomes moisture
Time will tell whether black currants already partially leafed out are tough enough to survive a spring storm. Judy Kolk of Kayben Farms near Lethbridge said a combination of snow, freezing rain and wind knocked out the power to their greenhouses last week and covered their outside fruit trees with a thick coat of ice […] Read more
Sask. study places value on province’s forage production
The Saskatchewan Forage Council is hoping a new report will help increase public awareness about the economic importance of the province’s forage industry. The council unveiled a report earlier this month that estimates the direct economic value of goods and services provided by the Saskatchewan forage industry at $740 million a year. Direct goods and […] Read more
Potable water flowing to Sask. communities
Saskatchewan’s rail network might be shrinking, but another type of line linking rural communities continues to expand. Earlier this year, SaskWater announced it had completed construction of a $4 million project that carries potable water from Saskatoon to Aberdeen, Sask. The project, which includes a 35 kilometre underground water line, a booster pump station and […] Read more
Finance Note – for May. 6, 2010
Ag Growth International Inc. of Winnipeg has bought Mepu Oy, a Finnish maker of portable and stationary grain drying systems for $11.7 million. Mepu Oy, known as Mepu, was established in 1952. Sales of its farm and commercial grain drying systems are concentrated in Finland and Eastern Europe and have averaged $19 million over the […] Read more
World in brief – for Apr. 30, 2010
Chinese crops slow BEIJING, China (Reuters) – Adverse weather has hit China’s wheat and rapeseed crops and slowed plantings of corn and soybeans in some areas, although these problems are so far seen as having only a small impact. Lower-than-normal temperatures this spring have hurt China’s winter wheat crop in the north while heavy mid-April […] Read more
Ignatieff pledges food safety, improved farm programs
Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff is promising that a Liberal government would introduce a national food policy that promises more farmer-friendly support programs and more investment in food safety. As part of a series of announcements aimed at convincing rural Canadians the Liberals are serious about regaining their support, Ignatieff said he would implement a national […] Read more
Canada hesitates to join Pacific Rim trade talks
Reports that Canada refused to join Pacific Rim trade talks to protect dairy farmers and now has been told it is too late to join has critics questioning government tactics. New Zealand has said any country getting involved in the Trans-Pacific Partnership talks would have to be willing to put all its policies on the […] Read more
Saskatoon grain firm increases handling capacity
Parrish and Heimbecker is restructuring its operations in Saskatoon. The company is relicensing its 17,700 tonne capacity process elevator in Saskatoon into a primary elevator. The Saskatoon facility was acquired by P&H when it purchased Dover Industries several years ago. That deal also included a flour mill at the same location, which will continue to […] Read more
