SHAUNAVON, Sask. – Ben Lewans said he is set to take his three-year battle with Viterra and Bayer Crop Science to the courtroom after the two companies turned down a mediated settlement. The 64-year-old Shaunavon, Sask., farmer sued after his 2007 canola crop emerged poorly and eventually yielded seven bushels per acre. Surrounding fields yielded […] Read more
News
Sask. grower continues fight over poor canola
Ottawa pledges $230 million for farmers in poor countries
The federal government has committed a quarter of a billion dollars to support small-scale farmers in the developing world. Canada is one of the first countries to join a World Bank initiative that international leaders last year pledged would be a $22 billion agricultural development plan for the developing world. So far, four countries have […] Read more
Viterra invests in China
Viterra’s joint venture to build a $20 million US canola crushing plant in China might seem like it’s coming at an odd time. The investment comes just as the future of Canadian canola exports to China are in doubt because of Chinese blackleg restrictions. “The whole situation with China is still very uncertain as to […] Read more
Beef exporter puts money where his mouth is with fundraiser
Harvey Dann, a beef exporter in Manitoba, will celebrate his 25th year in business in 2010. But instead of the typical anniversary festivities, with a giant cake and candles, the businessman will celebrate by feeding steaks to Canadian soldiers. Dann and his daughter, Jackie, are leading a campaign called Sponsor a Steak for returning soldiers […] Read more
Saskatchewan clubroot report promising
Sixty Saskatchewan field samples taken last fall to test for clubroot have come back negative, and canola growers would like to keep it that way. “The strategy that we’re recommending would prevent it,” said Faye Dokken-Bouchard, the provincial plant disease specialist who heads the Saskatchewan Clubroot Initiative, which last year developed a clubroot management plan […] Read more
Canola protein delayed
WINNIPEG (Reuters) – BioExx Specialty Proteins Ltd. says production of its canola proteins, which it will market as an ingredient for sports drinks and baby formula, will start as much as six to eight weeks later than expected. The company is trying to become the first to commercially produce high-purity proteins for human consumption from […] Read more
Farmers urged to adapt, rather than fight rules
Farmers need to protect themselves from the implications of proposed ochratoxin A (OTA) standards by embracing new practices rather than fighting reasonable rules, says a senior researcher. “We can make it work,” said Carleton University professor David Miller. “We not only could catch up (to Europe, where OTA is harshly viewed), but we could get […] Read more
Agribition takes stock; fall details ironed out
Canadian Western Agribition is counting itself lucky to have turned a small profit in 2009. Attendance was down, but the annual Regina show stayed in the black with a profit of $1,361 on revenue of $3,050,237 for the year ending Jan. 31. Attendance dropped to 136,400 from 142,500 in 2008. President Marilyn Charlton, who was […] Read more
Cargill earnings rebound as economy recovers
CHICAGO, Ill. (Reuters) – Cargill’s quarterly earnings have more than doubled, with all five of its business segments posting improved results from a year ago. The company reported earnings from continuing operations of $729 million US for the third quarter that ended Feb. 28. It also realized a $169 million net gain from discontinued operations […] Read more
Fungus fears could increase cost of producing grain
Many in the grain industry are worried about tough new standards that Health Canada is considering for a common grain fungus. The new standards could cause some wheat to be rejected from the food system and impose millions of dollars of costs on farmers. However, even though ochratoxin A (OTA) can be toxic at high […] Read more
