Elwin Hermanson, chief commissioner of the Canadian Grain Commission, said he looks forward to the day when his agency has stable funding. That would involve increasing fees the commission charges for services it provides to the grain industry. “It is no secret that finance (the finance department) would like us to derive more of our […] Read more
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Commission struggles with uncertain funding
Experts examine optimum DDG levels in feed ration
It is time to offer western Canadian livestock a bigger buffet of feed ingredients, says a hog researcher. “Here in Western Canada, people think pigs only eat barley and soybean meal, but in other parts of the world, pigs eat a wide range of coproducts,” said Ruurd Zijlstra, the feed industry research chair at the […] Read more
Farmers to adopt green practices, energy
An increasing number of farmers say they are considering adopting environmental practices on their farm, according to a recent farmer survey by Farm Credit Canada. “More than 60 percent of individuals surveyed by FCC say they are considering environmental stewardship and the use of environmentally friendly management practices to reduce their environmental footprint and provide […] Read more
CGC cuts reflect sector changes
The Conservative government decision this spring to eliminate assistant commissioners from the Canadian Grain Commission system simply reflected the changing industry, said chief commissioner Elwin Hermanson. Assistant commissioners worked in the provinces as a contact between local producers and the Winnipeg-based commission. As part of his cost-cutting exercise in the face of a record deficit, […] Read more
Sask. mustard plant gets funding from Ottawa
The federal government is loaning almost $1 million to a mustard processing plant in southern Saskatchewan. The money, from two separate government departments, will be used to expand the processing capacity of Mustard Capital Inc. using a new and unique milling technology. Last week in Vanguard, Sask., MP David Anderson announced funding of $655,000 from […] Read more
Farmers plan to lower debt: FCC
With Canadian farm debt at record levels, half the farmers surveyed by Farm Credit Canada late last year said they plan to reduce their personal debt levels this year. High debt levels and interest rate fears likely count among the factors behind the decision. FCC managers say a number of considerations could be at play. […] Read more
Rancher awaits appeal decision on feed issues
An Alberta rancher is waiting for a decision from the Alberta Court of Appeals in his nine-year dispute with a feed company. Tom Seaborn of Rocky Mountain House sued Masterfeeds Inc. in 2003 after he bought a load of cattle feed in 2001 that allegedly caused health problems in his herd of purebred Shorthorns. The […] Read more
Expert prescribes national rural health plan
Shortcomings in rural health services can only be solved with a rural health strategy that all levels of government embrace, say rural health experts. Dr. Roger Strasser, dean of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine in Thunder Bay and former director of the largest rural medicine school in Australia, said it will require federal leadership, […] Read more
CFIA investigates abuse in horse slaughter video
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has confirmed that an agency employee was detected in hidden camera videotape taken at a horse slaughter plant near Montreal. “I understand that there’s a CFIA inspector visible in part of the footage, allegedly shot at the Quebec plant,” said Martin Appelt, the CFIA’s manager of meat programs. In late […] Read more
Alta. turkey farmer fined over inspection violations
A provincial court judge has fined a southern Alberta organic turkey operation for meat inspection violations. Cameron Leth and Wheatland Select Organic Turkey pleaded guilty to the charges in a joint submission to the provincial court in Lethbridge. Judge D.G. Redman fined Leth $50,000 and Wheatland Select Organic Turkey of Taber $75,000. A Canadian Food […] Read more
