Creative addition In the recent (federal) throne speech, the Harper government said it will “insure the freedom of choice for which western barley farmers overwhelmingly voted” (WP, March 11). This is an absolutely false claim stemming from the results of the Harper government’s 2007 barley plebiscite. This plebiscite was typically Conservative: misleading and full of […] Read more
News
Letters to the editor – for Apr. 15, 2010
Drier than normal spring across country predicted
Recent rain and snow in parts of the Prairies notwithstanding, Environment Canada says the next three months are likely to be warmer and drier than usual. But senior climatologist Dave Phillips wouldn’t bet the farm on that forecast. “I wouldn’t ever tell a farmer to look at the seasonal forecast alone,” he said April 12. […] Read more
Plant buffers can limit antibiotic spread in manure runoff
LINDELL BEACH, B.C. – Researchers have found another use for grass buffer strips – trapping and breaking down veterinary antibiotics contained in manure that has been spread as fertilizer. “Vegetative buffers already are a recommended practice for reducing sediment, nutrients and herbicides in surface runoff,” said Keith Goyne, an assistant professor of environmental soil chemistry […] Read more
Alberta hay heads to Saudi Arabia
A Lethbridge forage company is negotiating to sell its product to Saudi Arabia. Containers of double compressed hay – 1,000 tonnes of alfalfa and 200 tonnes of timothy hay – are making the 45 day journey to the Middle East, said marketing vice-president Peter Ball of Green Prairie International. This first shipment is a pilot […] Read more
KAP ponders GM bill
Paul Gregory, a forage seed dealer in Manitoba’s Interlake, isn’t sure why Keystone Agricultural Producers are opposed to Roundup Ready alfalfa but don’t support Bill C-474. The bill, introduced earlier this year by NDP MP Alex Atamanenko, would require an economic assessment of potential harm to export markets before new genetically modified varieties were approved. […] Read more
Business decisions good for environment
Ron Maynard saw it as a business decision when he switched feed for his 150 milkers from barley to corn dried distillers grain. The same went for his decision to increase manure spreading operations to three or four times a year from two. The Prince Edward Island dairy producer was trying to make his operation […] Read more
B.C. producer sells raw milk despite ruling
VICTORIA – Alice Jongerden hasn’t quit milking and distributing milk from a 21-cow herd even after a B.C. Supreme Court decision in March ordered her Home on the Range farm to halt distribution of raw milk intended for human consumption. Raw milk is a health hazard, wrote B.C Supreme Court justice Miriam Gropper. When coupled […] Read more
Sask. hog producers pessimistic about industry’s prospects
Saskatchewan’s shrinking pork sector could become smaller still, says SaskPork chair Jay McGrath. McGrath told the recent Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan conference that too many factors have conspired to depress the industry. “We lost a lot of producers in Saskatchewan and I don’t think we’re totally done with that yet,” he said. There are […] Read more
Study outlines issues
RED DEER – A two-year cattle trucking study has opened the door to more research that could improve livestock codes of practice. The study involved nearly half a million cattle and 10,000 short and long distance haulers who delivered animals across the continent. “It really gave us a flavour of what is happening in the […] Read more
Market acceptance bill divides farmers, House
MPs will be hearing plenty from farmers and environmentalists as the clock ticks down toward a vote on GMO registration rules. On April 14, they will vote on whether to approve in principle a private member’s bill that would require consideration of potential market impact before a new genetically modified variety is licensed. The proposal […] Read more
