VULCAN, Alta. – A Canadian Wheat Board director from Alberta toed the party line during a recent Farmer Forum meeting in Vulcan. Reading from a prepared presentation, Jeff Nielsen explained the board’s vision and his job of showing the value of the board to producers and working for a strong sustainable wheat board. However, following […] Read more
News
CWB answers farmers’ questions
Low CWB operating costs ‘high priority’
There aren’t many things that cost farmers the same now as they did five or 10 years ago. One that does is the cost of running the Canadian Wheat Board. In its annual report for 2008-09, the grain marketing agency reported administrative expenses of $79.1 million. When those costs are spread out over the 23.2 […] Read more
Delayed reporting causes concern in latest BSE case
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency decision to not publicly report the latest case of BSE may have hurt the beleaguered beef industry, says an industry official. CFIA tests confirmed Canada’s 17th case of BSE in an Alberta beef cow in February, but federal officials told only people in the cattle industry, the chief provincial veterinarians […] Read more
Seeding to start dry but late spring showers are in the forecast
Western prairie farmers will probably seed into dry soil this spring and pray for rain, weather experts say about the long range weather outlook. However, they agree that timely rain and generally good growing conditions will dominate most of the Prairies during the summer and harvest season. The exception will be the Peace River region, […] Read more
Food makers’ profits defied recession last year
Food manufacturer profits in Canada increased 13 percent last year, says the George Morris Centre, despite the recession that dragged down profits in the general manufacturing sector. Part of the reason is that food manufacturers paid 16 percent less for raw commodities than they did the previous year. Senior market analyst Kevin Grier said the […] Read more
Feds bet on existing programs
As the potential impact of the H1N1 flu epidemic started to emerge last spring, Agriculture Canada analysts recognized that it would batter an already hard-hit hog industry. They also recognized that payouts to hog producers from existing programs based on historic margins were decreasing sharply. Yet they insisted the programs would rise to the occasion. […] Read more
Flax trades like a special crop
Quietly and awkwardly, flax has walked away from bulk commodity markets, something that would have surprised an earlier generation of farmers. “You’ll notice that flax has now become a special crop (in our analysis reports) and that’s because of popular demand from our subscribers,” Informa Economics’ Chuck Penner said at a recent presentation. It’s not […] Read more
Bull checkers sidelined at show
LLOYDMINSTER – After more than 20 years on the job checking the legs and feet of bulls at the Pride of the Prairies Lloydminster Bull Show and Sale, George Larre and Doug Eaton found themselves laid up together, unable to lend a hand at his year’s event. Foot and leg injuries kept the two men […] Read more
CFIA food inspector shortage forces dependence on overtime
Late last year, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency ordered more inspector presence at plants shipping product to the United States after American warnings that staff levels did not meet U.S. standards. But lack of approved budget to hire more staff meant the added inspections were being done on overtime. In a Nov. 5, 2009, memo […] Read more
Wheat supply burden expected to continue for another year
World wheat production in 2010 is forecast to fall, but with a large carryover from the previous year, supply will likely continue to be a burden. The high prices of early 2008 sparked a huge production increase, generating a record crop that outstripped demand, adding almost 43 million tonnes to year-end stocks. In 2009, the […] Read more
